Tai
Tuivasa went toe-to-toe with Derrick
Lewis and got the better of the UFC’s all-time knockout
king.
“Bam Bam” ended a slugfest with Derrick
Lewis in emphatic fashion, landing a standing elbow that caused
“The Black Beast” to fall face first to the canvas 1:40 into Round
2 of the heavyweight co-main event at UFC 271.
In the end, it was the type of effort that could even win over
Lewis’ hometown fans in Houston.
“I thought I did well,” Tuivasa said at the post-fight press
conference. “Come to Houston, I got a few boos at the start, but
turned them into cheers.”
Tuivasa is currently in the midst of five consecutive knockout
victories, making him one of just 24 fighters in UFC history to
author a streak of that length. He still has a ways to go before he
surpasses Lewis’ knockout mark, but the Aussie can envision a day
when that record is his.
“He’s had his time and I think this is the passing of the torch,”
Tuivasa said. “If I keep up doing what I’m doing, and keep focusing
on what I need to focus on, I will one day take over.”
Perhaps more importantly, Tuivasa is emerging as a serious
contender in the UFC’s heavyweight division — not just someone who
does shoeys and entertains the fans.
“I don’t mind being the guy who drinks piss out of shoes and this
and that,” Tuivasa said. “I suppose everyone just focused on this
and that, but at the end of the day, I’m knocking the best in the
world out.”
As it stands, Tuivasa’s victory over Lewis has assured him of
facing another ranked heavyweight contender in his next Octagon
appearance. Exactly who that might be remains to be seen.
“I don’t even know [who] the f—k’s in the top five,” Tuivasa said.
“I don’t even watch fighting, bro. I heard there’s the Stipe’s and
the Ciryl Gane’s
and all that and everyone up there.”