UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa was far from sober when he agreed to fight Derrick Lewis. Tuivasa specifically requested Derrick Lewis after his latest highlight-reel knockout win, but he didn’t believe that the higher-ranked Lewis would agree to take him on. Clearly, however, Tuivasa’s four-fight winning streak was enough to earn him a shot.
Late one night when Tuivasa was out partying, he replied to a message from UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. Simply put, he told ESPN, he was so “blind” (Australian slang for extreme intoxication) that he forgot that he’d even agreed to the fight.
Tai Tuivasa Reveals He Was Drunk When He Accepted Derrick Lewis Fight
“I was on the piss. I was blind. I didn’t notice until the next morning that Mick Maynard messaged me and I had messaged back. He messaged, ‘Are you awake,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah.’ It was like 4:30 in the morning.
And then I woke up to 20 missed calls from my manager, from my coach Sully [Shaun Sullivan] and s**t like that, so I was like, ‘Something must have happened.’
And then it come up, and why not? Why wouldn’t I? It’s a great opportunity. Obviously, he’s No. 2 or No. 3 or whatever he is. He’s a fan favorite, I’m a fan favorite.
I really respect Derrick, what he’s done and the person he is. Why wouldn’t I say yes? I think it’s all win-win, it’s an opportunity for me, so I’m all in. And I think it’s my time, it’s my time to take over and become the new [revered] fighter of my generation, just like he was before me.
I think it’s my time to take over.” This is one of the most exciting heavyweight fights of the year. Both men are knockout artists known for their all-in brawling style. Tuivasa believes that, with youth on his side, he might be able to dethrone the self-appointed knockout king.
“I’m younger, I think I’m faster, I’ve got the aggression, and my style is probably going to be really hard for him. But I’ll worry about me. Derrick’s the same, as he worries about himself and what he’s good at. So that’s what the fight’s going to be.
It’s going to be a battle of that. Who’s going to land the shot first, and who’s going to execute it the best. And I feel like I’ve got what it takes to put him away.”
Can Tai Tuivasa put Derrick Lewis to sleep? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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