Justin Tafa is ready to make up for lost time. After revealing the cause that forced him out of UFC 317, the New Zealand heavyweight will return to action on home turf, set to face Louie Sutherland this Saturday at UFC Perth.
“My wife’s pregnant and she’s at a really high-risk. So we have to go hospital. We’ve been going hospital every week basically or twice a week. Sometimes you just got to step back and remember fighting’s just a part-time thing,” Tafa told reporters on Wednesday.
“When you consider everything in life, you know, you’re a husband and father and that. I just didn’t want to take any risks or anything. Make sure I look after the family at home and was very unfortunate.”
Tafa (7-5) revealed the heartbreaking circumstances he endured while competing on Fight Island in 2020.
“Not many people know I had a stillborn during one of my camps two weeks before a fight at Fight Island,” he said.
“That kind of stuff plays on my mind so I don’t want to take that risk again. That’s for everyone asking why I pulled out that last fight. I’m sure if you’re a father, you’ll understand.”
Now he makes his return at UFC Perth against Sutherland on Saturday night.
“He’s good, you know, just like any other guy. If you’re in the UFC you must be good enough to fight,” he said.
“In the heavyweight division even the weakest punchers stronger than the average guy. Got to respect everyone and just take every fight just the same.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Justin Tafa above. He faces Louie Sutherland at UFC Perth on Saturday night.
