Tai Tuivasa

Last updated

Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa at UFC 234.jpg
Tai Tuivasa at UFC 234
Born (1993-03-16) 16 March 1993 (age 31)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Other namesBam Bam
Residence St Marys, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight266 lb (121 kg; 19 st 0 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Reach75 in (191 cm)
Team Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA [1]
Tiger Muay Thai & MMA
American Kickboxing Academy (2020–present) [2] [3]
TK MMA & Fitness (2021–present) [3] [4] [5]
Years active2012–present
Professional boxing record
Total7
Wins5
By knockout3
Losses2
Kickboxing record
Total16
Wins14
By knockout10
Losses2
Mixed martial arts record
Total21
Wins14
By knockout13
By decision1
Losses7
By knockout3
By submission3
By decision1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Tai Tuivasa (born 16 March 1993) [6] is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 19 March 2024, he is #10 in the UFC heavyweight rankings. [7]

Contents

Early life

Tuivasa was born in Sydney to an Indigenous Australian (Wiradjuri) mother and a Samoan father. [8] He grew up in the western Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt with 11 siblings, [9] [10] and predominantly played rugby league in his youth. He was signed by the professional Sydney Roosters rugby league club in 2010 but gave up playing the sport when he developed a gambling addiction. [11]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Tuivasa made his professional MMA debut in August 2012 in his native Australia. He fought sporadically over the next four years, with all of his wins ending in knockouts. [12]

Tuivasa also fought a couple MMA mixed rules bouts with Combat 8 promotions. Tuivasa fought Australian former rugby league representative John Hopoate on 1 December 2012 in the Newcastle Panthers FC arena at Combat 8:02, the second Combat 8 event, winning the fight by TKO. [13] Tuivasa later fought kickboxer Peter Graham at Combat 8:03, in a back and forth brawl that seemed as if Tuivasa would finish his opponent early on. Yet as the fight went on, Graham rallied and Tuivasa tired, leading to an eventual loss for Tuivasa via TKO in the second round due to punches. [14] [15]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In November 2016, it was announced that Tuivasa had signed a four-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. According to Tuivasa, he had to sit out for an extended period due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery. [16]

Tuivasa would make his UFC debut against Rashad Coulter on 19 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura. [17] Tuivasa won the fight via knockout due to a flying knee in the first round and became the first indigenous Australian to win a UFC fight. [18] This win also earned him the Performance of the Night bonus. [19]

Tuivasa faced Cyril Asker on 11 February 2018 at UFC 221. [20] He won the fight via technical knock out in the first round. [21] On 13 February 2018 Tuivasa entered the UFC's official rankings for heavyweight fighters, coming in at position 15. [22]

In March 2018, Tuivasa signed a new, four-fight contract with UFC. [23] Tuivasa faced Andrei Arlovski on 9 June 2018 at UFC 225. [24] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [25]

Tuivasa faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos on 2 December 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142. [26] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two. [27]

Tuivasa faced Blagoy Ivanov on 8 June 2019 at UFC 238. [28] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [29]

Tuivasa faced Serghei Spivac on 6 October 2019 at UFC 243. [30] He lost the fight via arm-triangle choke in the second round. [31]

Tuivasa was scheduled to face Jarjis Danho on 6 June 2020 at UFC 251. [32] However, on 9 April, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date. [33]

Tuivasa faced Stefan Struve on 24 October 2020 at UFC 254. [34] He won the fight via knockout in the first round. [35]

Tuivasa was scheduled to face Don'Tale Mayes on 20 March 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21. [36] However, Mayes was removed from the fight during the week leading up to the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Harry Hunsucker. [37] Tuivasa won the fight via technical knockout in round one. [38]

Tuivasa faced Greg Hardy on 10 July 2021 at UFC 264. [39] He won the fight via knockout in round one. [40] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award. [41]

Tuivasa was scheduled to face Walt Harris on 30 October 2021 at UFC 267. [42] However, Harris pulled out of the bout and Tuivasa was scheduled to face Augusto Sakai on 20 November 2021 at UFC Fight Night 198. [43] However due to visa issues for Tuivasa, the bout was scrapped. [44] The pair was rescheduled and eventually met on 11 December 2021 at UFC 269. [45] Tuivasa won the fight via knockout in the second round. [46] The win also earned Tuivasa his third Performance of the Night bonus award. [47]

Tuivasa faced Derrick Lewis on 12 February 2022 at UFC 271. [48] Tuivasa won the fight via knockout in round two. [49] The win earned him a Performance of the Night bonus award. [50]

Tuivasa faced Ciryl Gane on 3 September 2022 at UFC Fight Night 209. [51] Despite a knockdown for Tuivasa in the second, he lost the fight via knockout in round three. [52] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. [53]

Tuivasa faced Sergei Pavlovich on 3 December 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42. [54] He lost the fight via knockout in round one. [55]

Tuivasa faced Alexander Volkov on 10 September 2023, at UFC 293. [56] He lost the fight via ezekiel choke in the second round. [57]

