Australian heavyweight Justin Tafa has sensationally withdrawn from Sunday’s UFC Perth card — with the popular slugger failing to weigh-in for his fight against Scotland’s Louie Sutherland.
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The drama finished a morning where both RAC Arena headliners – New Zealander Carlos Ulberg and American Dom Reyes – made the light heavyweight limit, albeit after a wait of almost two hours.
It also comes as Aussies Jimmy Crute and Jake Matthews are looking to win big in UFC Perth, with both fighters telling Fox Sports Australia that, in victory, they would then be keen to fight again before the year is out.
Incredibly, the UFC Perth card was initially set to include both Tafa brothers, Justin and Junior.
However, a fortnight ago Junior pulled out with a ligament injury in his hand, with big brother Justin then failing to hit the scales at the UFC fighter hotel in Perth on Saturday morning.
The fight was meant to take place on the main card, with Scottish heavyweight Louie Sutherland now left without an opponent after making the long trip Down Under.
While it was announced that Tafa had withdrawn due to “illness”, the popular Queenslander had attended all fight week events and was expected to hit the scales early Saturday morning.
Fox Sports Australia spoke with Tafa after the open workouts on Wednesday, where the heavyweight was in good spirits and spoke about looking to again earn himself a $50,000 UFC bonus against his UK rival.
“It’s always exciting, man,” the Brisbane slugger said when asked about the potential of another domestic showcase.
“I always look forward to it.
“The heavyweight division has a lot of movement right now, but my only concern is getting the job this Sunday and finishing the guy.”
The withdrawal continues a chaotic week that has also seen rising Australian welterweight Jono Micallef left without a fight after Oban Elliott – aka The Welsh Gangster – withdrew on Thursday due to an illness.
Elliott had made the trip Down Under, and his showdown with Micallef was among the most anticipated fights on the undercard.
Elsewhere at the weigh-ins, American featherweight Ramon Taveras also weighed in one pound heavy for his bout against Australia’s Jack Jenkins.
It is understood Team Jenkins will still take that fight, despite the discrepancy.
Jenkins was also forced to strip down behind a screen when jumping on the scales, joking afterwards: “It’s so dramatic when you only have one chance”.
Speaking this weekend, Matthews said he was refusing to take anything from being the biggest favourite on the card in his showdown with American Neil Magny, stressing: “This is one of the hardest fights I’ve ever had”.
It comes as the Melburnian is looking to earn a fourth straight win, and his third this year after beating Chidi Njokuani and Francisco Prado.
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“But I haven’t got this fight in the bag by any means,” he stressed. “I didn’t even know what the odds were but for me, it’s all noise.
“So obviously, the first thing is to get the win.
“But I’d potentially like to even have a fourth fight this year.
“I don’t have anyone to call out — I just want to be as active as I can be.
“So get me in there, get me fighting.”
Crute, meanwhile, also spoke about potentially fighting again in only a few weeks with a victory against Ivan Erslan.
“For me, it’s another f***ing fight,” he said. “I just want to see all the Aussie boys win big.
“But with a win, I’d also be keen to fight again this year.
“My coach is getting a knee replacement in December so I can’t go then.
“But November, absolutely.”