Heavyweights are headed to “Fight Island.”
Justin Tafa and Raphael Pessoa will fight as part of the UFC’s upcoming event on July 25 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – also known as “Fight Island.” The event will be the fourth of four cards the promotion is holding in 14 days at the same location.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Thursday following an initial report from MMA DNA. The person asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Pessoa (10-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) also confirmed the bout on his Instagram page Thursday.
Australia’s Tafa (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has split two UFC appearances. After being knocked out in his promotional debut in his home country at UFC 243 in October, Tafa was on the opposite side of the equation in his second UFC bout. At UFC 247, Tafa finished Texas’ Juan Adams with strikes in Round 1.
Pessoa, too, was finished in his UFC debut. After the submission loss to Ciryl Gane, Pessoa rebounded at UFC on ESPN+ 20 in October, defeating former LFA heavyweight champion Jeff Hughes by unanimous decision.
With the addition, the July 25 lineup includes:
- Darren Till vs. Robert Whittaker
- Alexander Gustafsson vs. Fabricio Werdum
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
- Bethe Correia vs. Pannie Kianzad
- Movsar Evloev vs. Mike Grundy
- Raphael Pessoa vs. Justin Tafa
Justin Tafa books third UFC bout, meets Raphael Pessoa on 'Fight Island'
