UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa's returns to the Octagon in 2022 on an absolute streak against #3 ranked heavyweight Derrick Lewis.
The Aussie knockout artist is on a four-fight winning streak and has bounced back to form since being based in Dubai, training under Shaun Sullivan
Tuivasa is returning to the ring following his brutal knockouts of 10th-ranked Augusto Sakai at UFC 269 and former NFL player Greg Hardy at UFC 264, which both earned him performance bonuses.
Only days before word emerged that the fight is awaiting sign-off, Tuivasa went on The MMA Hour, saying how much he'd like to face Lewis one day.
“I’d love to step in the cage with him one day. I think he’s a bit up from me at the moment, especially coming off his last win,” Tuivasa said.
“But definitely, I would love to fight Derrick Lewis. We both have good personalities.
"We are the fun of this division … He’s a great opponent, he’s a great guy … That’s the way I’d like to prove myself.”
Who is Tai Tuivasa?
Tuivasa is a proud Mt Druitt and Western Sydney local who has become a cult figure internationally.
Not only is Tuivasa a tremendous athlete and fighter, he has a unique personality whose antics outside of the Octagon with the 'shoey' - which is a beer skolled out of a shoe - have made him go viral on many occasions. He is currently ranked no.11 in the heavyweight division with a record of 14-3.
A former rugby league player who was once signed to the Sydney Roosters, Tuivasa showed plenty of potential and was on the path to being an NRL professional.
However his rugby league career abruptly ended due to off-field behaviours, leading him back home to Western Sydney and into a boxing gym.
Tuivasa shows an appreciation of the individual aspect of fighting compared to running out with team-mates on the footy field.
The 28-year-old is an aggressive fighter and fans expect a brawl when he competes with a victory 'shoey' if he wins.
Standing at 188cm and weighing in at 119kg, the big man is one of the fan favourites in the heavyweight division.
After suffering three losses in a row, Tuivasa travelled to California to train with legends such as Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez at the famous American Kickboxing Academy before moving across to Dubai. Since venturing out to these new locations, Tuivasa made a step up and has had four knockouts in a row - including two Performances of the Night
Who is Tai Tuivasa fighting?
Derrick Lewis will step into the Octagon with Tuivasa in front of his hometown fans in Houston Texas.
Lewis broke the record for most knockouts in UFC history when he took out Chris Daukaus in Round 1 of the UFC Fight Night 199 main event in December.
His only loss in his last six fights was for the interim heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 265.
Considering the elite level of chatter from the both of them this will be a very, very fun lead up.
Also, very violent.
This one will be fun!
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) January 7, 2022
Derrick Lewis is due to welcome Tai Tuivasa to Houston at UFC 271.
(via @Farah_Hannoun) pic.twitter.com/U4B3okKnzb
When is Tai Tuivasa fighting?
Tuivasa's fight against Lewis is at UFC 271, where fellow countryman Rob Whittaker will attempt to reclaim his UFC middleweight crown against Israel Adesanya.
Ths card is set for Super Bowl weeked in Houston, Texas - Lewis' home patch - on February 13, AUS time.
This will be the second time in a row Tuivasa has been on a massive card, with his win over 10th-ranked Augusto Sakai going down at UFC 269 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lewis and Tuivasa are the co-main event, so expect them to step into the cage some time after 3:30pm AEDT.
How to watch the fight in Australia?
The absolute barnburner of a card is on Main Event and Kayo PPV.
Settle in, ensure you have adequate hydration and sustenance: for $54.95 your Sunday is sorted.
Purchase the fight here and alert your mates that they now have plans.
What are the betting odds?
The Aussie will go into the bout as a slight underdog.
Tai Tuivasa: $2.60
Derrick Lewis: $1.50
Odds via TAB at 01/02.
Full UFC 271 fight card
Main card
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Israel Adesanya v Robert Whittaker (for Adesanya's middleweight title)
HEAVYWEIGHT: Derrick Lewis v Tai Tuivasa
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Jared Cannonier v Derek Brunson
BANTAMWEIGHT: Kyler Phillips v Marcelo Rojo
LIGHTWEIGHT: Bobby Green v Nasrat Haqparast
Prelims
HEAVYWEIGHT: Andrei Arlovski v Jared Vanderaa
FLYWEIGHT: Roxanne Modafferi v Casey O'Neill
FLYWEIGHT: Alex Perez v Matt Schnell
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: William Knight v Maxim Grishin
Early prelims
BANTAMWEIGHT: Mana Martinez v Ronnie Lawrence
LIGHTWEIGHT: Alexander Hernandez v Renato Moicano
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Carlos Ulberg v Fabio Cherant
MIDDLEWEIGHT: AJ Dobson v Jacob Malkoun
BANTAMWEIGHT: Douglas Silva De Andrade v Sergey Morozov
WELTERWEIGHT: Jeremiah Well v Mike Diamond