“Coolest replacement in history” – Junior Tafa replaces brother last moment to save UFC 298 fight leaving fans in shock

Junior Tafa replaces his injured elder brother Justin Tafa one day before he was supposed to fight Marcos Rogerio de Lima.

“Coolest replacement in history” – Junior Tafa replaces brother last moment to save UFC 298 fight leaving fans in shock

Junior Tafa steps in for his injured elder brother Justin Tafa against Marcos Rogério de Lima (via UFC.com)

UFC fight cards are notorious for canceled fights and fighter replacements. These are a part of the game, and everyone involved in the sport understands this. UFC 298 is no exception to this. Justin Tafa was supposed to fight at UFC 298. However, an injury forced him out of the bout. The neat part is that his brother, Junior Tafa, has stepped in to replace him. The late replacement comes just one day before Justin was set to fight Marcos Rogério de Lima on the main card.

A knee injury suffered during a pre-fight grappling session forced Justin out. He has had his fair share of incidents involving weight-cutting in the UFC. This latest injury paved the way for Junior’s eleventh-hour entry. The younger Tafa is no stranger to short-notice bouts. Junior is coming off a knockout win last August against Parker Porter. 

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Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria headline UFC 298. They will clash for the featherweight belt. Junior already had a fight scheduled against Karl Williams on March 24th. Now the stakes are even higher as he battles the 21-10-1 de Lima. Lima is coming off a knockout loss to Derrick Lewis.

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The Tafa family and UFC brass hope Junior can bring the action to the octagon. The heavy-handed slugger brings just a 5-1 record. Yet he possesses scary power that can end fights instantly.

Fight fans reacted to Junior Tafa replacing his brother for UFC 298

MMA fans are buzzing over Junior Tafa’s shocking late replacement of brother Justin at UFC 298. Just a day before fighting Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Justin bowed out with a knee injury. 

Fight fans react to Junior Tafa replacing his brother
Fight fans react to Junior Tafa replacing his brother (via CODE Sports)

Fight fans took to social media to express their feelings about the late replacement. Some fight fans felt Junior had the same style his brother possessed. Others felt that this was one of the best replacements in UFC history. Some fans were skeptical about his expected performance against the experienced de Lima. Here are some of the reactions from fight fans: 

This extremely late call-up is a rare occurrence for UFC matchmaking. Fans recognize the unprecedented circumstances these fighters face. Marcus Rogerio de Lima is an experienced fighter. But if Junior lands his power, he can turn the tide of this matchup instantly.

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