Brisbane heavyweight Justin Tafa has spoken about his UFC 298 fight week withdrawal, insisting that being stuck in the middle seat in economy class on a long flight was partly to blame.

Tafa was scratched from his bout against Marcos Rogerio de Lima in California last month after suffering a knee injury during training camp

His younger brother, Junior, stepped up on a day’s notice to fill his spot.

The ‘Bad Man’ this week revealed that his woes began on the flight from Australia to America when he had to sit between two elderly women and couldn’t use an armrest.

‘I put it down to the body not being right with the travel,’ said the 30-year-old, who stands 182cm tall and weighs 120kg.

‘When you’re in my body, sitting in the middle seat, you know what I mean.

Aussie heavyweight Justin Tafa has spoken about his UFC 298 fight week withdrawal, claiming that an awful economy-class flight from down under to the USA was partly to blame

‘My shoulders are touching each other and then I have to go out and try and fight. My body just wasn’t right.

‘Really gotta make sure the muscles are stretched out rather than just sitting in a seat.

‘I can barely fit into the plane toilets, bro. ‘

When questioned by a reporter about how an enormous UFC heavyweight couldn’t win the battle for an armrest, Tafa explained it’s because he’s very polite.

‘I had two old ladies next to me,’ he smiled.

‘And I’m just like, “Damn, anyone else…”.

Tafa then revealed that he not only gave up his armrests, but he gave the ladies his complimentary Tim Tam biscuits, too.

The big-punching Australian will square off with Karl Williams this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 89.

Tafa explained that flying is tough at his size because he can hardly fit in airplane toilet

The Aussie squares off with Karl Williams this weekend in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 89

Williams comes into the bout on a six-fight win streak, after impressing on Season Six of Dana White’s Contender Series.

Tafa is unbeaten in his last four fights, with three of his wins coming by first-round knockouts.