UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has no plans to return to the Octagon so quickly after his recent knockout win over Greg Hardy. The Australian fighter, however, is up for anything, as his upcoming bout against Derrick Lewis shows. He’s even open to taking on former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones if and when Jones eventually moves up into the heavyweight division.
In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Tuivasa welcomed the chance to take Jones on. “Count me in. I’ll jump in against Jon Jones.”
Tai Tuivasa: “I’ll Jump in Against Jon Jones”
Tuivasa also reminded Ariel Helwani during the interview, as he has done elsewhere, that he was more committed to partying than to training after his latest win.
“I continued to drink after I talked to you, and apparently Mick [Maynard] messaged me that night. I was too pissed [drunk], and then I woke up in the morning and everyone was calling me.
I was getting pissed. I was in my holiday mode. I was going to continue the holiday for a little bit, but like I said, it’s a big opportunity, and I’m a big fan of Derrick as well. Why not? If it’s popped up, might as well grab it with two hands.”
Tuivasa’s last opponent, Greg Hardy, claimed in a recent social media post that he nearly won their last fight. Tuivasa won the fight via knockout, so how exactly Hardy “nearly” won the bout is unclear, and Tuivasa was far from impressed by his opponent.
“He’s a c*cksucker. I don’t know what he’s on about. If he wants it again, he can come see me. I’ll slap the sh*t out of him again.
So many people hate him. He’s f*cking hated. I just heard he did some sh*t in the past, but it’s real evident that he’s hated – a lot of people hate his ass.”
If Tai Tuivasa can earn a win over Derrick Lewis this weekend, he’ll enter a serious conversation about the UFC heavyweight title. Lewis fought, and lost to, Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in 2021, and is looking to fight for UFC gold once more.
With heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou undergoing knee surgery and out of contention for the foreseeable future, Ciryl Gane recovering from his first MMA career loss against Ngannou in last month’s title fight, and Tai Tuivasa riding a four-fight win streak, UFC 271’s co-headliner could function as a title elimination bout.
If and when Jon Jones steps up at 265 pounds, Tai Tuivasa could very well be the one to welcome him. Would you watch Jones vs Tuivasa? Let us know in the comments.
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