All signs pointed to chaos when Junior Tafa and Billy Elekana stepped into the octagon at UFC 325, where two finishers collided in a bout between two Samoans.
Tafa (6-4) entered the UFC with a reputation as a heavy-handed knockout artist, but those results have yet to fully translate at the highest level. Sitting at 2-4 inside the octagon, the younger brother of former UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa was coming off a submission loss to Tuco Tokkos last July. With just one win in his last four outings, Tafa entered UFC 325 in desperate need of a bounce-back performance.
Elekana (9-2) built his resume competing in promotions like the PFL and LFA before making his UFC debut at UFC 311 against Bogdan Guskov. He dropped that bout via submission but quickly rebounded, rattling off back-to-back victories over Ibo Aslan and Kevin Christian to reestablish momentum heading into UFC 325.
Round 1 – Elekana opened the fight with pressure and leg kicks, but Tafa answered with kicks of his own while moving backward. Elekana continued to press Tafa toward the fence, blocked a head kick, and then walked directly into a thunderous right hand that dropped him.
Tafa looked to follow up, but Elekana quickly locked up a body clinch to slow the action. Tafa countered by securing a kimura, using it to create separation and return to striking.
Elekana attempted a single-leg takedown, but it was stuffed with ease. Tafa continued to find success with his jab, forcing Elekana to shoot again in search of a takedown.
After resetting in the center, Elekana landed a clean jab, but Tafa backed him to the fence and connected with a heavy right hand before circling back to open space to avoid further takedown attempts.
As the round wore on, Tafa came increasingly close to landing a fight-ending blow, repeatedly tagging Elekana with power shots. The round closed with Tafa unleashing a nasty combination, answered only by a late counter from Elekana.
Round 2 – Tafa got back to his game plan landing on Elekana and avoiding the takedowns. Tafa began to slow a bit because Elekana landed a clean right hand and rocked him pretty hard. Tafa got mobile to get out of range, but Elekana followed him.
Tafa fired a right hand, missed, and Elekana got the body lock and got him to the ground. Elekana got to the back, flattened him out, and looking for the finish.
Tafa went to his back and Elekana got to the mount. Tafa turned and Elekana took the back once again with just under 2 minutes left in the round.
Elekana got an arm under the neck and finished the bout via RNC.
Official Result: Billy Elekana def. Junior Tafa via R2 SUB (RNC), 3:18
