The opportunity came at the eleventh hour and with little warning, but Tanner Boser's dream of fighting on Fight Island has finally materialized.
Canada's Boser (18-6-1) is coming in on short notice—just ten days—to replace Justin Tafa in a heavyweight bout at UFC Fight Island 3, where he'll square off against Brazil's Raphael Pessoa (10-1) on Saturday evening in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Boser, 28, had openly expressed interest in securing a spot on the Fight Island cards after his latest win on June 27 against Philipe Lins, though he admitted he never anticipated it actually happening.
"I requested a Fight Island spot, so I'm happy I ended up getting it," Boser told MMA Empire. "Honestly, I didn't expect it to happen this quickly, but I'm really pleased it did."
"This is something I'll look back on fondly, and I'll cherish every memory and experience from fighting out there. I'm proud to be involved, and I know I'll reflect on this later as a really special moment."
Zero time to recover
After returning home to Canada following his triumph over Lins, Boser faced a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
But mere minutes after finishing that quarantine, the Fight Island offer arrived.
"I'd just gotten out of quarantine for a few minutes when I found out about the fight on Monday," Boser recalled. "I signed on Tuesday, but they offered it to me Monday morning."
"So I had three days to train once I finished quarantine in Edmonton before heading out again."
Beyond the unique Fight Island experience and the rapid turnaround he wanted, Boser is also set to see a meaningful raise this time around, as the fight negotiations included a four-fight contract extension.
Boser expressed satisfaction with how those talks went, for both this matchup and his future UFC tenure.
"With this contract, I secured a solid pay bump, and I'm extremely satisfied," Boser noted.
"I'm eager to get into the next few fights."
Boser comfortable with empty arenas
Boser ranks among the handful of UFC fighters who've experienced these crowd-free events twice now.
He said the Lins bout certainly felt unusual without the roar of fans, yet it didn't phase him—and he actually appreciated it.
"It's a different atmosphere, but whether there's a crowd or not, it doesn't bother me," Boser explained. "I enjoyed it; it reminded me of intense sparring."
"There are factors to consider, but will it truly change anything? Not in my head."
Over the course of his career, Pessoa has demonstrated danger both standing and on the mat, recording five finishes via knockout or TKO along with one submission win.
Boser acknowledged specific threats Pessoa presents that require attention, yet firmly believes he holds the advantage.
"Like every Brazilian ever born, he holds a jiu-jitsu black belt," Boser said. "Beyond that, he's a capable striker—a wild one, throwing lots of spinning techniques and wild punches. You've got to stay alert and avoid getting caught, since he attacks with real malice."
"I'm unquestionably the superior striker—that's not even close. But he's strong and unpredictable, which makes him dangerous."
Of course, Boser isn't the only one adjusting to a late replacement—Pessoa must also adapt to Boser's style instead of his originally scheduled opponent, Tafa.
Pessoa admitted he doesn't know much about Boser, but insisted his objective stays unchanged.
"I don't know a whole lot about him, but it's a fantastic fight for me," Pessoa shared.
"My game plan hasn't shifted; I'll step in and execute my job."
Boser's Shoutouts
"I'd like to thank my sponsors (Paul Peddle Services, BBN Consulting, Premier Built Garages, MealKraft), my coaches (Jeff Montemurro, Keijiro Noda), and my cornermen (Teddy Ash, KB Bhullar)." Follow Boser on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
