Australian upstart heavyweight Tai Tuivasa’s appetite for competition knows no bounds. Fresh off the back of a thunderous knockout win over Derrick Lewis, “Bam Bam” is chasing the former UFC heavyweight champ, a man widely considered one of the best to ever do it: Stipe Miocic.
Tuivasa told MMAJunkie that taking on Miocic would be a career highlight that makes sense given the landscape around the UFC’s 265-pound title.
Tuivasa Eyeing Stipe Miocic Fight
“It’s definitely a fight that I think should be up next, or especially it’s the fight I want. I think the other guys around the clock, I think we’re gonna be around for a few more years and out of respect, I think I would love to share the ring with him, and I think I’m up there for a chance of it, so why not?
He’s a great fighter, someone I’ve watched for many years and someone I’d definitely love to challenge myself against.” I’m on a five-fight streak now, and now I’m No. 3. It’s not that hard.
Stipe is in front and like I said, it’s somebody I’d love to challenge myself against, especially that it’s somebody that I’ve seen do his thing for many years. And, well, he’s still in front of me at the end of the day, someone I’d like to go against.”
Tai Tuivasa is eyeing July’s International Fight Week for a potential Miocic fight. That’s a long layoff for Tai Tuivasa, who took on Derrick Lewis only four weeks after demolishing Augusto Sakai.
Stipe Miocic has not set foot in the Octagon since losing his heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou. That was almost a year ago now, but Miocic is a patient man. What’s another couple of months to return to his title?
“I think that was the timeline that we heard Stipe wants to have a fight in, so that kind of makes sense, as well.” As for Tai Tuivasa, the young Australian fighter is simply thrilled to even be seriously talking about taking on Stipe Miocic.
“Even to say Stipe’s name, it kind of sounds a bit surreal sometimes even when I say it. But it’s like, I’m here. I’ve made it now. I’m up here with the best, and that’s who I want to get next. That’s pretty cool, but it’s time for some people to move out and some new people to move in.”
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