Logan lad signs with UFC

A minimum of 3 training sessions per day, a strict eating program and no deviation from the routine: Junior Tafa’s daily schedule is intense, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. 

And his discipline has paid off.  

Junior, a proud Logan lad, has recently signed with UFC in the Light Heavyweight division. 

While his first fight, scheduled for 12 February, has been delayed due to a hand injury, Junior is hoping to be back in the ring within the next few months.  

He can’t wait. 

‘I’ve wanted to do this for as long as I can remember, same as my brothers,’ he says. Junior’s brother Justin is also signed with UFC, in the Heavyweight division. 

‘My grandad was a professional boxer, so it feels like we are carrying on that legacy and our family really love it that we are doing this,’ Junior says – adding that he even loves the intense training schedule. 

‘I really like the structure of it – I do well when there is a set structure. Training gets more intense and moves to 5 sessions a day closer to a fight – you just have to stay focused.’ 

 As well as continuing a family legacy, Junior says he has been ’flying the Logan flag’ for years. 

‘I’m always telling everyone how good Logan is, how much potential my community has, and I have seen that potential,’ he says. 

The place he most often sees it is at his gym of choice, NTG Fight and Fitness in Slacks Creek, where he and his brothers have trained since it opened in 2019. 

‘This place has helped me get to where I am,’ he says. 

‘People come in here and learn how to face and overcome adversity – and then in the process they meet these big brother figures. We call each other family here, we are all trying to push each other to be better. 

‘It’s great. The first step is about being brave and just coming in – anyone who comes here we consider brave. 

‘You will see a kid here giving it their all when they are training – and they could be anywhere, but they choose to be here in this gym bettering themselves. 

‘It’s good that the younger kids can see us here too, training for the bigger fights. 

‘’I love the feeling after a workout, the routine it gives you being part of it.’ 

NTG owner Nugget McNaught says the gym’s community feel is an important part of its culture. 

‘We are all about giving back to the community here and making it a safe place for everyone who trains. We have heaps of young kids who come in – if you come in some afternoons, there are so many kids running around, it’s half gym, half childcare centre,’ he says. 

‘People can find it a bit daunting but I would say to them, don’t be shy, come in and have a look around. It’s a great place to be for anyone, whether you want to come for fitness, confidence building, MMA, Boxing or Thai boxing. People get a lot out of it and it definitely keeps them out of trouble!’ 

Junior trains with his brothers and says a bit of sibling rivalry can be helpful. 

‘We do train together and it helps, to feel that sense of competition when you train,’ he says. 

A day’s training for Junior consists of an hour of strength conditioning, 2 hours of bag work and 2 hours of pad work, wrestling, or jujitsu.  When a fight approaches, more sessions will be added including recovery sessions.  

Junior’s brother Justin Tafa will be fighting this Sunday (12 February) in Perth at UFC 284, against Parker Porter from the USA. 

• Learn about NTG Fight and Fitness.
• Check out some action images on Junior Tafa’s Instagram page. 
• Find out more about UFC here.