Tai Tuivasa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tai Tuivasa |
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Tuivasa at UFC 234 in 2019
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| Born | Tai Anthony Tuivasa 16 March 1993 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Other names | Bam Bam |
| Residence | St Marys, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| 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 | 22 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
Tai Anthony Tuivasa (born on March 16, 1993) is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He is known for his powerful punches and exciting fights. Tai competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 2025, he is ranked #10 among UFC heavyweight fighters.
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Tai Tuivasa's Early Life
Tai Tuivasa was born in Sydney, Australia. His mother is an Indigenous Australian (from the Wiradjuri people), and his father is Samoan. Tai grew up in Mount Druitt, a suburb in western Sydney, with his 11 brothers and sisters. When he was younger, he mostly played rugby league. In 2010, he was signed by the professional Sydney Roosters rugby league club. However, he later decided to stop playing the sport to pursue other interests.
Tai's Mixed Martial Arts Journey
Starting His MMA Career
Tai Tuivasa began his professional MMA career in August 2012 in Australia. For the next four years, he fought occasionally, and all of his victories during this time were by knockout. This showed how strong his punches were right from the start!
Tai also took part in a few mixed rules fights with Combat 8 promotions. In December 2012, he fought former rugby league player John Hopoate and won by TKO. Later, he faced kickboxer Peter Graham. Tai started strong, but Peter Graham fought back, and Tai eventually lost in the second round.
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship
In November 2016, Tai Tuivasa signed a four-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He had to wait a while to make his debut because of a knee injury and surgery.
Tai's first UFC fight was on November 19, 2017, against Rashad Coulter. Tai won the fight with an amazing flying knee in the first round! This made him the first Indigenous Australian to win a UFC fight. He also earned a "Performance of the Night" bonus for his exciting win.
Next, Tai fought Cyril Asker in February 2018. He won this fight by technical knockout in the first round. Soon after, he entered the UFC's official heavyweight rankings, starting at position 15.
In March 2018, Tai signed another four-fight contract with the UFC. He then faced Andrei Arlovski in June 2018 and won by a unanimous decision.
Tai faced some tough challenges after that. He lost to former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos in December 2018. He also lost fights to Blagoy Ivanov in June 2019 and Serghei Spivac in October 2019.
Tai was supposed to fight Jarjis Danho in June 2020, but the event was postponed.
Tai's Winning Streak
Tai got back to his winning ways in October 2020, when he faced Stefan Struve and won by knockout in the first round.
In March 2021, Tai fought Harry Hunsucker and won by technical knockout in the first round.
He continued his impressive run by defeating Greg Hardy in July 2021 with a first-round knockout. This win also earned him another "Performance of the Night" award.
Tai was scheduled for a couple of fights that didn't happen, but he eventually faced Augusto Sakai in December 2021. Tai won this fight by knockout in the second round, earning his third "Performance of the Night" bonus.
His winning streak continued in February 2022 when he faced Derrick Lewis. Tai won by knockout in the second round, which earned him another "Performance of the Night" bonus.
Recent Fights
In September 2022, Tai faced Ciryl Gane. Tai knocked Ciryl down in the second round, but he eventually lost the fight by knockout in the third round. This exciting fight earned both fighters the "Fight of the Night" award.
Tai then faced Sergei Pavlovich in December 2022, losing by knockout in the first round.
In September 2023, he fought Alexander Volkov and lost by submission in the second round.
Most recently, Tai fought Marcin Tybura in March 2024 and lost by submission in the first round. In August 2024, he faced Jairzinho Rozenstruik and lost by split decision.
Tai's Achievements and Awards
Tai Tuivasa has achieved many great things in his fighting career:
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- "Performance of the Night" award four times (for his fights against Rashad Coulter, Greg Hardy, Augusto Sakai, and Derrick Lewis).
- "Fight of the Night" award one time (for his fight against Ciryl Gane).
- He is tied for the fourth most consecutive knockouts in UFC history, with 5 knockouts in a row!
- UFC.com Awards
- In 2022, his fight against Ciryl Gane was ranked #7 for "Fight of the Year."
- His win against Derrick Lewis was ranked #8 for "Upset of the Year" in 2022.
- Australian Fighting Championship
- He was the AFC Heavyweight Champion one time.
- National Dreamtime Awards 2018
- He won the International Sportsperson of the Year award in 2018.
- MMAjunkie.com
- His knockout win against Greg Hardy in July 2021 was named "Knockout of the Month."
Tai's Personal Life
Tai Tuivasa has a son with Brierley Pedro, who is the sister of former UFC fighter Tyson Pedro.
Tai also hosts a podcast called "The Halfcast Podcast" with Tyson Pedro and Andrew Fifita.
Since 2018, Tai has a fun tradition: after winning a fight, he celebrates by doing a "shoey." This means he drinks beer from a borrowed shoe! A Sydney newspaper even gave him the nickname "Shoeyvasa." Even though he wasn't allowed to do it in the cage at one event, he has continued this tradition.
Tai is also a co-owner of Drink West Brewery, along with Tyson Pedro and Nathan Cleary.
In 2024, Tai won the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race Australia with his brother Logan.
Tai Tuivasa's Fight Records
Mixed Martial Arts Record
Tai Tuivasa has a professional MMA record of 14 wins and 8 losses. Out of his wins, 13 were by knockout, and 1 was by decision.
Professional Boxing Record
Tai has also competed in professional boxing. He has a record of 5 wins and 2 losses. 3 of his wins were by knockout.
Kickboxing Career
Tai also has experience in kickboxing. In 2014, he competed in the GFC Heavyweight Tournament. He lost in the semi-finals. Overall, Tai has a kickboxing record of 12 wins and 2 losses.
MMA Mixed Rules Record
Tai has a mixed rules MMA record of 1 win and 1 loss.
Images for kids
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Tuivasa at UFC 234 in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Tai Tuivasa para niños
- List of current UFC fighters
- List of male mixed martial artists
