Tai Tuivasa: UFC 271 Victory Over Derrick Lewis Was ‘Passing of the Torch’

Tai Tuivasa went toe-to-toe with Derrick Lewis and got the better of the UFC’s all-time knockout king.

“Bam Bam” ended a slugfest with Derrick Lewis in emphatic fashion, landing a standing elbow that caused “The Black Beast” to fall face first to the canvas 1:40 into Round 2 of the heavyweight co-main event at UFC 271. In the end, it was the type of effort that could even win over Lewis’ hometown fans in Houston.

“I thought I did well,” Tuivasa said at the post-fight press conference. “Come to Houston, I got a few boos at the start, but turned them into cheers.”

Tuivasa is currently in the midst of five consecutive knockout victories, making him one of just 24 fighters in UFC history to author a streak of that length. He still has a ways to go before he surpasses Lewis’ knockout mark, but the Aussie can envision a day when that record is his.

“He’s had his time and I think this is the passing of the torch,” Tuivasa said. “If I keep up doing what I’m doing, and keep focusing on what I need to focus on, I will one day take over.”

Perhaps more importantly, Tuivasa is emerging as a serious contender in the UFC’s heavyweight division — not just someone who does shoeys and entertains the fans.

“I don’t mind being the guy who drinks piss out of shoes and this and that,” Tuivasa said. “I suppose everyone just focused on this and that, but at the end of the day, I’m knocking the best in the world out.”

As it stands, Tuivasa’s victory over Lewis has assured him of facing another ranked heavyweight contender in his next Octagon appearance. Exactly who that might be remains to be seen.

“I don’t even know [who] the f—k’s in the top five,” Tuivasa said. “I don’t even watch fighting, bro. I heard there’s the Stipe’s and the Ciryl Gane’s and all that and everyone up there.”