Tai Tuivasa has finally spoken out after another tough night in the Octagon, and the message from the Australian heavyweight is raw, emotional, and defiant.
The UFC heavyweight contender suffered his sixth consecutive defeat at UFC 325, falling to Tallison Teixeira via unanimous decision. Once a fast-rising knockout artist in the division, Tuivasa’s recent skid has raised serious questions about his future inside the cage.
At 32, Tuivasa now holds the longest active losing streak in the heavyweight division. While he didn’t absorb excessive damage against Teixeira, he struggled to find his rhythm, hesitated to let his hands go, and couldn’t solve his opponent’s wrestling. In the aftermath, many fans urged him to consider retirement in the interest of his long-term health.
Tuivasa admitted that even accepting the fight wasn’t easy. After the loss, he chose to address the criticism head-on.
“That hurts the soul more than any punches,” Tuivasa wrote in his first Instagram post since UFC 325.
“I tried. I had a great camp, looking forward to getting back in camp with the boys. So much to work on. Always big love to my supporters, especially the Aussie fans and crowd always cheering me on. I’m sorry for falling short again. F— s— feeling ayy.”
What clearly hurt Tuivasa the most wasn’t the defeat itself, but who was watching.
“My poor boy has watched me get a hiding a few too many times now,” he wrote. “But just like I always tell him, as long as you give it all you have and keep trying, that’s all that matters. As long as I’m doing this, I will always keep trying.”
Tuivasa returned at UFC 325 following a lengthy layoff, and while he showed flashes late in the fight, it wasn’t enough to swing the judges. The loss hit hard, especially given how close he once stood to title contention. As recently as 2022, Tuivasa was riding a five-fight win streak capped by a knockout of Derrick Lewis. A Fight of the Night loss to Ciryl Gane marked the beginning of his downturn.
“Thanks to everyone that was involved and helped me during this camp and also during the time I had off,” he added. “My beautiful partner, thank you for looking after me and putting up with my s—. I love you all.”
In a moment that mixed humor with frustration, Tuivasa even issued a public callout for help in an area that has plagued him throughout his skid.
“I love you [Khamzat Chimaev], I’m coming to wrestle brother. Teach me,” Tuivasa wrote. “I am sick of this cuddle s—.”
Tuivasa’s last victory remains his knockout win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 271, and there’s no indication yet whether the UFC plans to keep him on the roster. Still, his message makes one thing clear: Tuivasa isn’t done trying.
“I didn’t get the result, son,” he wrote, addressing his child. “But that is how life goes sometimes.”
For now, Tuivasa is bruised, reflective, and frustrated, but far from broken.
