It sounds like Tai Tuivasa is not going anywhere despite yet another setback inside the Octagon.
‘Bam Bam’ has struggled immensely since a 2022 knockout victory over Derrick Lewis pushed him to a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the UFC heavyweight division.
Prior to Saturday’s UFC Perth event, the Australian had dropped six fights consecutively. Tuivasa’s decision loss to Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 marked his first failed attempt to bounce back in 2026.
And the fan favorite did not have a much better time of things when he returned on home soil at the RAC Arena on May 2.
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Is it finally time for Tai Tuivasa to call it a day on his UFC career?
Tuivasa suffered a record-extending seventh straight loss in front of his home crowd in Perth😬
Tai Tuivasa says he will ‘never give up’ as he addresses the UFC Perth loss
Tuivasa was among the biggest names on the latest UFC Perth card, as he and a number of other Australians set the stage for Jack Della Maddalena’s main event against Carlos Prates.
As has been the case for much of his losing skid, ‘Bam Bam’ was unable to defend against Louie Sutherland’s takedowns.
The English heavyweight controlled much of the fight on the ground en route to three 30-26 scorecards in his favor.
Given that Sutherland was unranked and 0-2 in the Octagon prior to UFC Perth, many think Tuivasa’s seventh straight loss should mark the end of the road for him in MMA.
But it does not seem as though ‘Bam Bam’ shares that sentiment. In a statement on social media, Tuivasa instead said he will go “back to the drawing board” after the latest defeat.
“SORRY 😞 I tried I felt good I put in the work didn’t get result. I feel like a s— c— let my fans down again. Back to the drawing board for me. C— of a sport,” Tuivasa wrote on Instagram soon after exiting the cage in Perth.
“BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP IM FROM WESTERN SYDNEY YOU GOTTA PUT ME OUT FOR ME TO GIVE UP.
“Sorry all my loyal fans I really am and to my team love yahs 🫡❤️”
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Before losses to Sutherland and Teixeira in 2026, Tuivasa also fell short against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Marcin Tybura, Alexander Volkov, Sergei Pavlovich, and Ciryl Gane.
Prior to the UFC Paris defeat against Gane, ‘Bam Bam’ had climbed into title contention owing to a memorable five-fight winning streak.
That run of victories is now a distant memory for fans of Tuivasa.
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