Brother Steps in on One Day Notice to Replace Injured Sibling in UFC Bout

IRVINE, Calif. — In a surprising turn of events, Junior Tafa has accepted the challenge on just a one-day notice to fill in for his injured brother, Justin Tafa, in a heavyweight clash set for UFC 298 this Saturday. The abrupt change occurred during the official weigh-ins as Justin Tafa was forced to withdraw from the bout against Marcos Rogerio de Lima due to an injury.

Junior Tafa, a 27-year-old fighter hailing from New Zealand, was initially slated to face Karl Williams at a UFC Fight Night event in March. Despite the abrupt nature of this opportunity, Junior Tafa stepped up to the plate and successfully made weight at 249 pounds, just five minutes before the weigh-in window closed. The California State Athletic Commission quickly approved this unusual substitution, allowing the new matchup to proceed.

Rogerio de Lima, a seasoned 38-year-old competitor from Brazil, coming off a recent knockout setback against Derrick Lewis, agreed to face Junior Tafa in this last-minute showdown. Justin Tafa, the older brother who had been on an undefeated streak of four wins, had to relinquish his spot in the bout due to the unforeseen injury, paving the way for Junior Tafa to make an unexpected entrance.