Mixed results as Justin Tafa loses decision, while Josh Culibao scores first UFC win

Brendan Bradford

Mixed results as Justin Tafa loses decision, while Josh Culibao scores first UFC win image

It was mixed results for fighters from Down Under at UFC Vegas 27, with Justin Tafa dropping a unanimous decision to Jared Vanderaa and Josh Culibao getting the nod on the scorecards against Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.

Fighting on the prelims to Cody Garbrandt's bantamweight showdown with Rob Font, Culibao walked away with his first UFC win with three scores of 29-28.

Tafa was the favourite heading into his bout, but was edged by the busier Vanderaa with scores of 30-27 30-27 29-28. It was a bloody and brutal battle, with Vanderaa fighting through a bad cut on his forehead. 

Vanderaa opened with a series of leg kicks, while Tafa responded by throwing hands.

Tafa fired up after copping a knee to the face from in close, but the shots were a touch wild and missed their mark as Vanderaa maintained his composure in the stand-up.

Vanderaa's movement and variation in his striking continued into the second round, with the American attacking Tafa's legs, midsection and head. 

Brisbane-based Tafa was loading up on his shots too much and was backed up into the fence two minutes into the second round.


True to form, Tafa fought fire with fire, opening a cut over Vanderaa's forehead from a huge left.

Blood immediately began streaming down Vanderaa's front in gruesome scenes as the pair continued trading leather in the centre of the Octagon. 

Vanderaa's cut man did an excellent job to stop the bleeding ahead of the third round, before the stand-up action continued. 

Tafa started reading Vanderaa's shots better, but the American was busier until he tired out in the final 90 seconds. 

Just as he went in for the finish, Tafa took a low blow with 37 seconds left in the fight. He recovered as well as possible and continued looking for the finish, but Vanderaa held on for the unanimous decision win. 

Josh Culibao beats Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by UD

Earlier in the night, Sydney's Josh Culibao earned his first UFC win with a unanimous decision victory over Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.

Culibao lost his UFC debut to Jalin Turner in Auckland last year, before a controversial draw with Charles Jourdain on Fight Island in October. 

The 26-year-old scored his first Octagon win with three scores of 29-28, but he had wanted to earn the finish. 

"I would have liked to get the finish, but I feel like it was a pretty clinical performance," Culibao said. 

"I was able to still [look] pretty, didn’t get hit too much…It’s a good feeling to finally get that W.

"He was meant to be the strongest in that first round, in those three minutes, and even then, when he did take me down, he couldn’t hold me down and I think I just made it a big problem for him.

"Once he couldn’t get me down, I think he mentally broke himself and I just took over from there."

Culibao called out 21-year-old Chase Hooper for a fight later this year. Hooper is 2-1 in the UFC since debuting in December 2019. 

"I would like to fight two more times this year at least. September would be good and November would be good too," Culibao said.  

"The guy I would like to fight would be Chase Hooper. I’ve been calling that fight so Chase Hooper, stop ducking me, boy!

"As soon as I signed this fight, for some reason a week later you signed your fight, so Chase, let’s do this."

 

Brendan Bradford