Preview: UFC on ABC 1 Prelims

Heavyweights

NR | Carlos Felipe (9-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. NR | Justin Tafa (4-1, 1-1 UFC)

ODDS: Felipe (-190), Tafa (+165)

Tafa could yet become something, although he was probably signed by the UFC too early into his professional career. Australia’s “Bad Man” only had three pro fights to his name when the Octagon came calling, and while he has looked increasingly poised each time out, he is still a relatively raw brawler. His aggression got him absolutely blasted by Yorgan De Castro in his UFC debut, but Tafa did well to rebound with a surprising knockout win over Juan Adams in February. He will look to continue that momentum here against Brazil’s Felipe, who also rebounded from a disappointing UFC debut. “Boi” likes to apply a consistent pressure game with a level of confidence that is, quite frankly, unearned. It probably is not a good sign that Felipe was outmaneuvered and outwrestled by Sergey Spivak in July, but a subsequent win over De Castro showed that Felipe can at least get things going against more plodding opposition. Tafa should wind up engaging with the Brazilian head-on, so this comes down to whether Felipe can absorb what his counterpart has to offer before taking him into deep waters, where the Australian remains unproven. That is a coinflip, and given that this fight takes place in the heavyweight division, the way to usually go is with the knockout power. The pick is Tafa via first-round knockout.

Continue Reading » Emeev vs. Zawada