Unranked light heavyweights collide on Saturday night, as Junior Tafa faces Billy Elekana in the featured preliminary bout of UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia.
Tafa (6–4, 6 KOs) has dropped four of six fights since making his UFC debut in April 2023 and is looking to rebound from a submission loss to Tuco Tokkos last July. Elekana (9–2, 3 KOs, 2 SUB) enters on a two-fight winning streak, most recently securing a first-round submission over Kevin Christian in November.
Elekana enters as a -265 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Tafa sits as a +215 underdog. The total is set at 1.5 rounds.
Tafa vs. Elekana Preview
Junior Tafa
Tafa, 29, arrived in the UFC, boasting a 4–0 record with four knockouts. But “The Juggernaut” has looked anything but since his Octagon debut; he’s dropped four of six fights, including three stoppages — one knockout and two submissions.
A move down to light heavyweight didn’t turn things around, as he got finished by Tuco Tukkos in his 205-pound debut.
Still, the Australian kickboxer wields legitimate walk-off power. All six of his career victories have come by knockout, most recently a second-round TKO of Sean Sharaf in Oct. 2024. Facing a must-win scenario, Tafa should be hunting another stoppage on Saturday night.
Billy Elekana
Billy Elekana, 30, has rebounded nicely following a submission loss in his UFC debut against Bogdan Guskov last January. The “Son of Susie” beat Ibo Aslan on the scorecards in July before securing a first-round submission against Kevin Christian in November.
The American southpaw has secured five of his nine career wins inside the distance, flashing his versatility with three knockouts and a pair of submissions. He’ll look to play spoiler in enemy territory against his Australian opponent.
Tafa vs. Elekana Pick, Best Bet
Even with the hometown crowd behind him, Tafa will face a serious challenge against the far more well-rounded Elekana. Expect the American to use every tool in his arsenal and leave no doubt with a stoppage victory on Saturday night.
