With upcoming UFC fights this weekend, it’s always fun to lay some money down for a few fighters and grow that bankroll on a Saturday night. Let’s take a look at this co-main event bout between heavyweights Karl Williams and Justin Tafa and talk about how this one might play out. Keep reading if you are interested in discovering more about the scores and odds around this UFC fight.
Williams vs. Tafa Picks
- Williams by decision +185.
Continue reading for the official Williams vs Tafa prediction before placing any bets on this UFC Fight Night card on Saturday night.
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa Information
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa
Location of the game: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Date & Time: March 23, 2024. 10 PM ET main card start
How to Watch: ESPN+
Last Fight Record
Williams is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Chase Sherman last May.
Tafa is coming off a big first-round KO win over Austen Lane at UFC 293 last September.
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa Betting Analysis
Karl Williams
Williams is an American mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 9-1, including 3 wins by TKO/KO. He is 34 years old but has only been professional since 2021 after having a 5-1 amateur stint. He’s on a six-fight winning streak, including his win on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn his UFC contract.
Williams is listed as a 6’3” 235 lb orthodox fighter with a 79” reach. In his three UFC bouts, Williams averages 2.93 significant strikes landed per minute and 1.80 significant strikes absorbed per minute. He also averages 4.00 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a 100% takedown defense so far.
Justin Tafa
Tafa is an Australian fighter with a professional MMA record of 7-3, including 7 wins by TKO/KO. The former Rugby league bruiser turned to fighting after injuries on the Rugby pitch oddly enough. He went on to become the XFC heavyweight champion and now has earned two post-fight bonuses in the UFC so far.
Tafa is a 30-year-old heavyweight who usually weighs in around the 265 lb weight limit, standing at 6’0” with a 74” reach. He fights out of the southpaw stance where he lands 5.13 significant strikes per minute and absorbs a whopping 5.93 per minute as well. He has yet to even try for a takedown of his own, but he holds a stingy 100% takedown defense.
Updates
No injuries have been reported to the UFC or ESPN.
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa Betting Preview
This Williams vs Tafa prediction can’t come without carefully previewing the betting lines and odds, along with studying the fight film of these two guys and determining how their styles may clash in the octagon.
According to the UFC fight odds, Williams is going into the weekend as the -180 betting favorite, with Tafa traveling from down under as the +155 underdog. This bout is favored to end inside the three-round distance at -190.
Stylistically, this is a wrestler vs. striker matchup that makes you nostalgic for the pioneer days of the UFC. Nowadays everybody seems to have good all-around skills, but heavyweights tend to be different than all the other weight divisions.
Williams is a big, strong dude with excellent top pressure and can be very explosive in the wrestling game–he just needs to pick and choose his explosive techniques wisely so he doesn’t gas out in minutes.
Tafa has a street fighter vibe to him that many Aussies bring to the table; bone density, power, and a great chin. He is very strong too, so that helps a ton with defending takedowns.
Karl Williams vs Justin Tafa Best Bets and Prediction
Making UFC picks in the heavyweight division is basically like flipping a coin most of the time. This one holds true to that sentiment. Anything can happen when either one of these men lands on the other’s chin.
After breaking this matchup down from all angles, the official Williams vs Tafa prediction is that Williams wins a decision and takes a solid step up in competition in his next appearance. He will be 10-1 and ready for a bigger fight.
The greedy bet would be taking Williams by decision method of victory prop bet at +185, but his money line isn’t too bad either. The wrestling from him is just too much to bet against while going up against Tafa. Tafa will have issues getting back to his feet with Williams on top of him.
- Williams by decision +185.
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