Lane vs Tafa Fight Info, Date & Time
UFC on ABC 5 – Preliminary Card Heavyweight Bout
Austen Lane (12-3, 11 KOs) vs. Justin Tafa (6-3, 6 KOs)
Date:'Saturday, June 24, 2023
Fight Time:'This will be on the preliminary card, which begins at 12 p.m. ET.
Venue:'VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, Florida
Coverage:'ABC, ESPN+
Lane vs Tafa Odds & Prop Bets
Moneyline:
– Austen Lane: (+144)
– Justin Tafa: (-186)
Method of Victory:
– Lane by KO/TKO: (TBD)
– Lane by Points: (TBD)
– Lane by Submission: (TBD)
– Tafa by KO/TKO: (TBD)
– Tafa by Points: (TBD)
– Tafa by Submission: (TBD)
Lane vs Tafa Prediction
Austen Lane has been an interesting fighter to keep up with. The NFL pro turned to the octagon after failing to make an impact on the field and has impressed with 11 knockout wins in 15 professional bouts. He most recently took down Richard Jacobi via a first-round KO to earn a spot at the top level.
On the other side, Justin Tafa is about as hit or miss as they come. He has posted a 3-3 record since making his UFC debut in 2019 and all three of his wins have come via a first-round KO. He hasn't gone up against the toughst of competition, though, so Saturday serves as a chance to truly prove himself.
Keep in mind Lane also enters this fight with a massive 6-inch height advantage and 6-inch reach advantage. He is also someone capable of leaning on his cardio to grind down his foe, which does not bode well for Tafa considering he has yet to win a UFC bout that has lasted beyond the first round.
Lane vs Tafa Best Bet
Taking Lane on the moneyline is a perfectly fine option, but backing him to win via KO/TKO comes with significantly more value. After all, 11 of his 12 victories have come via KO/TKO and Tafa has suffered a KO/TKO loss at the UFC level before. Lane's cardio will not only help him wear Tafa down, but it will also help him have enough gas left in the tank to land a devastating punch in a later round.