Aussie UFC star Tai Tuivasa locks in next heavyweight bout

Australia’s leading UFC heavyweight has announced when fans can expect him back in the octagon, with hopefully more shoeys to be consumed.

Tai Tuivasa announced he will face Brazilian Augusto Sakai in his next UFC fight. Picture: Chris Unger / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

It’s only been a few months since his spectacular beat down of disgraced former NFL star Greg Hardy, but Australian UFC star Tai Tuivasa is heading back into the octagon.

The heavyweight contender confirmed the news on his Instagram account that he will face Brazilian fighter Augusto Sakai on November 21.

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The bout is slated for the card of UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs Tate, which will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Tuivasa is riding the high of a three-fight win streak, with his most recent victory coming against Hardy.

The Sydney-born fighter knocked out the ex-Dallas Cowboys defensive star just one minute into the first round, and celebrated his victory in style, enjoying multiple shoeys on his way out of the octagon.

Tuivasa has been based in Dubai since his last fight and is training there ahead of the upcoming scrap.

Tai Tuivasa goes for the finish against Greg Hardy. Picture: Stacy Revere / Getty Images

The 28-year-old holds a mixed martial arts record of 12-3, with six wins and three losses coming after he made his UFC debut in November 2017.

As for Tuivasa’s opponent, Sakai is coming off two consecutive TKO losses against Alistair Overeem and Jairzinho Rozenstruik respectively.

The 30-year-old is 15-3, but had only tasted defeat once in nine years in his MMA career before he lost to Overeem in September 2020.

Tuivasa is hoping to add to the recent success of Aussies in the UFC, with Alexander Volkanovski producing a once-in-a-lifetime performance to defeat Brian Ortega and defend his featherweight title on September 25.

Volkanovski shocked fight fans after he escaped multiple submission attempts from Ortega, a fighter who is renowned for his exemplary ground game, as he went on to earn the victory via unanimous decision.