Watch: Junior Tafa’s reaction to Chris Barnett pulling out of this weekend’s UFC

Junior Tafa had spent the morning talking about how he was going to knock out Chris Barnett, without knowing a vicious cyclone had derailed his plans. Watch his exclusive reaction to the news here.

While Tim Tszyu waits out Hurricane Milton ahead of his world title fight in Orlando on October 19, the category five super-storm has already claimed an Australian scalp, with Junior Tafa’s Tampa-based opponent, Chris Barnett, pulling out of their UFC fight this weekend.

Tafa is already in Las Vegas preparing to break a two-fight losing skid, but ‘Beast Boy’ has pulled out after the once-in-a-50-year storm wreaked havoc on the west coast of Florida this week.

This masthead can reveal that Tafa will now face debutant Sean Sharaf (4-0) who will be signed to the UFC this week as a late replacement.

Tafa, who had been in media interviews all Wednesday morning, was unaware Barnett had pulled out until this masthead broke the news to him.

Watch the exact moment Tafa found out that his fight had fallen through below.

“He just pulled out? No, I didn’t know that,” a shocked Tafa said. “F—k. Just send me home with half a check.

“This is the first time I’m hearing it.

“I’ve done my last two interviews talking about how I’m going to knock out Chris Barnett.”

Tafa is looking to break a two fight losing streak. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

With a few moments to let the news settle in, Tafa began thinking about what’s next.

“Ask if they can put Jon Jones in. Or Tom Aspinall,” he said. “I’m a gambling man, I’ll put it on my right hand any day of the week.

“Or do I order a Big Mac? Should I get some whiskey? I don’t know.

“I guess we get a new opponent. What can you do?”

It still won’t be the latest notice replacement fight Tafa has been in involved in.

In February, he replaced older brother Justin on just 36 hours’ notice at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

But, after suffering consecutive defeats this year, he’s hesitant to rush into anything.

Chris Barnett is an entertainer and a showman. Picture: Getty Images

“You were there when I took a fight on a couple of hours’ notice,” he said. “It don’t mean nothing.

“But now we’re playing with my record.

“I can’t afford another loss, man.

“I miss my kids, man. But I’ve got rent to pay, so I need to fight.

“Unless I go back home and dust off the steel caps.”

Tafa raised the prospect of rescheduling the fight for two weeks’ time at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, where Justin also fights.

“Rebook us for Abu Dhabi,” he said. “Put me and Barnett on in a no-tax zone.

“I did my job, I signed the contract when they called me. I got ready and jumped on the plane.

“It’s not old mate’s fault either though. I don’t want to talk about bad about him – I’m a fan. He’s an entertainer.

“So, I hope they can just reschedule it.”

Originally published as Watch: Junior Tafa’s reaction to Chris Barnett pulling out of this weekend’s UFC