Tai Tuivasa
"Bam Bam"
8 - 1 - 0
Australia
DOB:
16-3-1993
Age:
32 years
Division:
Heavyweight
City/State:
Sydney
Promotion:
Weight
265
Height
6'2
Wins
8
Losses
1
Draws
0
  • KO/TKO
    8/7
    88%
  • SUB

    Warning: Undefined array key "mma_sport_magazine_fighter_profile_stat_successful" in /var/www/wp-content/plugins/stepfox-mma-plugin/mma/display-fighter.php on line 164
    8/
    /var/www/wp-content/plugins/stepfox-mma-plugin/mma/display-fighter.php on line 167
    %;">

    Warning: Undefined array key "mma_sport_magazine_fighter_profile_stat_rate" in /var/www/wp-content/plugins/stepfox-mma-plugin/mma/display-fighter.php on line 169
    %
  • DEC
    8/1
    13%

Background

Tuivasa was born in Sydney to an Indigenous Australian mother, a Samoan father and 11 siblings.[4][5] He grew up in the western Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt 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.[6]

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.[7]

Tuivasa also fought a couple MMA mixed rules bouts with Combat 8 promotions. Tuivasa fought former Australian Rugby League representative John Hopoate on December 1st, 2012 in the Newcastle Panthers FC arena at C8:02, the second Combat 8 event, winning the fight by TKO[8]. Tuivasa later fought kickboxer Peter Graham at Combat8:03, in a back and forth brawl that saw Tuivasa almost finish Graham, but he later rallied and Tuivasa tired as the fight went on, eventually losing the fight via TKO in the second round due to punches.[9][10]

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 an extended period due to a knee injury and subsequent surgery.[11]

Tuivasa would make his UFC debut against Rashad Coulter on 19 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura.[12] 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.[13] This win also earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[14]

Tuivasa faced Cyril Asker on 11 February 2018 at UFC 221.[15] He won the fight via technical knock out in the first round.[16] On 13 February 2018 Tuivasa entered the UFC’s official rankings for heavyweight fighters, coming in at position 15.[17]

In March 2018, Tuivasa signed a new, four-fight contract with UFC.[18] Tuivasa faced Andrei Arlovski on 9 June 2018 at UFC 225.[19] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[20]

Tuivasa faced Junior dos Santos on December 2, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 142.[21] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.[22]

Article source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_Tuivasa

UFC Fight Record
Heavyweight