What happened to Justin Tafa? Health updates explored as UFC fighter pulls out from Louie Sutherland fight

UFC Perth announced the Justin Tafa and Louie Sutherland fight is cancelled on September 26, as the martial artist suffers illness. UFC officials didn't provide additional information on Justin Tafa's illness or health. This comes after Justin's brother and fellow UFC heavyweight, Junior Tafa, pulled out of the same card due to an injury.

The announcement took place on September 26, during the weigh-in. Heavyweight Louie Sutherland took to the scales at 259 lbs and successfully made the weight for his bout with Tafa. However, when Tafa did not hit the scales close to the weigh-in window, UFC promotion officials announced that Tafa is off the card due to illness. Officials also published a statement online noting,

"Due to illness, Justin Tafa has been removed from his heavyweight bout with Louie Sutherland. As a result, this bout has been cancelled."

The cancelled bout was notably a disappointment for Louie Sutherland, who had just made the weight for the fight, and also for the fans who bought tickets to see their favorite player's fight. Fighters have been dropping this UFC season, with first Junior Tafa pulling out due to an injury, followed by Oban Elliott and now Justin Tafa.

UFC officials had earlier slashed the price to salvage the ticket sales. However, there was reportedly no improvement as fan favorites dropped out of the game.

Justin Tafa opens up about why he pulled out of UFC 317

New Zealand- Australian fighter Justin Tafa had also pulled out from a previous UFC 317 game. While speaking to reporters on September 24, Tafa opened up about the reason behind his withdrawal.

"My wife's pregnant and she's at a really high-risk. So we have to go hospital. We've been going hospital every week bascially or twice a week. Sometimes you just got to step back and remember fighting's just a part-time thing."

He then added,

"When you consider everything in life, you know, you're a husband and father and that. I just didn't want to take any risks or anything. Make sure I look after the family at home and was very unfortunate."

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Tafa also mentioned that while competing on Fight Island in 2020, his wife delivered a stillborn and noted that this "kind of stuff" plays on Tafa's mind and he wouldn't "want to take that risk again."

He also thanked people for looking after him and asking him why he pulled out of the fight and said that fathers would understand.

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