Tuivasa was scheduled to face Marcin Tybura on 17 February 2024, at UFC 298. [58] 12 January 2024, it was announced that the fight was rescheduled to headline UFC Fight Night 239 on 16 March 2024. [59] He lost the bout in the first round due to a rear-naked choke submission. [60]

Championships and accomplishments

Personal life

Tuivasa has one son, with Brierley Pedro who is the sister of UFC light heavyweight fighter Tyson Pedro. [64] [65] [66]

Tuivasa currently hosts "The Halfcast Podcast" with Tyson Pedro and Andrew Fifita as co-hosts. [67] [68] [69]

Since 2018, Tuivasa has celebrated his victories by doing a shoey, drinking beer from a borrowed shoe. [70] Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph coined the moniker "Shoeyvasa". [71] [72] At UFC 254, he won again but was not allowed to do the shoey in the cage, but has since continued the tradition.[ citation needed ] [73]

Tuivasa is co-owner of Drink West Brewery with Tyson Pedro and Nathan Cleary. [74]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
21 matches14 wins7 losses
By knockout133
By submission03
By decision11
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss14–7 Marcin Tybura Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura March 16, 202414:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss14–6 Alexander Volkov Submission (Ezekiel choke) UFC 293 September 10, 202324:37 Sydney, Australia
Loss14–5 Sergei Pavlovich KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland December 3, 202210:54 Orlando, Florida, United States
Loss14–4 Ciryl Gane KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa September 3, 202234:23 Paris, FranceFight of the Night.
Win14–3 Derrick Lewis KO (elbow) UFC 271 February 12, 202221:40 Houston, Texas, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win13–3 Augusto Sakai KO (punches) UFC 269 December 11, 202120:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win12–3 Greg Hardy KO (punches) UFC 264 July 10, 202111:07 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPerformance of the Night.
Win11–3Harry HunsuckerTKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland March 20, 202110:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win10–3 Stefan Struve KO (punches) UFC 254 October 24, 202014:59 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss9–3 Serghei Spivac Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 243 October 6, 201923:14 Melbourne, Australia
Loss9–2 Blagoy Ivanov Decision (unanimous) UFC 238 June 8, 201935:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss9–1 Junior dos Santos TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa December 2, 201822:30 Adelaide, Australia
Win9–0 Andrei Arlovski Decision (unanimous) UFC 225 June 201835:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win8–0 Cyril Asker TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 221 February 11, 201812:18 Perth, Australia
Win7–0 Rashad Coulter KO (flying knee) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura November 19, 201714:35 Sydney, AustraliaPerformance of the Night.
Win6–0 James McSweeney TKO (corner stoppage) AFC 17 October 15, 201615:00 Melbourne, AustraliaDefended the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win5–0Brandon SololiKO (elbow) AFC 16 June 18, 201610:21 Melbourne, AustraliaWon the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win4–0Gul PohatuTKO (punches)Urban Fight Night 5December 12, 201510:44 Liverpool, Australia
Win3–0Erik NosaTKO (punches)Gladiators Cage Fighting: Gladiators 3November 9, 201210:28 Sydney, Australia
Win2–0Aaron NieborakTKO (punches)Gladiators Cage Fighting: Gladiators 2August 31, 20121N/A Sydney, Australia
Win1–0Simon OsborneTKO (punches)Elite Cage Championships 2July 6, 20121N/A Sydney, AustraliaHeavyweight debut.

[75]

Professional boxing record

7 fights5 wins2 losses
By knockout30
By decision12
By disqualification10

[76]

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
7Loss5–2 Demsey McKean UD315 April 2016

The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia

Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Final
6Win5–1David TuitupouUD3Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Semi Final
5Win4–1Hamad AlloushTKO2, (3)
1:33
Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Quarter Final
4Loss3–1Michael KirbyUD33 April 2014Eight man heavyweight tournament final
3Win3–0 Willie Nasio TKO1, (3)
2:00
Eight man heavyweight tournament Semi final
2Win2–0Brett SmithDQ1, (3)
3:00
Eight man heavyweight tournament Quarter final
1Win1–0Nathan McKayKO3, (4)
2:57
13 December 2013Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, New South Wales, AustraliaProfessional debut

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
14 wins, 2 losses [lower-alpha 1]
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTime
16 October 2014Loss Flag of Morocco.svg Ismael LazaarGFC Heavyweight Tournament, Semi Finals [77] Dubai, UAETKO (punches and knees)21:32
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

MMA mixed rules record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches1 win1 loss
By knockout11
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss1–1 Peter Graham TKO (punches)Combat 8:0327 April 201322:55Big Top Sydney, Newcastle, Australia
Win1–0 John Hopoate TKO (punches)Combat 8:021 December 201211:40Wests City, Newcastle, Australia

[78] [79]

See also

Notes

  1. Tuivasa's kickboxing record was announced at the beginning of his bout with Ismael Lazaar. [77]

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