Tai Tuivasa has experienced being the hammer many times in the octagon. At UFC on ESPN 42, however, he got another dose of being the nail with a quick knockout loss.
Tuivasa (15-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) was halted by Sergei Pavlovich (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) just 54 seconds into their heavyweight clash Saturday at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. The Aussie got caught in the first exchange, then was battling to recover until some precise final shots from his opponent closed the show.
After a five-fight winning streak, Tuivasa now has been sent back to earth with back-to-back defeats to Pavlovich and Ciryl Gane within the past three months. It’s been a rapid turn of events, but Tuivasa’s spirits don’t appear to be dampened. He’s already focused on getting back on track (via Instagram):
Fuck. Got done tonight 😔 Big love to my team fankyou for all y’all do ❤️🙏🏽
Congrats to @sergei__pavlovich got me first rocked me hard couldn’t recover. 👏🏽
Time to come home see my family be back in the Area and regather 😌🥰Last but not least. ORRRLAAAANDOOO Wooow what a crowd y’all really turned up tonight 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 I didn’t get to put on a show and a shoey tonight my bad I will be back. 💯🙏🏽🙏🏽
All my fans. Sick cunts love yahs ayyy 😘😘
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 42.