It was a night to forget for Tai Tuivasa at UFC Perth on Saturday, as the Australian heavyweight's losing streak stretched to seven fights in a performance that may mark the end of his UFC run.
Facing short-notice opponent Louie Sutherland, Tuivasa found himself grounded and outmatched from the opening bell. Sutherland dominated with relentless takedowns and suffocating control on the mat, leaving Tuivasa stuck on his back with no escape route. The frustration boiled over late in the fight when Tuivasa committed a foul that cost him a point, sealing a lopsided 30-26 unanimous decision across all three judges' scorecards.
"Listen, me and my coaches said it, we done a big 360, we started here, it didn't go to plan," Sutherland said after earning his first UFC victory. "But that's on a week's notice, who you f*cking booing? I love fighting. I've know I've got the skills to win in this organization. Get me anybody, I'll fight them all. Marcin Tybura, Serbia, let's have at it!"
The fight opened with Sutherland shooting for an early takedown, but Tuivasa initially shrugged him off and reset in the center of the octagon. Undeterred, the Brit charged again, putting Tuivasa on the ground. The veteran Australian managed to scramble back to his feet without too much trouble, briefly turning the tide with a couple of heavy punches and a sharp elbow. Sutherland absorbed the blows and answered back with a spinning back elbow and a clean knee up the middle, igniting a wild scramble that ended with Sutherland on top and Tuivasa playing defense on the canvas.
Sutherland rode out the remainder of the first round in control, and the pattern only intensified in the second. He quickly closed the distance, tossed Tuivasa to the mat, and slid into side control. While the action was measured, Sutherland methodically advanced to mount and hunted for an arm triangle choke, though he couldn't quite lock it in. Still, he stayed glued to Tuivasa, shutting down every attempt to escape.
With five minutes left in the final round, Sutherland cracked Tuivasa with a stiff calf kick before scoring yet another takedown in the center of the cage. From there, it was more of the same—dominant top control and a Tuivasa who simply had no answers.
For a fighter once known for his knockout power and fan-friendly brawls, this seventh straight loss raises serious questions about what comes next. In the unforgiving world of the UFC heavyweight division, the writing may be on the wall.
