UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa reveals why he quit Melbourne Storm to fight
He was once ranked alongside State of Origin stars and internationals, so why did Justin Tafa quit rugby league to fight in the UFC?
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If Justin Tafa still loved rugby league, he would likely be a Melbourne Storm prop.
“But that fire you need for NRL,” the 26-year-old says, “I lost it”.
So instead, he fights.
Specifically, the rising Australian knockout artist set to feature on the main card of UFC 247 in Houston, Texas on Sunday afternoon – where he looks to earn his first victory inside the Octagon.
Set to face American Juan Adams, the main card bout continues an incredible journey for this former rugby league prodigy who hails from the same Auckland club as Sonny Bill Williams.
Initially a five-eighth, Tafa was one of several stars in a gun Marist Saints side that included a host of future NRL players, and internationals, like Warriors winger David Fusitu’a, Newcastle utility Mason Lino and former Wests Tiger Tui Lolohea.
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Scouted by Melbourne officials in his late teens, the emerging front-rower then shifted across the ditch to begin packing down for Storm alongside now Brisbane prop Matt Lodge and Queensland Origin incumbent Christian Welch.
“I was playing U/20s with Anthony Seibold as coach,” Tafa explained this week from his US base.
“And while I probably had the potential to make it, I just lost the fire for footy.
“I had this recurring back injury which put me out for a while.
“And then when I came back … things just didn’t feel the same.
“When I was younger, I played footy because I loved it. But then getting older, it just got more and more serious, became a job.
“And that was something I’ve never wanted.
“I’ve never wanted the things I love to feel like they’ve become a job, become unenjoyable.”
Which is why he walked.
“And Anthony was real understanding,” Tafa continued.
“He knew that while I was trying my best on field, I just didn’t have that passion for the game anymore.
“But everything happens for a reason and now I’ve ended up here.”
Incredibly, Tafa was signed by the UFC in 2019 after only three professional fights on the local Aussie circuit.
As a result, the 120kg slugger went from competing “in front of 900 people” to debuting before a record crowd of 57,000 at UFC 243 last October in Melbourne, when Aussie champ Robert Whittaker lost his middleweight belt to Israel Adesanya.
The event was also a tough one for Tafa, who was kayoed in round one of his fight against Yorgan de Castro.
Quizzed on his performance, the heavyweight admitted to struggling with not only fighting before a UFC record crowd, but one packed with so many family and friends.
“Which is why I’m happy to be here in Texas, my first oversees fight,” he said of a card set to be headlined by light heavyweight champ Jon Jones and challenger Dominick Reyes. “I could’ve fought on the upcoming UFC card in Auckland, but I wanted to just get away for this one.
“It’s good to be over here too, with all that pressure off.
“I was a bit shocked to be on another main card but, who knows, maybe someone at UFC head office likes my fighting style.
“For me though, I just want to go out there and redeem myself.”
Originally published as UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa reveals why he quit Melbourne Storm to fight