UFC fan favourite Tai Tuivasa says he’s ready to unleash the old “Bam Bam” as he looks to end a six-fight losing streak at RAC Arena on Saturday night.
Tuivasa (14-9) has not had his hand raised in the octagon for more than four years, but is looking to end the downward run when he takes on Englishman Louie “The Vanilla Gorilla” Sutherland (10-5).
It has been a turbulent lead-in for the 33-year-old heavyweight, who was forced to leave his home in Dubai and temporarily relocate to Perth five weeks ahead of his bout because of the uncertainty created by the war in the Middle East.
Despite all of the uncertainty, Tuivasa said he was in the best place he had been in years to take on Sutherland, who is also desperate for his first UFC win after two consecutive losses.
“It was a bit stressful at the start. I had to get flights, Air BnBs,” Tuivasa told The West Australian.
“I feel good, probably the best I’ve felt in the past few years. I am not just saying that, my outside life is falling into place, and everything is going well. I just need one more win, get on a run, and I’ll be sweet. I’ll be back in there.
“It’s just losing that’s s... because winners are grinners. It’s the ones who do not give up, I don’t want to go out like this. I want to make an example and show everyone I’m meant to be here.”
At the prime of his career, Tuivasa was a knockout machine with 13 of his 14 victories coming from impressive finishes. And it is how the Australian MMA icon is preparing to return to his winning ways, backed by a parochial Australian crowd.
“I keep to what we’ve been training. I will win this in good style, I will win this in Bam Bam style. And a big shoey at the end,” he said.
While in Perth, Tuivasa has been training at Scrappy MMA alongside former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, who will headline the card on Saturday night against Carlos Prates.
“I’ve had a good time at Scrappy. The boys have been taking us on, and we’ve got some good training in,” he said.
“I love the Dellas. They’re good boys. When everyone gets along and everyone is cool, it makes a better workspace.
“We chill, train, and relax. Kick back. It’s been pretty cool.”
