At 8-0, New Zealand professional MMA fighter Aaron Tau, is like most youngsters who stumble into MMA off the streets of Auckland, and that is, he doesn’t like his fate being decided by a judge… So he does everything to avoid it.
Aaron ‘Tauzemup’ Tau had finished his last 4 opponents by brutal violence before his 135lb XFC title defence on February 24th at Mansfield Tavern in. Qeensland.
In front of a rocking crowd, Aaron Tau stopped Shane Parker by TKO in Round 2, reinstating his claim at being the best bantamweight across both sides of the ditch. The scalp claimed was a valuable one at that. His opponent, Shane Parker was a 10 fight. 12 year veteran who had represented Australia twice in the commonwealth games in wrestling. And although Parkers record was 5-5 heading in, he was wildly regarded as a dangerous fight.
Even prior to the bout, the match up was intense, with one of the most eery stare downs you’ll ever see, which involved culture and cultivating pre-meditated pain…
The bout started like most tavern fights in QLD, with ‘Showtime’ Shane Parker sprintinh across the cage with a Jorge Masvidal like knee attempt that Tau quickly turned into a takedown, and in turn, controlling the bout
The contest would continue with Aaron Tau quickly proving why he just might be exactly what he says he is. The contest was ultimately stopped moments after some slick stand up that dropped Parker, and was capped off with some of the most violent body kicks you can legally see. The crowd was then rewarded with a patented post fight Haka?... At least I think it was a Haka, I’m pretty white…
The question now is, what’s next for the newly crowned champ?
He needs a big name. Now no one is doubting his skills, nor his credentials or potential, But to stake claim as the true king of oceania, you need to kill the competition. Two names stick out and one has already called out.
Tau hails from one of the most respected gyms in the world, City Kickboxing, that is home to former UFC 185lb champion, Israel Adesanya, & UFC favourite Dan Hooker. Hooker, of whom was once Aaron's coach, now training partner, has deemed Tau more than ready for the big show.
With a few big bantamweight names booked for March 2nd on Hex, Michael Mannu vs Colby Thicknesse and Cody Haddon vs Paul Loga. it seems to be the right time to set New Zealand's next big export up with some of the best Australia has to offer.
One name that has already thrown his hat in the ring is the black belt in Brazilian jiu jitstu and beef, Rod Costa. Who just recently stopped 35+ fight veteran Alan Philpott with jiu jitsu slicker than a mafioso hair cut.
Rod Costa had this to say on a social media post about Aaron Tau:
“Congrats on the win! I wish anyone chasing their dreams the best. If you don’t get signed by the UFC though, then I’ll sign the contract. No one wants to fight you and I need a dance partner.”
Will we get Costa vs Tau in the future? Or will Tau go straight to the UFC…
The problem with this matchup is, Costa, regardless of how you feel about it, is contractually locked into Eternal MMA as is all their champions. And Tau, a diehard loyal XFC supporter could prove incredibly difficult to pry away from XFC.
Will this match up happen? Or will we see Tau snagged up by the bigger shows? Your guess is as good as mine and this is a free article so I’m out of time…
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