‘Bam Bam’ is eyeing a big statement in his return to action.
Tai Tuivasa’s comeback is one of several talking points heading into Saturday’s UFC 325 card in Sydney.
The Australian, who was once seen as a rising force in the heavyweight division, has struggled to find form recently, going winless in his last five fights since peaking at No. 3 in the rankings.
His knockout of Derrick Lewis back in 2022 capped a five-fight winning streak and had him firmly in the title conversation at that point.
But a tough run of results has left him well outside the top tier, something he’ll be looking to change when he faces the UFC’s tallest active fighter this weekend.
Before UFC 325 return, Tai Tuivasa says he missed fighting for the first time in a while
Tuivasa’s defeat to Jairzinho Rozenstruik in August 2024 was his last attempt to snap his losing streak before stepping away from the sport.
During his 18-month layoff, Tuivasa admitted that he took things easy and didn’t rush back into training. He has since made weight for UFC 325 after a tough road back to fitness, fuelled by motivation he hadn’t felt in quite some time.
Speaking with Zac Pacleb for UFC.com, Tuivasa said:
“I feel like I miss it,” Tuivasa told Zac Pacleb of UFC.com. “I feel like I’m ready to get back in there. I haven’t felt like that in a while, so I’m pumped.”
The Australian heavyweight also laid out what he hopes to achieve inside Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night.
Tuivasa has past success against taller heavyweights
UFC 325 won’t be the first time Tuivasa has shared the Octagon with a much taller opponent.
Standing at 6ft 9in, Teixeira is currently the tallest fighter on the UFC roster.
That title goes to Stefan Struve, who stood at a full seven feet and was well known for it during his time in the promotion.
Tuivasa’s knockout of Struve back in October 2020 marked one of his key early wins, and he’ll be looking to find similar success against Teixeira this weekend.
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