Unbeaten Polish Judoka Iwo Baraniewski kicked off the UFC Vegas 118 main card opposite Junior Tafa on Saturday.
A former heavyweight, Tafa was now calling 205lbs home and coming off a win over Kevin Christian back in May. “The Juggernaut,” brother of ex-UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa, was 1-1 in 2026, a year in which he hoped to stay busy.
That desire likely hinged on how Tafa performed against Baraniewski at UFC Vegas 118. The Polish light heavyweight was not only undefeated, but had never left the opening round.
Baraniewski opened the action with a low kick, which Tafa worked his hands and fired a kick, mid-height, of his own. Baraniewski then closed the distance and clinched up along the fence, looking takedown. He could not, however, get the fight down or even keep Tafa pinned to the cage. Instead, it was back to center, with Baraniewski firing more kicks. And after one that stumbled Tada, a second followed that landed with a crack and spun Junior around. He went to the ground, hobbled by the leg kick, which was all the invitation Iwo Baraniewski required to move in for the kill. Punch after punch rained down as Junior Tafa covered up. Ref “Big” Dan Miragliotta didn’t take much convincing to wave the fight off after that.
For Tafa, not the result he was looking for and not one that will see him return soon. Iwo Baraniewski however both remains perfect, and keeps his first-round finish streak alive. He’s now 9-0 as a professional, and called for somebody from the top 15 for his next fight.
Official Result: Iwo Baraniewski def. Junior Tafa by TKO (leg kick and strikes), Round 1, 1:25
