In a gritty performance that showcased the power of teamwork, Louie Sutherland finally learned a lesson every fighter eventually must: listen to your corner.

The English heavyweight, known as "The Vanilla Gorilla," stepped into hostile territory at UFC Perth on Saturday to face fan-favorite Tai Tuivasa. Despite a sea of boos raining down from the crowd, Sutherland stuck to the game plan and outgrappled the Australian veteran for three full rounds, earning a unanimous decision victory—his first in the Octagon.

But the win came with an honest confession. In his post-fight interview, Sutherland admitted it had been a long time since he actually followed his coaches' advice during a fight.

"It's the first time I've listened to my coaches in probably about six fights," Sutherland said with a sheepish grin. "And that's the result."

The bulky Brit pointed to his recent knockout loss to Brando Pericic as a turning point. In that fight, he lost his composure and ignored his corner's instructions—a mistake he was determined not to repeat.

"Against Brando, I lost my composure, didn't listen to the corner. My corner's like, 'Look, we know you can brawl, you're an MMA fighter, in the gym day in day out.' I can do it all. It's just taken me 16 pro fights to show it."

Sutherland (11-5) made his UFC debut on short notice last year against Valter Walker, tapping out to a heel hook. His follow-up bout against Pericic didn't go his way either, making this win all the more crucial for his career trajectory.

"Who doesn't like a knockout or a finish at least?" Sutherland added. "But I was here to get the win, get my money, go home, feed the kids."

For Tuivasa (14-10), the loss extends a devastating seven-fight skid—one shy of the company record held by Tony Ferguson. Despite the rough patch, the charismatic heavyweight has vowed to continue fighting, whether on the UFC roster or not.

"I know that I'm good enough to compete in this division," Tuivasa said, showing the resilience that has made him a fan favorite.

For Sutherland, the victory represents more than just a win in the win column. It's proof that sometimes the best weapon a fighter has isn't their fists—it's the wisdom of the voices in their corner.