Tai Tuivasa has been on the sidelines since his August 2024 loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He returns this weekend at UFC 325 in Sydney against the rising Tallison Teixeira in a Heavyweight brawl.
Tuivasa (14-8) went on a layoff following a five-fight losing streak that saw him finished in four of those losses. He hopes to get back to his winning ways after this reset and sees his career as a blessing.
“I had more time off, I think it played a really big part. Didn’t do s***, ate, drank, and chilled with my son,” Tuivasa stated during this week’s UFC 325 media day. “I watched a lot of people who have done very great things in this sport get to the end and not really know what to do. Just needed some time off, I’ve enjoyed myself, my whole career, I’ve enjoyed myself. I’ve got to do the best s***, travel the world, party around the world, and fight the best people. I’m gifted, I’m blessed.”
Tuivasa continued, “I missed it. I needed to miss it; I miss winning. I’m ready for one this week.”
Tuivasa emphasized his commitment to returning and fighting:
“I’ve never said no. Every date I said I wanted to fight, I’ve rocked up, and that’s what I’m going to do this week. I’m gonna show the heavyweight division, I’m still here, don’t forget about the fat boy.”
When asked whether the title was still on his mind, Tuivasa made his plans clear.
“That’s my plan. Everything I’ve said, I pretty much did to myself, so I needed that break; I had a year off. I plan to go in here, get the job done, and put my hand up for another one.”
“It doesn’t really matter about him, I’m gonna come and give it my all. He’s good, he’s young, he’s done a few things, I think it’s gonna be a good show,” Tuivasa continued, “He’s big, I f***ing know that.”
Despite this fight being a hometown fight in Sydney for ‘Bam Bam’, he seems to pay that no mind. Tuivasa instead has shifted focus to himself and giving himself what he feels he deserves.
“Doesn’t matter to me, the crowds are always good for Bam Bam, so I don’t really care. I’ve just been focusing on myself this camp, and this year I want to focus a lot on myself. I owe this year to myself, so I’m gonna go hard.
“Fighting is what I do, I love to fight. If anything, this is what I missed. I missed the whole hype, preparing for it, and going out and challenging yourself. I think that’s the thing I missed most, but I definitely missed winning more.”
When asked how his mindset has shifted since his last fight, the heavyweight brawler feels like taking time off really helped reset his mind.
“Rested. I said yesterday you put all of yourself into the camp, you try your hardest, you work your a** off every day. This sports not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure. Losers stop, I don’t stop.”
“I feel like I’ve worked on myself a bit, I’m a lot happier. I’m ready to make some money this year.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Tai Tuivasa above. He faces Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 on Saturday night.
