Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. All times AEST (GMT +10). Advert. Heaps of times,” he said. In this video I react to 2020 NRL All Stars Match highlights of Indigenous all stars vs Maori all stars. “The kid is incredibly athletic, skilful and has a good footy brain.”. Tuivasa admits he wasn’t suited to the life of a rugby league player. I’m friends with his son, Jamal,” he recalls. “So the idea of fighting, it had been in my mind for some time. I wasn’t enjoying it. That’s not me. Nationwide News Pty Ltd © 2020. “I was living in Maroubra with a few other boys; punting, drinking, all that sort of shit. Yet for the first time, the rising heavyweight has told The Daily Telegraph how his problems with gambling convinced him to walk out on the code in favour of fighting. Broncos young gun ... UFC Vegas 22: Bunson vs Holland, Tai Tuivasa … “That (win) was good for me as he was a big name.”. “And this UFC plan, it’s always been there,’’ he stresses. Once you get to a certain level, it became just a job.”. Oh Tai! UFC news: Tai Tuivasa keen to ‘bang on’ after brutal win over Harry Hunsucker in Las Vegas. log in. And while not the first Sydney footballer to be led astray, the 24-year-old refuses to blame either the Roosters or rugby league’s oft debated culture for his departure. “I said ‘mate, I’m not coming back’.”. “I would never have just given up on rugby league if there wasn’t something else in place. I love the game, I love playing but it’s like anything. Tuivasa has no doubts he could still make it as a rugby league player were he to make the move back to the code. Next week he makes his UFC debut. “Oh, easy,” he says without blinking an eye. To prepare for a tough Fijian, he called in a 120kg Aboriginal-Samoan. Five years on, one of Australia’s biggest MMA fighters will make his UFC debut in Sydney next month against American Rashad Coulter, after signing a life-changing four-fight contract. TAI Tuivasa gambled away $20,000 the night before he walked out on the Sydney Roosters, quit rugby league and looked for a change of life in boxing. A combat sports cult hero because he drinks beer out of his shoes, Tuivasa beat Stefan Struve, who is also known as "Skyscraper" because at 7-foot he's tall even for a tall guy. UFC 254 : Tai Tuivasa vs Stefan Struve. Seated now at one of those dozen steel benches outside his favoured Penrith bakery, Tuivasa blends easily among the morning swirl of tradies, factory hands and those with little else to do but hang. “At one point in the evening, I honestly believed I’d make a million dollars. Get back with my family and a different way of living.”. Tai Tuivasa is an Australian mixed martial arts fighter, currently competing in the UFC heavyweight division. news.com.au March 21, 2021 4:16pm Video Tuivasa, a former Panthers and Roosters junior, was preparing for his UFC debut. Tai Tuivasa opens up on Jon Jones and his debut in the world’s fight capital. I had to go home to family in western Sydney.”. Tai Tuivasa and Tyson Pedro address the backlash from a recent episode of The Halfcast Podcast. There were some controversial (not really) comments … Aussie heavyweight Tai Tuivasa knocked out late replacement Harry Hunsucker in 49 seconds at UFC Vegas 22 on Sunday (AEDT). “One bloke does something, so three more of you do it. “Growing up playing football, you play with mates, guys you hang out with every day,” he told foxsports.com.au. Don't have an account? Tuivasa phoning U/20s coach Jason Taylor that next morning to say he quit. TAI Tuivasa blew $20,000 the night before he walked out on the Sydney Roosters, quit rugby league and looked for a change of life in boxing. ON THE UP: Robert Whittaker’s path to UFC title, SILVA: UFC legend fails another drugs test. Tai Tuivasa accounted for Stefan Struve via TKO at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, October 24, 2020 Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images "But to be honest, I'm a prizefighter. Instead, the 140kg slugger has built up an imposing MMA resume that sees all seven wins arrive via first round KO. “This was about me,’’ he insists. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. If someone wanted to fight, I was the first person in.”. “But I’ve always loved fighting, since I was little.”. Initially signed to Penrith Harold Matthews, the Tricolours swooped in 2010 through then recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan. TAI Tuivasa gambled away $20,000 the night before he walked out on the Sydney Roosters, quit rugby league and looked for a change of life in boxing. Tai Tuivasa scored a thumping knockout win Saturday at the UFC 254 event on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. A junior representative player through every age group, the Sydney Roosters youngster was training with the club’s first-grade squad in 2012 and tipped for big things. Predictably, the fight didn’t last long, the younger Tuivasa dropping Hoppa inside 90 seconds, a result he admits raised his profile as a fighter. UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland Tai Tuivasa knockout win He loved cage fighting because it kept him out of jail. Tai Tuivasa se relance sur le Fight Island. Set to make his UFC debut at Qudos Bank Arena this Sunday, Tuivasa was once ranked alongside Tricolours young guns like Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Set to make his UFC debut at Qudos Bank Arena this Sunday, Tuivasa was once ranked alongside