Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Iwo Baraniewski looks to keep his pro record intact against Junior Tafa on Saturday at UFC Vegas 118, as they collide inside the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
With back-to-back first-round finishes in his first two bouts inside the octagon, Baraniewski is going to be the betting favorite with -375 UFC odds, while Tafa, who’s fresh off a bounce-back win, will be the +300 betting underdog.
UFC Vegas 118: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa Fight Odds
- Iwo Baraniewski: -375
- Junior Tafa: +300
UFC Vegas 118: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa: Tale of the Tape
| Iwo Baraniewski | Junior Tafa | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 27 | 29 |
| Height | 6’0” | 6’3” |
| Reach | 73.5 inches | 75 inches |
| Leg Reach | 44.5 inches | 43 inches |
| Record | 8-0 | 7-5 |
| Fighting Style | Judo | Kickboxer |
| Finishing Rate | 100% | 100% |
UFC Vegas 118: Iwo Baraniewski vs. Junior Tafa: Prediction
I predict a TKO/KO victory for Baraniewski because even though they’re both knockout artists, Baraniewski is the more technical and accurate striker than Tafa. Baraniewski is also a heavy kicker, which means he can attack Tafa’s lead leg.
As a power puncher, Tafa is very heavy on his lead leg because he generates this power from it. During his previous fight, Tafa hurt his leg from his opponent’s calf kicks and was very careful in dodging them.
If Baraniewski targets it early into the fight, he’ll be able to chop down Tafa’s lead leg, compromise it and nullify his power. Then, Baraniewski can fire his combinations to potentially knock him out.
Iwo Baraniewski’s Recent Fight Results
Baraniewski was a Babilon MMA standout before joining Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. He finished Mahamed Aly in just 20 seconds to secure a UFC contract. He quickly scored two wins under the promotion with finishes against Ibo Aslan and Austen Lane.
Junior Tafa’s Recent Fight Results
Tafa was an undefeated fighter when he was signed by the UFC in 2023. In eight octagon fights, he has only scored three wins against Parker Porter, Sean Sharaf, and Kevin Christian, while his other five fights were defeats to Mohammed Usman, Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Valter Walker, Tuco Tokkos, and Billy Elekana.
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