‘It’s going to allow for conversations’ – The real reason behind UFC 325 star Aaron Tau’s extraordinary tattoo

Jan 26, 2026 - 14:45

Aaron Tau’s remarkable face tattoo will make his job of attracting attention much easier at UFC 325 this weekend.

Tau contests the first fight of UFC 325 and is responsible for putting on a show alongside opponent Namsrai Batbayar to keep fans intrigued for the rest of the event in Sydney, Australia.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 22: Aaron Tau of New Zealand prepares to face Yin Shuai of China in a flyweight fight during the Road to UFC event at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Tau is the first UFC fighter with a mataora — a facial tattoo that celebrates the Maori culture[/caption]

UFC president Dana White methodically selects the bout order for each card, so Tau’s position in the opener, headlined by Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes 2, comes with reason.

But it won’t just be the lure of an exciting flyweight clash, or the 32-year-old’s eccentric fight style that could leave fans wanting more.

Aaron Tau wants to promote indigenous culture with facial tattoo

“They think that they’re welcoming me into the UFC,” Tau told The Alternative Commentary Collective ahead of his first promotional appearance in 2024.

“I’m there to welcome them back to the realm of Tumatauenga (god of war in Maori mythology).

“We’ve been here for thousands of years. It’s like, you are coming to me, not the other way around.”

Tau, who trains at City Kickboxing with Eugene Bareman — Israel Adesanya‘s head coach — boasts a remarkable facial tattoo that he only got in 2023.

The following year, the New Zealander was offered a fight on the Contender Series — where prospects compete for a UFC contract.

He fought Elijah Smith, using the opportunity to ‘remind the world where the greatest fighters on Earth come from.’

This was through his mataora — a facial tattoo reserved for those of Maori descent, the second-largest ethnic group in New Zealand.

UFC stars Kai Kara-France and Dan Hooker are both Maori representatives, but Tau will become the first fighter in the UFC with a mataora when he appears at Qudos Bank Arena for UFC 325.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Elijah Smith punches Aaron Tau of New Zealand during Dana White's Contender Series Season Eight, Week Six at UFC APEX on September 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) — Tau lost his first chance at securing a UFC contract when he was outpointed by Smith in a war on the Contender Series

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 22: (L-R) Aaron Tau of New Zealand punches Yin Shuai of China in a flyweight fight during the Road to UFC event at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) — The 32-year-old has since bounced back with consecutive wins on Road to UFC — and will likely sign with the promotion should he win at UFC 325

Tau: Criticism about my mataora will lead to positive conversations

“Negative people are going to have their say and it’s going to allow for conversations that we can have to enlighten and educate people,” Tau, 11-1 in his professional MMA career, said before his defeat to Smith.

“Then other positive conversations are going come from like indigenous people from all around the world, and it will just promote our culture in a positive light, no matter what…

“We’ve just got to be Maori, and by doing that, we will keep our culture.

“It’s a privilege to be able to carry this onto the world stage and have the opportunity to share this part of myself and this part of our culture and our way with the world — it’s cool.”

Displays of Maori culture in sports are often met with polarising views.

Former flyweight title contender Kara-France was mocked by fans unfamiliar with the cultural practices for doing a pukana in face-offs ahead of his fight with Alexandre Pantoja last June.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Opponents Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil and Kai Kara-France of New Zealand face off during the UFC 317 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on June 27, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) — Kara-France was laughed at by some fans for his pukana display when facing off with Alexandre Pantoja ahead of UFC 317

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 22: Aaron Tau of New Zealand poses for a portrait after his victory during the Road to UFC event at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)

Tau hopes his tattoo will promote Maori culture and open ‘positive conversations’ from indigenous people around the world[/caption]

The wild facial expression has been popularised in sports over the years, famously by New Zealand rugby when performing their pre-match haka.

Tau has stated that his main goal in the sport is to remind fans of fighters’ unique backgrounds.

After losing to Smith, he was invited to take part in Road to UFC — a tournament-style programme that offers prospects from Asia Pacific a path to a UFC contract.

Tau stopped Rio Tirto in Shanghai, China, last May, before advancing to the semi-finals and claiming a unanimous decision win over Yin Shuai three months later.

The flyweight has been handed the nickname ‘Tauzemup’ since his entrance to the professional scene in 2019, and explained how he got it in a conversation with Stuff three years ago.

“The name Tauzemup is New Zealand slang,” he said.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 22: Aaron Tau of New Zealand reacts after a victory against Yin Shuai of China in a flyweight fight during the Road to UFC event at Shanghai Indoor Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) — UFC 325 likely marks the last shot ‘Tauzemup’ has of securing a contract in White’s promotion

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MAY 22: Aaron Tau of New Zealand is introduced prior to his flyweight fight against Rio Tirto of Indonesia during the Road To UFC event at UFC Performance Institute on May 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC) — The New Zealander is representing his indigenous roots on the biggest stage

“For lack of a better word, it’s giving someone a hiding.”

Tau hopes to live up to his nickname when he faces Mongolian native Batbayar in the flyweight tournament finale for Road to UFC.

The card features three other finales as part of the season’s fourth edition.

Australia’s own Volkanovski defends the UFC featherweight title in a rematch with Lopes in the main event.

Dan Hooker vs Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight co-main event and Rafael Fiziev vs Mauricio Ruffy in the same division make up other exciting matchups on the card.