Tai Tuivasa wants the UFC heavyweight title — and the western Sydney fighter has his eye on big-punching champion Francis Ngannou

Tai Tuivasa has visions. He can see issues in his head earlier than they occur.

That is how the satisfaction of Mt Druitt knew he was going to knock out Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 two weeks in the past and it is how he is aware of he will turn out to be the UFC heavyweight champion.

“It sort of went precisely the way it was purported to go. I am a little bit of a head fighter – I watch issues occur in my head, then they occur.

“I knew what he does, he is a heavy puncher and I used to be in a tricky place there and I used to be a bit shocked he wished to wrestle.

“However as soon as he began hitting me I used to be like ‘f**ok, I’ve received to hit him again or he will punch the f***ing shit out of me’.

“I noticed it. I knew it was going to go like that.

Hit him again he did – Tuivasa levelled Lewis with an elbow strike that despatched the towering American crashing to the canvas and established Tuivasa as a prime contender for Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight title.

Tuivasa is not certain if his subsequent battle can be for the title – proper now, he is targeted on having fun with his time again in Australia after nearly two years abroad – however he can think about what it’s going to be like as soon as he claims the UFC belt.

“I will be strolling round with it (the belt) on my waist like a clown. I will be that previous clown on the pub telling everybody how nice he was once I was younger. It may occur. It’s going to occur,” Tuivasa mentioned.

“So long as you’ve gotten a crack, what is the worst that may occur? You would possibly lose. That is it.

“I’ve a workforce and I imagine so long as everybody within the workforce does their job it should go nicely. I’ve just a few enterprise issues to deal with, however I am again into coaching subsequent week and I will regroup with my workforce.

“They perceive the battle sport a bit higher than I do, they know who’s who, I simply love combating. I am not removed from the belt now and f**ok, we’re on a roll, we might as nicely gun it.”

Tuivasa is at the moment ranked third at heavyweight, behind former champion Stipe Miocic and up to date title challenger Cyril Gane.

There’s additionally the looming spectre of former light-heayvweight champion Jon Jones and his long-expected transfer to heavyweight. 

Ngannou is at the moment embroiled in a contract dispute with the UFC and his standing is unsure, however the Cameroonian already boasts a current win over Gane. 

Miocic hasn’t fought since dropping the title to Ngannou final March and Jones hasn’t entered the cage since February of 2020. Tuivasa is widespread, harmful and lively, and there’s no time like proper now for him to be thrown into the title combine.

It is going to be a tall order – Ngannou is essentially the most fearsome puncher within the sport and has by no means been knocked out, however Tuivasa would not draw back from the magnitude of the duty.

“That is why I do that stuff, the problem. Clearly I do it to receives a commission, however I really like the problem, that facet of combating,” Tuivasa mentioned.

“It is occurred to me, I’ve misplaced as nicely, and the particular person you lose to all the time has that feather of their hat. It is one thing you go after – or I do, anyway.”