The UFC heavyweight division is in dire need of young contenders and Tai Tuivasa might be part of the solution.
24-year-old Tai Tuivasa had never seen the second round in his MMA career before UFC 221. After his fight with Cyril Asker on the main card, 'Bam Bam' is still yet to hear the buzzer signifying the end of the round.
When the fight was booked, it looked like a showcase bout for the Australian. Judging by how it played out, this was exactly the case. Tuivasa was dominant from start to finish, outlanding the Frenchman by 38 strikes to three.
He lit Asker up for the guts of two minutes before the referee decided he had seen enough. Asker's heart did himself no favours as he remained standing, despite never being in the fight. The referee awarded Tuivasa the TKO victory at the 2:18 mark of the opening stanza.
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Tuivasa entertained the crowd with his Octagon interview with John Anik. He opted not call any specific opponent out by announcing, "I just want to fight, keep getting paid, baby.”
As he exited the cage, he celebrated by chugging from a shoe of beer. This act sparked an intriguing line from Jimmy Smith in the commentary booth.
"He loves to fight, he also loves to party. But to do one you've got to do the other."
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Tuivasa is now 7-0 with two of those wins coming under the UFC banner. All seven of his victories have come by way of first-round knockout. Asker, on the other hand, is 9-4 and has dropped two of his past three contests.
