UFC Fight Night: Junior Tafa vs Kevin Christian Preview & Prediction
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Junior Tafa looks to avoid a third straight loss against the towering Kevin Christian at 205 pounds.
Junior Tafa vs Kevin Christian facts
What time are Junior Tafa and Kevin Christian expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? RAC Arena, Perth, Australia
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 275
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates main card
Jack Della Maddalena vs Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Beneil Dariush vs Quillan Salkilld (Lightweight)
Tim Elliott vs Steve Erceg (Flyweight)
Marwan Rahiki vs Ollie Schmid (Featherweight)
Shamil Gaziev vs Brando Pericic (Heavyweight)
Tai Tuivasa vs Louie Sutherland (Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates prelims
Cameron Rowston vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Junior Tafa vs Kevin Christian (Light Heavyweight)
Jacob Malkoun vs Gerald Meerschaert (Middleweight)
Colby Thicknesse vs Vince Morales (Bantamweight)
Ben Johnston vs Wesley Schultz (Middleweight)
Jonathan Micallef vs Themba Gorimbo (Welterweight)
Dom Mar Fan vs Kody Steele (Lightweight)
Junior Tafa: Can "The Juggernaught" avoid another submission defeat?
Forming one half of the power-punching Tafa brothers duo, Junior Tafa (6-5) somehow finds himself in another prominent spot on an Australian card despite posting a UFC record of 2-5 since joining the promotion. An unashamed slugger with the trademark Tafa dynamite in his hands, Junior also possesses the same Achilles heel as his brother; namely, that he can’t grapple. The playbook is out on Tafa at this point in proceedings; survive the early bombs and you’ll like submit him shortly after. “The Juggernaught” hasn’t posted a victory since a TKO over Sean Sharaf nearly two years ago.
Kevin Christian: Can Christian secure his first UFC win at the second time of asking?
Kevin Christian (9-2) endured a difficult UFC debut following a year on the shelf after earning a contract on the Contender Series in 2024, getting submitted by Billy Elekana in short order last November. The towering Brazilian is one of the biggest light heavyweights on the roster, standing 6’7” tall with an 80’ reach to boot. A prolific finisher with nine stoppages split virtually even between KOs and submissions, Christian has never been to the scorecards in victory or defeat. He’s at his best when he’s snatching up an opportunistic submission, with a slightly awkward striking style that leaves a lot to be desired.
Junior Tafa vs Kevin Christian prediction
As with all Tafa fights, if Christian has a modicum of grappling ability and manages to avoid getting put on a highlight reel in the early goings, the Brazilian is going to win by submission.
Tafa is much better than his brother, Justin, but make no mistake; the man cannot grapple to save his life. His fights inevitably play out the same way nearly every time; “The Juggernaught” either wins by KO early on or gets submitted in the first ground exchange, often after hurting his opponents on the feet to make his fighting style all the more frustrating.
However, can Christian get him to the ground without being knocked out in the process? The Brazilian looks to have a solid submission game, but his strength of schedule leaves a lot to be desired. He’s got a significant height advantage that could allow him to pepper Tafa at range, but it’s also not inconceivable that he gets clipped with a fight ending shot while exiting the pocket with his chin up.
With that being said, I’m not picking Tafa against anybody with even a whisper of grappling ability. Christian is likely going to get dinged with something murderous in the early goings, but if he can survive, he’s eventually going to drag the Kiwi to the mat and earn the tap.
Prediction: Kevin Christian to win by submission
