John Steffensen makes boxing switch, Darcy Lussick confirms rugby league retirement, Tai Tuivasa offers $50k corner spot
He’s got cult figure status in the UFC for his frame, knockout power, wacky walkouts and signature celebration. And now you can be in Tai Tuivasa’s corner when he fights.
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Australia’s Shoey King Tai Tuivasa is ready to cash in on his ongoing rise to UFC stardom, with the Mt Druitt slugger planning to auction off one of his cornermen spots for $50,000.
Speaking with Fight Club this week from Dubai, where he has been based for much of the year, Tuivasa revealed his plans to sell one of three places on his team for upcoming events, potentially starting with UFC 269.
Currently on a tear of three straight wins, all via KO, the Aussie now faces Brazilian Augusto Sakai in the year’s final UFC blockbuster in Las Vegas on December 12.
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Since winning his Octagon debut via flying knee four years ago, Tuivasa has risen up to sit among the promotion’s biggest cult figures thanks to his frame, knockout power, wacky walkouts and signature shoey celebrations.
“So now I’m going to auction my corner off to the highest bidder,” he revealed this week.
“I’m going to make some money.
“Because that’s why I’m in this sport. To make money.”
So as for how much said spot might go for?
“Well, it’s only for the big players,” Tuivasa laughed. “So I’d say we start at $50K and go up from there.”
As part of the deal, the winning bid will not only be part of Team Tuivasa backstage on fight night, or shadow the UFC heavyweight on one his famed walkouts – spit bucket in hand – but also get to sit cageside for however long the madness lasts.
Then of course, with a win, you will drink beer from a stranger’s shoe.
Asked what the winning bidder could expect, Tuivasa laughed: “Just f … en buckle up and enjoy the ride.
“And if that’s not for you, OK. Watch on Main Event.”
AUSSIE SPRINT KING IN SHOCK BOXING SWITCH
John Steffensen is becoming a professional boxer and is being trained by Jeff Fenech.
The sprint king, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games for Australia, has revealed to Fight Club that he has been training twice a day and plans to make his professional debut next year.
“It is an itch that I need to scratch,” Steffensen said.
“Boxing is something I love.
“We’re looking at different opportunities at the moment, and if the right opportunity comes about there is no doubt I will be in the squared circle.”
Steffensen became one of Australia’s most renowned track and field athletes after claiming silver in the 4x400m race at the Athens Olympics, followed by a gold medal in the individual 400m and gold in the 4x400m at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Since retiring from competitive athletics, the 39-year-old has taken up professional race car driving with Porsche, and appeared in reality television shows Celebrity Apprentice, finishing runner-up to Stephanie Rice, and SAS Australia, finishing runner-up to Sam Burgess.
But Steffensen has held a deep passion for boxing from a young age, and believes Hall of Famer Fenech will help him reach his potential in the ring.
“When it comes to Australian boxing, all roads lead to Jeff,” Steffensen said.
“I’ve known Jeff for a while now and I think his knowledge is international. I’ve been an international athlete, we speak the right language when it comes to sport.
“He understands me, and I understand him.”
LUSSICK SET FOR BOXING SWITCH
DARCY Lussick has confirmed he is retired from rugby league and wants to pursue boxing as his career.
At 32, the former NRL and Super League prop is young enough and good enough to keep playing – and is technically still contracted to Toronto Wolfpack – but has fallen out of love with league.
“It’s done for me, it doesn’t excite me,” Lussick said.
“I’ve had my time. The thought of tackling someone makes me sick to be honest.
“I was at the Wolfpack, when the comp went bust [due to Covid] I still had three years there and I’ve still got two years from now.
“I was just sick of it over there at the end so I came back.”
Lussick takes on Paul Gallen over three two-minute rounds at The Star on December 22, having knocked out Justin Hodges in his only pro bout in 39 seconds two years ago.
“[No Limit Boxing boss] George Rose asked if I wanted to be on this card originally to fight BJ Leilua, no disrespect to BJ but it didn’t really interest me,” Lussick said.
“I said I’ll fight in February or March, it gives me more time in the gym.
“So I was doing a building apprenticeship with my mate between training. This fight against Gal came up and I said, ‘See you boys, I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks’.
“If I win this fight, I’m fully aware of the opportunities that open up for me.
“That’s the mentality I’m going in there with.”
COULD KAMBOSOS BE SET FOR MCG FIGHT?
NEWLY crowned lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr is set to have his first fight in Australia in four years in 2022.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told his 1 million Twitter followers plans are “already in place” to bring a show to Australia next year following Kambosos Jr’s stunning upset over Teofimo Lopez to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring title belts in New York last weekend.
Kambosos Jr is keen to have his next fight in a major outdoor arena like the MCG or Stadium Australia, given he’s been fighting overseas exclusively since 2017.
While he is not tied to Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing company, there’s no doubt Hearn will be trying to get a new co-promotional deal done with the Aussie champ, who is promoted by American Lou DiBella.
Given that Hearn has Brock Jarvis and female star Ebanie Bridges on his roster, Matchroom could put on an Australian-heavy fight card next year if DiBella approves.
Kambosos Jr will be in Las Vegas this weekend watching WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney defend his title against JoJo Diaz, and will be keen to attempt an undisputed title unification against the winner at some point.
But Oscar De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions has a long-term deal with broadcaster DAZN, is pushing the case of his undefeated prodigy Ryan Garcia.
CRUTE RECALLS HIS ‘HOLY SHIT’ MOMENT
JIMMY Crute has credited his exciting UFC rise, and propensity for round one finishes, to the first cage fight he ever saw – Gabriel Gonzaga’s incredible head kick KO of Mirko Cro Cop.
