kids encyclopedia robot

Tai Tuivasa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
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 names Bam Bam
Residence St Marys, New South Wales, Australia
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 266 lb (121 kg; 19 st 0 lb)
Division Heavyweight
Reach 75 in (191 cm)
Stance Orthodox
Team Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA
Tiger Muay Thai & MMA
American Kickboxing Academy (2020–present)
TK MMA & Fitness (2021–present)
Years active 2012–present
Professional boxing record
Total 7
Wins 5
By knockout 3
Losses 2
Kickboxing record
Total 16
Wins 14
By knockout 10
Losses 2
Mixed martial arts record
Total 21
Wins 14
By knockout 13
By decision 1
Losses 7
By knockout 3
By submission 3
By decision 1

Tai Tuivasa (born 16 March 1993) is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 11 June 2024, he is #10 in the UFC heavyweight rankings.

Early life

Tuivasa was born in Sydney to an Indigenous Australian (Wiradjuri) mother and a Samoan father. He grew up in the western Sydney suburb of Mount Druitt with 11 siblings, 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuivasa was scheduled to face Don'Tale Mayes on 20 March 2021 at UFC on ESPN 21. 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. Tuivasa won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Championships and accomplishments

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
    • Performance of the Night (four times) vs. Rashad Coulter, Greg Hardy, Augusto Sakai and Derrick Lewis
    • Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Ciryl Gane
  • Australian Fighting Championship
    • AFC Heavyweight Champion (one time)
  • National Dreamtime Awards 2018
    • National Dreamtime Awards 2018 International Sportsperson of the Year.
  • MMAjunkie.com
    • 2021 July Knockout of the Month vs. Greg Hardy

Personal life

Tuivasa has one son, with Brierley Pedro who is the sister of former UFC light heavyweight fighter Tyson Pedro.

Tuivasa currently hosts "The Halfcast Podcast" with Tyson Pedro and Andrew Fifita as co-hosts.

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

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

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
21 matches 14 wins 7 losses
By knockout 13 3
By submission 0 3
By decision 1 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 14–7 Marcin Tybura Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura March 16, 2024 1 4:08 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 14–6 Alexander Volkov Submission (Ezekiel choke) UFC 293 September 10, 2023 2 4:37 Sydney, Australia
Loss 14–5 Sergei Pavlovich KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland December 3, 2022 1 0:54 Orlando, Florida, United States
Loss 14–4 Ciryl Gane KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa September 3, 2022 3 4:23 Paris, France Fight of the Night.
Win 14–3 Derrick Lewis KO (elbow) UFC 271 February 12, 2022 2 1:40 Houston, Texas, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 13–3 Augusto Sakai KO (punches) UFC 269 December 11, 2021 2 0:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 12–3 Greg Hardy KO (punches) UFC 264 July 10, 2021 1 1:07 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 11–3 Harry Hunsucker TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland March 20, 2021 1 0:49 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 10–3 Stefan Struve KO (punches) UFC 254 October 24, 2020 1 4:59 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 9–3 Serghei Spivac Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 243 October 6, 2019 2 3:14 Melbourne, Australia
Loss 9–2 Blagoy Ivanov Decision (unanimous) UFC 238 June 8, 2019 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss 9–1 Junior dos Santos TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa December 2, 2018 2 2:30 Adelaide, Australia
Win 9–0 Andrei Arlovski Decision (unanimous) UFC 225 June 2018 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 8–0 Cyril Asker TKO (punches and elbows) UFC 221 February 11, 2018 1 2:18 Perth, Australia
Win 7–0 Rashad Coulter KO (flying knee) UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura November 19, 2017 1 4:35 Sydney, Australia Performance of the Night.
Win 6–0 James McSweeney TKO (corner stoppage) AFC 17 October 15, 2016 1 5:00 Melbourne, Australia Defended the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 5–0 Brandon Sololi KO (elbow) AFC 16 June 18, 2016 1 0:21 Melbourne, Australia Won the AFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 4–0 Gul Pohatu TKO (punches) Urban Fight Night 5 December 12, 2015 1 0:44 Liverpool, Australia
Win 3–0 Erik Nosa TKO (punches) Gladiators Cage Fighting: Gladiators 3 November 9, 2012 1 0:28 Sydney, Australia
Win 2–0 Aaron Nieborak TKO (punches) Gladiators Cage Fighting: Gladiators 2 August 31, 2012 1 N/A Sydney, Australia
Win 1–0 Simon Osborne TKO (punches) Elite Cage Championships 2 July 6, 2012 1 N/A Sydney, Australia Heavyweight debut.

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
7 fights 5 wins 2 losses
By knockout 3 0
By decision 1 2
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
7 Loss 5–2 Demsey McKean UD 3 15 April 2016

The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria, Australia

Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Final
6 Win 5–1 David Tuitupou UD 3 Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Semi Final
5 Win 4–1 Hamad Alloush TKO 2, (3)
1:33
Frank Bianco Cup Eight Man Heavyweight tournament Quarter Final
4 Loss 3–1 Michael Kirby UD 3 3 April 2014 Eight man heavyweight tournament final
3 Win 3–0 Willie Nasio TKO 1, (3)
2:00
Eight man heavyweight tournament Semi final
2 Win 2–0 Brett Smith DQ 1, (3)
3:00
Eight man heavyweight tournament Quarter final
1 Win 1–0 Nathan McKay KO 3, (4)
2:57
13 December 2013 Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, New South Wales, Australia Professional debut

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
14 wins, 2 losses
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
16 October 2014 Loss Morocco Ismael Lazaar GFC Heavyweight Tournament, Semi Finals Dubai, UAE TKO (punches and knees) 2 1:32
Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

MMA mixed rules record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches 1 win 1 loss
By knockout 1 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Peter Graham TKO (punches) Combat 8:03 27 April 2013 2 2:55 Big Top Sydney, Newcastle, Australia
Win 1–0 John Hopoate TKO (punches) Combat 8:02 1 December 2012 1 1:40 Wests City, Newcastle, Australia

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tai Tuivasa para niños

  • List of current UFC fighters
  • List of male mixed martial artists
kids search engine
Tai Tuivasa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.