Justin Tafa was a man on a mission last Saturday when he captured the XFC heavyweight title, dispatching former champion Jeremy Joiner in the main event of XFC 36.
The long-standing Queensland based promotion held their event at the Mansfield Tavern on Brisbane’s South.
Tafa pushed the action and after landing a high-kick, immediately pounched, forcing his opponent to try and trade off the cage. Joiner looked to escape but Tafa, the older brother of Glory kickboxer Junior Tafa, stayed on him and two consecutive rights found their mark to get the stoppage.
HEADKICK & BOMBS!!! There’s a new Aussie 265 pound prospect on the horizon
Check out Justin Tafa (2-0) who obliterated XFC champ Jeremy Joiner (5-3) in seconds at #XFC36
Main card fights here: https://t.co/DqeJr5HVGL@MMATodayNews pic.twitter.com/efoFEXn8RC
— DC Howard (@FightFan_DC) July 29, 2018
The fight ended only 28-seconds into the fight as Justin Tafa moves his professional MMA record to 2-0. After starting his career 5-0, Joiner has now dropped three on the trot.
In the co-main event Integrated MMA and Nitro Box trained Jackson Small secured the biggest win of his short career, upsetting Bevan O’Malley to take the XFC featherweight title. After taking the first round, Small made sure of it early in the second, landing a step-in one-two to get the knock-out victory.
Small moves to 4-2 while O’Malley drops to 4-2.
Youngster Kaela Banney put on a dominant performance, defeating Western Australian fighter Kim Piper and in the process defending her XFC women’s atomweight title.
Results (Pro):
- Justin Tafa def. Jeremy Joiner (c) via KO, Rd 1, 0:28- XFC heavyweight title
- Jackson Small def. Bevan O’Malley via KO (Punches), Rd 2, 0:33 – XFC featherweight title
- Kaela Banney def. Kim Piper via Decision (Unanimous) – XFC women’s atomweight title
- Craig Callghan def. Dimps Gillies via Decision (Unanimous)
Results (Amateur):
- Michael Tepou def. Sean Olsen via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 4, 1:11 – XFC amateur super-lightweight title
- Aaron McConnell def. Tom Nolan (c) via TKO (Strikes), Rd 3, 0:45– XFC amateur featherweight title
- David Martinez (c) def. Pati Lemai via Submission, Rd 2, 1:14 – XFC amateur lightweight title
- Aaron Tau def. Naveed Hassanzada via Decision (Unanimous)
- Jamie Sporne def. Brendan Smith via TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage), Rd 1, 1:38
- Lewis Shalley def. Amir Laalaa via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 2:27
- Tahleigh Cassidy def. Hannah Thomas via Submission (Armbar), Rd 2, 1:08
- Wade McConnell def. Mitch McLaren via Decision (Unanimous)
- Tai Tangiiau def. Carlin Bull via Decision (Unanimous)
- Dane Alchin def. Callum Kahupukoro via Submission, Rd 1, 1:33
- Nicholas Smith def. Mike Cooper via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Rd 2, 2:10
- Alex Hong def. Adam Washbourne via Submission (Armbar), Rd 1, 2:19
