Willie Tarpley talks incredible 15-year layoff, eyes rematch for CFFC title

We often hear fighters talk about ring rust after they're forced to the sidelines for any lengthy period, but generally, they're measuring the time away in months. Willie Tarpley took a 15-year break from the sport following his professional debut in 2006.

Tarpley blamed the time away on "paper sharks and life." Tarpley said.

"I've signed a few times to different fight teams, and they just philandered with me. They just sat around and they didn't do nothing, so I took a break. I was so mad at the management and corrupt trainers, and I just took a break and got my life right. Sometimes you can have talent, but you don't have the mentality. You'll mess it up like an Adrien Broner or something, and so I just took a break. In my life right now, God came and got me and said, 'It's that time again,' so I was like, 'All right, let me try.'"

Tarpley stayed somewhat consistent with Brazilian jiu-jitsu training during his time away from competition. But as he sat around one night watching UFC fights, he had a revelation based on a suggestion from the bartender.

"My wife and I were watching UFC fights in a bar," Tarpley recalled. "I have a friend named Andy Garcia. He's a bartender, and he's like, 'Yo, why don't you fight any more?' Because we're watching it, and as the commentators are talking, I'm talking. I'm saying the same thing 30 seconds to a minute before they say it, and he's like, 'Man, you obviously know what you're looking at. Why don't you fight anymore?' I was like, 'Man, I don't know. My mind wasn't on it at the time,' and he's like, 'I think you should take it seriously.'

"I was like, 'Well I need a sponsor, I need some money to go do it because obviously I'm working, and my bills, they take priority. So he's like, 'I'll sponsor you,' and it began from there. I started taking jiu-jitsu tournaments, and I met my fight team, and that's all she wrote."

Tarpley began working at DEFWAR and Gracie Tampa, and he returned to the cage in 2021, needing just 36 seconds to pick a submission victory. He then made his CFFC debut and would suffer a second-round submission loss to Greg Velasco, who has since gone on to claim the CFFC heavyweight title.

Tarpley said the experience was an eye-opener.

"I look at it as I'm back in school, and every time I fight, it's like an exam," Tarpley said. "Sometimes I pass, sometimes I fail. I lost my first fight in CFFC to the guy who's holding the belt right now, Greg Velasco. Velasco, and that was an experience jump for me because you have local promotions, you have feeder promotions, and you have top tier. Since CFFC is a feeder, the experience is completely different than somebody on a local level.

"My first fight back was 36 seconds. I took the CFFC fight, and he just outclassed me through experience. I went back to the drawing board, and I fought two more times and I won, and I got my mojo back. Now I understand. I think I'm ready for this experience."

Tarpley (3-2) returns to action at Thursday's CFFC 114 event, where he faces fellow heavyweight Tra'Von Butler (4-2) in a matchup that streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

Tarpley said he plans to press the pace from the start.

"From what I see, he's a pretty game opponent," Tarpley said. "I hope he has a gas tank because that's all I've been doing. I've been a cardio junkie ever since I lost to Greg.

"I know he's going to swarm me. I know he's a decent wrestler, but I'm prepared to take it to the ground or to the standup."

A victory would see Tarpley own a three-fight winning streak and a 4-1 overall record since his return from the lengthy hiatus. What would come next remains to be seen, but he isn't ruling out a rematch with Velasco if "The Viking King" is willing.

"I'm on a roll right now," Tarpley said. "I win right now, I'm just going to feed that momentum. You know, everybody dreams of the belt, so hopefully this puts me in the running for a title shot, maybe even a rematch.

"I mean, I take it in stride, but if I rematch him, you know, everybody tries to get their lick back. I want it back. He took some energy from me."