TLDR
- Tai Tuivasa lost his sixth consecutive UFC fight via unanimous decision to Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 in Sydney
- The Australian heavyweight said watching his son witness the defeat hurt worse than any punches
- Tuivasa directly called on UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev to teach him wrestling
- His losing streak began in 2022 after he was on a five-fight winning streak and near title contention
- Tuivasa’s future with the UFC remains uncertain, but he has vowed to continue training and fighting
Sources: MMA Fighting | Bloody Elbow | Sherdog | BJPenn.com
Tai Tuivasa issued an emotional statement following his sixth consecutive UFC loss, revealing that watching his son witness the defeat hurt worse than any punch he took in the octagon. The Australian heavyweight lost to a unanimous decision to Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 in Sydney on February 1, 2026.
In an Instagram post, Tuivasa apologized to his supporters and vowed to continue fighting despite the difficult losing streak. “That hurts the soul more than any punches,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for falling short again.”
The 32-year-old fighter made it clear he has no plans to retire, despite facing calls from some fans to step away from the sport. He expressed his determination to improve at his home gym, Tripl3 MMA, and work on the weaknesses exposed during his recent fights.
Tai Tuivasa releases a statement following his loss to Tallison Teixeira, tells Khamzat Chimaev that he is coming to him to wrestle 😭
"That hurts the soul more then any punches 🙂↕️
I tried I had a great camp looking forward to getting back in camp with the boys, so much to… pic.twitter.com/D4Zp209ift
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) February 3, 2026
A Father’s Pain
Tuivasa’s message focused heavily on the impact his losing streak has had on his son, who was present for the fight. “My poor boy has watched me get a hiding a few too many times now but just like I always tell him as long as you give it all you have and keep trying that’s all that matters,” he wrote.
He added that he hopes to absorb all the losses so his son doesn’t have to experience similar setbacks in life. The heavyweight fighter had been on a year-long hiatus before returning to the octagon at UFC 325, hoping the break would help him turn his career around.
Tuivasa’s losing streak began in September 2022 following a Fight of the Night loss to former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane. Before that defeat, he had won five straight fights, including a knockout victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 in February 2022 that put him near title contention.
Since the Gane fight, Tuivasa has dropped decisions to Sergei Pavlovich, Alexander Volkov, Marcin Tybura, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and now Teixeira. He made his UFC debut in 2017 and became a fan favorite for his knockout power and his post-fight “shoeys,” where he drinks beer from shoes.
Wrestling Help Requested
In a surprising twist, Tuivasa directly called out UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev for help with his wrestling. “Khamzat Chimaev, I’m coming to wrestle brother teach me,” he wrote. “I am sick of this cuddle shit.”
The request suggests Tuivasa recognizes that his striking-heavy approach has left him vulnerable to grapplers and wrestlers. Chimaev is known for his dominant wrestling skills and currently holds the UFC middleweight title after defeating Dricus du Plessis.
Whether Chimaev will respond to Tuivasa’s request remains unclear. The champion has been focused on potential moves to light heavyweight and has been calling out Alex Pereira for a super fight.
Tuivasa’s future with the UFC remains uncertain following his sixth consecutive loss. The promotion has not announced whether they plan to keep him on the roster or release him from his contract.
Despite the uncertainty, Tuivasa made it clear in his statement that he plans to return to training with his team at Tripl3 MMA. He thanked Australian fans for their continued support during the UFC 325 event at Qudos Bank Arena.
