Tai Tuivasa was on the cusp of a title shot back in 2022. The Australian was on a five-fight win streak including a knockout victory against the dangerous and formidable Derrick Lewis, who serves as the gatekeeper to the top echelons of the heavyweight division. ‘Bam Bam’ had lost his next three fights albeit to top heavyweight prospects Alexander Volkov, Ciryl Gane, and Sergei Pavlovich, with the latter two fighters having fought for the title last year.

Regardless, he had a chance to turn things around and get back into title contention in the sparse heavyweight division if he wins his fight against #10  ranked Marcin Tybura in their UFC Fight Night Vegas 88 bout tonight. Yet, seemingly the opportunity was missed! After a submission loss against Marcin Tybura, we take a look at the ethnic and cultural roots of Tai Tuivasa.

Tai Tuivasa takes immense pride in Samoan heritage

Tai Tuivasa was born in the Pacific Islander-dominated Mount Druitt area in Sydney, Australia, and is one of fourteen kids. While the 30-year-old is an Australian national, he is of mixed cultural and ethnic descent.

‘Bam Bam’s mother is of Indigenous Australian descent, belonging to the Wiradjuri group while his father is of Samoan descent. Tuivasa identifies strongly with his father’s Samoan heritage and is especially proud of his father’s village which is known for its fighting spirit, which he carries into the octagon.

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He had a traditional Samoan tattoo called Pe’a, that covers the lower half of his body and is a rite of passage for Samoan males as it is an extremely painful process to get it. While he did not get much exposure to his mother’s Indigenous culture growing up he has reconnected to his Indigenous roots as he has grown up.

Tuivasa’s martial arts journey started early. He grew up in the same community and was friends was UFC fighter Tyson Pedro, whose father ran an MMA promotion and the two young boys would dream of becoming famous fighters one day. And his next fight may help him get one step closer to fulfilling that dream.

Sparks were expected to fly at Tuivasa-Tybura

The stakes for both men were high. A win for Tai Tuivasa would prove that he belongs in the top ten of the heavyweight division and deserves to be in the title mix. On the other hand, Marcin Tybura who has now sealed the deal, finds himself closer to a title shot after his submission win.

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Stylistically, their bout was expected to be a classic grappler vs. striker contest, with Tuivasa’s striking and willingness to stand in the pocket and trade heavy shots going up against the serious grappling that Tybura brings to the table. In reality, however, Tuivasa seemed to fall short from the very start.

‘Bam Bam’s takedown defense could have played a crucial role against him. Nevertheless, the Pole’s striking was not to be underrated and ultimately proved dominant. As Tybura preferred to take the fight to the ground, he could hold his own on his feet, and he proved his class with a rear-naked choke!

What do you think of Tuivasa’s upset loss and how fans have deemed his performance disappointing?

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