Tai Tuivasa has reached a low point following his latest loss at UFC Perth but is determined not to remain there. The Australian heavyweight endured his seventh consecutive defeat against Louie Sutherland via unanimous decision, a result that has sent him back to the drawing board. In a post-fight statement, Tuivasa expressed a mix of frustration and unwavering resolve.
Sutherland, who stepped in on short notice, dominated the majority of the bout with takedowns and ground control. Tuivasa spent significant portions of the 15-minute fight on his back, unable to mount an offense that would sway the judges. The situation worsened when he received a point deduction late in the fight for an illegal grounded knee, resulting in scorecards of 30-26 across the board.
Following the loss, Tuivasa shared a candid statement on Instagram: “SORRY, I tried, I felt good, I put in the work didn’t get result.” He refrained from making excuses about the opponent’s short-notice status, his training camp, or any other external factors, instead taking full responsibility. “I feel like a shit c**t let my fans down again,” he wrote, before declaring his defiance: “BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. I’M FROM WESTERN SYDNEY. YOU GOTTA PUT ME OUT FOR ME TO GIVE UP.”
Tuivasa hails from Mt Druitt, a tougher neighborhood in Sydney’s west, raised by an Indigenous Australian mother and Samoan father among eleven siblings. Before venturing into MMA, he was signed by the NRL’s Sydney Roosters but left professional rugby league due to a gambling addiction. The cage became his second chance, and the people of Western Sydney became his identity.
His last victory was on February 12, 2022, when he knocked out Derrick Lewis with an elbow in the second round at UFC 271, over four years ago. Since then, he has only experienced losses. His losing streak is so extensive that he is now just one defeat away from matching Tony Ferguson’s record of eight consecutive losses, the longest in UFC history. Ferguson’s streak occurred between 2020 and 2024.
It’s notable that Tuivasa remains with the UFC despite his current position. Most fighters with seven consecutive losses are typically released or pushed out. His name recognition, knockout power, and moments of genuine excitement have kept him with the promotion despite the brutal losing streak. However, this goodwill has its limits.
The crucial question for his career is whether the UFC will offer him another opportunity or if his UFC Perth appearance marks the end. Tuivasa himself asserts he will never give up voluntarily. Whether the promotion allows him to continue fighting to prove that remains to be seen.