Tricolours young guns like Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Gallen was 7-0 as a pro boxer, taking his latest detour from the NRL to fight Puna Rasaubale after the 2017 season. It's safe to say Tuivasa is back on track following a three-fight skid in 2019. Tai Tuivasa. Tai Tuivasa celebrates his victory over Cyril Asker after monstering … There are training camps, and then there's what Tai Tuivasa just put himself through. A bold decision, but one he hasn’t looked back from. Undefeated in five professional fights, all won by knockout, heavyweight Tuivasa – whose sparring partner and mentor is UFC legend Mark Hunt - has no regrets over walking away from rugby league. “And that’s when I decided I had to get out of rugby league. Tai Tuivasa has settled into a good training setup in Dubai, but says he is missing his son back in Australia Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images "The reason I came here was because I thought the fights were going to be on Fight Island, but now I'm fighting in Vegas, so that was a bit of a U-turn," Tuivasa said. The Mt Druitt product became unsettled after moving away from his family in Sydney’s west to Maroubra in 2010 and turned to gambling. “I was known for getting sent off. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. “It was years ago. NRL: Peter V'landys was on Matty Johns' Face to Face and couldn't help himself from having a dig at the AFL. Knockout king Tuivasa says he could still make it as an NRL player. “Or if I didn’t believe in my ability as a fighter. Trying to hurt in tackles and running hard. Tuivasa, who started his career at Penrith Panthers before being poached by the Roosters, says the culture for young players in rugby league didn’t suit him and was the reason behind his switch to the Octagon. Yet when I finally walked out, I had nothing — not even enough money for a cab. Tai Tuivasa in action for Sydney Roosters. Credit: PA "I'm only ever focused on fighting whose in front of me and right now that's him - it should be good fun. Leaving rugby league didn’t end Tuivasa’s loose association with football. Aussie star Tai Tuivasa has put the UFC on notice again with a deadly right hand bomb that has put his opponent to sleep. And now this Sunday, five years after quitting rugby league, he makes his anticipated UFC debut against tattooed Texan Rashad Coulter. That was until one day he suddenly quit football for a career in mixed martial arts. Tai Tuivasa (born March 16, 1993) is an Australian mixed martial arts fighter currently competing in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I like Hoppa. “I was training with the Roosters’ first grade squad but it wasn’t what I wanted to do. “But I was fairly blunt,” the fighter continued. “And I still have no doubt Tai’s an NRL player,” O’Sullivan told us two years later, when the prop walked out. He fought former NRL bad boy John Hopoate in an exhibition event in Newcastle in 2012. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout, Join the conversation, you are commenting as. Quizzed on why he quit the Roosters, Tuivasa replied: “Because the night before, I did my arse at Star Casino. And since the introduction of the NRL’s no-punch rule, Tuivasa looks to have made the right move, a decision that will be fully vindicated with a debut UFC win on November 19. A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites. Sucking up coaches’ a**es, that’s not me,” he said. The Indigenous Australian was a talented rugby league player, signing with NRL club the Sydney Roosters before retiring due to a gambling addiction. Tuivasa, of Sydney, made quick work of Hunsucker in scoring a knockout just 49 … Australia’s Tai Tuivasa has continued his stunning climb in … Tuivasa-Sheck won the Dally-M Medal in 2018. “But I just realised, for me, it couldn’t continue. He previously played for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League, with whom he won a premiership with, in 2013, playing on the wing. He admits his temper on the field wasn’t suited to a career in rugby league. Tai Tuivasa stuns Harry Hunsucker with a big right hook that stumbles Hunsucker and finishes the fight. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (born 5 June 1993) is a New Zealand international rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for and captains the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.. Tai Tuivasa claims KO win in opening minute UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa is back in the winner's circle, with a first round knockout. That night at the casino, it was my tipping point.”, To join the conversation, please STANDING at 6ft 2in and tipping the scales at 136kg, Tai Tuivasa had all the makings of a future NRL star. In Tuivasa’s defense, he wasn’t just drinking for his own sports moment. “I was an aggressive player. UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa quit the NRL because of the ‘ass-kissing’ culture. A junior representative player through every age group, the Sydney Roosters youngster was training with the club’s first-grade squad in 2012 and tipped for big things. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. After a gruelling three-month training camp in Dubai, Tai Tuivasa took just 49 seconds to score a brutal knockout win over UFC debutant Harry Hunsucker in … “Football is a sport where you get told what to do, what to say and told how to be. 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