Tanner Boser Replaces Justin Tafa To Take On Raphael Pessoa
Boser vs Pessoa is going down in Abu Dhabi. Tanner Boser is looking to say active as he readies to fight Raphael Pessoa on UFC Fight Island. This July 25th fight follows up a first-round KO win that Boser secured on June 25th. The Bulldozer halted former PFL heavyweight tournament winner Philipe Lins in two minutes and forty-one seconds with a highlight-reel stoppage.
The reason for Justin Tafa dropping out of this fight with Pessoa is presently unknown as of this writing. Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the news of this Boser booking to MMA Junkie. They asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has not rolled out an official announcement.
Both Boser and Pessoa rebounded from losses to Ciryl Gane and reentered the win column. Boser secured the aforementioned Lins win and Pessoa beat Jeff Hughes via unanimous decision in October 2019. While this is Boser’s second fight of the calendar year, Pessoa has yet to compete in 2020. Raphael Pessoa has had multiple bouts fall through on him this year. With personal injury and COVID-19 cancellation getting in the way. He now seems finally poised to compete this year.
Boser vs Pessoa
Pessoa looks to put together back to back octagon wins and the LFA/ Shooto Brasil vet has a seventy percent stoppage rate overall. Boser is the former Unfiied MMA heavyweight champion and carved his name out on the Russian circuit [ACA (then ACB) and M1 Challenge] before entering the UFC. The Canadian heavyweight currently has a 2-1 UFC record entering this contest. I think many theorized that a different opponent would be awaiting Boser on Fight Island. Either way, this presents a great opportunity to put together a winning streak in a matter of a few weeks.
The previous time that I interviewed Tanner Boser ahead of his Lins fight, he expressly stated “I wouldn’t oppose taking a short notice fight on Fight Island”. Everything is now being actualized into reality. Boser visits Yas Island in Abu Dhabi later this month for a high stakes heavyweight collision.
