‘Never speak ill of someone’s mum’: The fight that started Justin Tafa’s UFC journey

Justin Tafa is looking to make it three wins in a row at UFC Jacksonville this weekend. He reflects on where it all began.

Justin Tafa has turned a life of scrapping in the streets into a profession. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Justin Tafa remembers his first fight well.

It was in a park around the back of his house in Logan after some other kids had been mocking his mum.

Justin and his younger brother Junior couldn’t let that slide.

“My brother beat up this one kid on the fence, and I beat up the other guy,” Justin tells this masthead.

“You never speak ill of someone’s mum without repercussion.

“We’d have been seven and 10 years old at the time, and we’ve been scrapping together ever since.”

Tafa Gang: Junior, Justin and Gerard. Picture: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Fast forward 20-odd years, and both Tafa brothers are now in the UFC, with Justin set to fight former NFL player Austen Lane at UFC Jacksonville this weekend. Ironically, Lane was scheduled to fight Junior earlier this year, but pulled out of the bout.

Justin laughs off questions about nerves when preparing for a fight with the biggest MMA promotion in the world.

Considering where they started – in commission housing in south Brisbane – the bright lights and cameras are a blessing.

“It’s a privilege to fight in these cages, rather than a burden. I love it,” he says. “You get to play punchface and get money for it while travelling the world.

“That’s the way I see it.”

Getting paid to travel the world knocking people out. Not a bad way to make a living. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Justin was the first of the ‘Tafa Gang’ to break into the UFC, following in the footsteps of proud Samoan fighters like Mark Hunt, Tai Tuivasa and Tyson Pedro.

Now, he’s at the forefront of a new wave of Samoan sporting and musical talent.

It’s been a long journey to get here.

“It’s been good to get that acknowledgement from other Samoans and Islanders, because I was throwing that flag up a long time before the parades,” he says.

“Times were tough. It’s like when your footy team’s got the wooden spoon and you’re still waving the flag up high.

“But over the last eight months, Samoa has gone off. It’s just been popping off everywhere and I’m glad I can be a part of it. All we can do is keep inspiring the next generation to follow in the footsteps, and keep being good role models.”

Tafa has been flying the Samoan flag for years. Picture: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Tafa was a gun footy player who spent time in the Melbourne Storm set-up before focusing on fighting.

After spending most of last year recovering from knee and hip surgery, he turned into a “footy dad” and says his eight-year old son, who has already scored “60-something tries” is “the next Greg Inglis.”

Tafa’s opponent this weekend also has some serious footballing pedigree.

The 35-year-old Lane played five seasons in the NFL with the Jaguars, Lions and Bears before shifting to MMA in 2015.

Tafa made light work of Harry Hunsucker, stopping the American inside two minutes. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

That won’t help him the cage this weekend though, says Tafa.

“I found out this week that he used to play, but I wouldn’t even care to be honest,” he says.

“I know he’s tall, he likes to get into the grapple and he throws long kicks. That’s about it.

“I’m not really fussed with who I fight until I’m hitting the top 15. There’s a few names that I want, but the main thing right now is getting rid of Austen Lane.”

Originally published as ‘Never speak ill of someone’s mum’: The fight that started Justin Tafa’s UFC journey