Iwo Baraniewski has plan for Junior Tafa that includes not getting touched
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LAS VEGAS – If you're expecting a stand-and-bang war from Iwo Baraniewski on Saturday, just know that's not what he's hoping for.
Baraniewski (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) opens the UFC Fight Night 278 (Paramount+) main card in a light heavyweight fight against Junior Tafa (7-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The 27-year-old Polish prospect is about a 3-1 favorite in the fight.
It's been easy work for Baraniewski so far in the UFC. His DWCS tryout was a 20-second win. His promotional debut last December lasted less than 90 seconds and got him a bonus. His follow-up in March in London was a 28-second $100,000 bonus-winning knockout.
He'd love more of the same against Tafa, not a slugfest.
"He's a dangerous striker. He has heavy hands, and I must be careful in the first part of the fight," Baraniewski told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's media day. "Maybe (it won't be a fun brawl). Maybe I might keep my head safe. … Maybe I show you my grappling skills. Maybe we will do the brawl, but I will be careful about my head."
The 29-year-old Tafa from Australia, is coming off a first-round knockout of Kevin Christian just a month ago in Perth.
Check out Baraniewski's full media day interview above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Iwo Baraniewski's plan for Junior Tafa includes not getting touched