It has now been 13 years since a young Crute, back then a ji jitsu novice, heard his classmates talking in the locker room about something called the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
So the kid, only 12, went home and Googled it.
“And first thing I saw was that Gonzaga head kick,” he cackles.
Which had you thinking what?
“I thought ‘holy shit’,” Crute continues of the famed UFC 70 finish, which is still today ranked among the greatest in the company’s history.
“I was only 12, but already had a few screws loose.
“I’m sat there thinking ‘this is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life’.
“So that was it.
“I stayed up all night watching UFC clips.”
So what chance this Sunday the light heavyweight makes another one of his own?
Set to face American Jamahal Hill at UFC Vegas 44, Crute is looking to not only win, or push closer to the light heavyweight division’s top 10, but earn a third UFC bonus from his past four fights.
In his 14 professional wins, Crute has also finished eight within the first round.
Since 2020 alone, the Melbournian has stopped both Michał Oleksiejczuk (submission) and Modestas Bukauskas (KO) before the first round was over.
Last start, however, the rising star suffered a freak leg injury against Anthony Smith which resulted in a doctor’s stoppage.
Yet against Hill this Sunday, Crute is looking to make amends.
“And I don‘t want to be a guy who skyrockets then is gone,” he said, when quizzed on being able to bounce back from a loss.
“You look at Rob Whittaker, who has always been my favourite fighter.
“He didn’t skyrocket. He worked hard, built up to a UFC title and now whenever his career is done, he will be able to do whatever he wants.”
VOLKANOVSKI SIGNS ON TO HELP FLANAGAN
UFC champ Alex Volkanovski could become part of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup after signing on to help Macedonian coach Shane Flanagan and his heavyweight coaching staff.
Already part of St George Illawarra for next signing, Volkanovski has now agreed to help Macedonia with a Cup tilt that kicks off against Vietnam on December 19 at Leichhardt Oval.
The UFC champ has strong ties to the rugby league minnows, with his father hailing from Macedonia.
A huge fight fan, Flanagan said he was not only excited to have the champ join a coaching staff that includes Paul Gallen and Keith Galloway, but also tipped the new Dragons wrestling coach to have an immediate impact at the joint-venture club.
“As wrestling coach, Alex is one of the best available,” Flanagan said.
“A lot of the guys who come from a jiu jitsu or wrestling backgrounds, you have to first educate them on the football side of things.
“But you don’t need to do that with Volk.
“He has a great knowledge of rugby league, and has obviously played himself at a reasonable level. So he understands that transition between MMA and rugby league.
“And he will definitely have an impact with the Dragons.
“We’re also looking forward to how he can help our players. I’ve been to his gym a couple of times to watch him train and it’s exciting to now have him part of our group.”
CHAMP CELEBRATES HISTORY WITH HUNGRY JACKS
AUSTRALIAN amateur star Loni Filimoehala has celebrated making national fight history with perhaps the most underwhelming of celebrations – a Hungry Jacks feed and return to training within 48 hours.
Among the nation’s most exciting MMA prospects, 25-year-old Filimoehala won the XFC middleweight title against Jackson Weir-White last Saturday night.
The title triumph represented the Queenslander’s third championship win in as many weight classes, having also claimed amateur versions of the XFC super lightweight crown and XFC welterweight belt.
But as for how he celebrated?
“I just went to Hungry Jacks,” he laughs.
“I don’t go out much.
“Plus, I want to start getting ready for worlds. So I was back at training Monday. I’m only doing light work but I just like to be around the gym.
“I’ll be here all week.”
Filimoehala will next compete at the IMMAF world championships in January, before then turning professional.
Asked about his decision win, which went all five rounds, against a game Weir-White, the champ said: “My plan was to take him down early and finish him on the ground.
“But he’s tough.
“There were about five times I thought he was finished but he kept getting out.
“In the fourth, I dropped him with a right hand and thought he would be out. But he kept pushing. He’s a tough fighter.”
HOW RIDDELL AND FIZIEV FIGHT WAS LAUNCHED
UFC lightweight Brad Riddell has revealed how he phoned Rafael Fiziev, his good mate and old sparring partner, before actually agreeing to throw down in Las Vegas this Sunday.
Once training partners at Tiger Muay Tai in Thailand, Riddell and Fiziev are now set to square off on a UFC Vegas 44 card that also features Australians Jimmy Crute and Jake Matthews.
Asked about taking on his good mate, the Aucklander told this column recently: “When the UFC told me there was nobody else to really fight but Rafa, I gave him a call.
“I know him well. (Laughs) And well enough to have his number.
“So I just called him, said his name was being put in front of me. So we had a good chat and decided, yeah, he would fight me.”
Asked if the pair knew this day was coming, Riddell continued: “Initially, we were hoping this might come a bit later, when we were both higher ranked.
“But there wasn’t really any other choice.
“He’s been beating everyone he has fought, I’ve been beating everyone I fought, so we knew we would come across each other soon.
“It will be a little different but you just have to prepare for it mentally.”
FIGHT CLUB TO BRING YOU THE ACTION FROM ELITE FIGHT SERIES
THE Elite Fight Series returns to Cairns on Saturday, December 4 – and we will be there to bring you all the action.
Subscribers to this website will be able to watch every professional fight, including a highly anticipated main event between Cairns fighter Luca Lanigan and Brisbane’s Kyl Juler.
Lanigan is out to turn the tables after Juler claimed a split decision victory at Muay Thai League 2 on the Gold Coast last month.
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