Iwo Baraniewski will put his undefeated record on the line against Junior Tafa in a light heavyweight bout on the main card of UFC Fight Night 278 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Baraniewski enters the matchup at 8-0 in MMA and 2-0 in the UFC, while Tafa comes in with a 7-5 MMA record and a 3-5 mark in the promotion. Tafa is heading into the fight after a first-round knockout of Kevin Christian in Perth about a month before this event.
Baraniewski acknowledged the danger in Tafa’s striking, saying, "He's a dangerous striker. He has heavy hands, and I must be careful in the first part of the fight," and added, "Maybe (it won't be a fun brawl). Maybe I might keep my head safe. … Maybe I show you my grappling skills. Maybe we will do the brawl, but I will be careful about my head."
Baraniewski arrives at UFC Fight Night 278 on the back of rapid-fire finishes. He won his DWCS tryout in 20 seconds, then saw his UFC debut last December last less than 90 seconds and earn him a bonus. His follow-up fight in March in London ended in a 28-second knockout that brought a $100,000 bonus.
