Heavyweight fighter Justin “Bad Man” Tafa says he’s taking a break from MMA after another failed weight cut forced his UFC Perth bout to be cancelled.
The 10-fight UFC veteran was scheduled to face Louie Sutherland, but the fight was scrapped when Tafa fell ill while trying to make weight.
It was the latest setback in a career plagued by injuries and weight struggles — and possibly the end of his fighting days.
“Taking time out of this fight game,” Tafa wrote on Instagram. “The body and mind need time to recover … six major surgeries in three years does that to you.”
He thanked the UFC and fans, adding, “If I return, I’ll be healthier and show my true potential. If not, God has other plans.”
Tafa made unwanted history in 2021 when he became the first UFC heavyweight to miss weight, coming in at 267 pounds for a non-title bout.
Despite that, he holds four UFC wins — all by knockout — and says it’s time to “enjoy watching my kids grow” while considering what comes next.
