News Miocic vs. Tuivasa no deal yet, but Tai will "like to have a crack at him before he goes"

[TCE]

No one in MMA may be flying higher than Tai Tuivasa right now — and “Bam Bam” is hoping to keep things going with a bout against a former UFC heavyweight champion.

Tuivasa put on the best performance of his career in February when he knocked out Derrick Lewis in the co-main event of UFC 271. It was Tuivasa’s fifth straight win, and it rocketed him up to No. 4 in MMA Fighting’s heavyweight rankings. And now the king of the shoey is hoping he’ll get to continue his climb by taking on former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.

“I just think that that’s the fight,” Tuivasa said Wednesday on The MMA Hour. “He’s in front of me, yeah? I think that’s who I’d like to fight. I was asked who I’d like to fight and I think that’s who I’d like to fight because he’s been around, he’s older, and I don’t think he’ll have many more left. I’d like to have a crack at him before he goes.”

Miocic currently sits one spot above Tuivasa in the UFC’s own rankings, however, it’s unclear if Miocic would have any interest in facing Tuivasa. The former champ has made it clear that he wants a trilogy fight against Francis Ngannou or a superfight with Jon Jones next. But with Ngannou out until at least the end of the year, and the mercurial nature of Jones, Tuivasa believes that he makes sense for an ex-champion working back up the ladder.

“I’m up there now,” Tuivasa said. “If I was No. 11, I wouldn’t be a d***head and go, ‘Oh, Stipe.’ But my name says No. 3 next to it and he’s No. 2, so I just think that [makes sense]. And like I said, he’s the best heavyweight of all-time, so why wouldn’t I challenge myself and have a crack against him? Just like the knockout king [Lewis].

“He’s the best heavyweight in the world, I don’t see why not. ... I think [Ciryl] Gane and the rest of the boys will be around for a little bit, as in I’ll probably see them, and I reckon Stipe Miocic probably doesn’t have too many fights left. That’s someone I’d like to say I fought before he goes. For example, JDS [Junior dos Santos], he beat my ass but at least I can say I fought him. That’s what I like about fighting. To say at least I had a crack, or I beat him. Sometimes I’ve lost and sometimes I’ve won — that’s another fight I reckon I’d like to challenge myself [with].”

https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/...id-like-to-have-a-crack-at-him-before-he-goes

 

[JoeRowe]

I have a feeling this was leaked on purpose. Maybe using him to pressure Jones like they did Khabib to Eddie before ufc 205.

 

[Substance Abuse]

No one in MMA may be flying higher than Tai Tuivasa right now — and “Bam Bam” is hoping to keep things going with a bout against a former UFC heavyweight champion.

Tuivasa put on the best performance of his career in February when he knocked out Derrick Lewis in the co-main event of UFC 271. It was Tuivasa’s fifth straight win, and it rocketed him up to No. 4 in MMA Fighting’s heavyweight rankings. And now the king of the shoey is hoping he’ll get to continue his climb by taking on former two-time champion Stipe Miocic.

“I just think that that’s the fight,” Tuivasa said Wednesday on The MMA Hour. “He’s in front of me, yeah? I think that’s who I’d like to fight. I was asked who I’d like to fight and I think that’s who I’d like to fight because he’s been around, he’s older, and I don’t think he’ll have many more left. I’d like to have a crack at him before he goes.”

Miocic currently sits one spot above Tuivasa in the UFC’s own rankings, however, it’s unclear if Miocic would have any interest in facing Tuivasa. The former champ has made it clear that he wants a trilogy fight against Francis Ngannou or a superfight with Jon Jones next. But with Ngannou out until at least the end of the year, and the mercurial nature of Jones, Tuivasa believes that he makes sense for an ex-champion working back up the ladder.

“I’m up there now,” Tuivasa said. “If I was No. 11, I wouldn’t be a d***head and go, ‘Oh, Stipe.’ But my name says No. 3 next to it and he’s No. 2, so I just think that [makes sense]. And like I said, he’s the best heavyweight of all-time, so why wouldn’t I challenge myself and have a crack against him? Just like the knockout king [Lewis].

“He’s the best heavyweight in the world, I don’t see why not. ... I think [Ciryl] Gane and the rest of the boys will be around for a little bit, as in I’ll probably see them, and I reckon Stipe Miocic probably doesn’t have too many fights left. That’s someone I’d like to say I fought before he goes. For example, JDS [Junior dos Santos], he beat my ass but at least I can say I fought him. That’s what I like about fighting. To say at least I had a crack, or I beat him. Sometimes I’ve lost and sometimes I’ve won — that’s another fight I reckon I’d like to challenge myself [with].”

But, of course, what a fighter wants and what a fighter gets are not always the same thing. With Ngannou sidelined for the rest of the year — and potentially done with the UFC for good — rumors have circulated about a potential interim title fight between Miocic and Jones. If that’s the case, Tuivasa would be left with few options other than fighting someone behind him, and that’s less appealing to the suddenly surging Aussie.

“I’m trying to go up,” Tuivasa said. “I’m on a five-fight win streak. If I was just coming in and did nothing and hadn’t beaten anyone and was like this, [but] I’m on a five-fight win streak. I’ve got No. 3 next to my name, and like you said, he’s No. 2. Doesn’t that make sense? I’m not good at math but it’s all adding up.”

Link: https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/...id-like-to-have-a-crack-at-him-before-he-goes

 

[Substance Abuse]

Beat me by like thirty seconds @TCE lol

 

[DoctorStoppage]

Hard not to like Tuivasa. Puts on great fights and seems humble. I’d like to see this fight.

 

[TCE]

Beat me by like thirty seconds @TCE lol

Haha. I hope he fights Stipe though. It's a fight I wasn't really thinking about before but I'm kind of hyped for that fight now lol

 

[Substance Abuse]

Haha. I hope he fights Stipe though. It's a fight I wasn't really thinking about before but I'm kind of hyped for that fight now lol

Anything that gets Stipe back in the cage. He's getting up there and there isn't much time left. I'm interested in how the fight plays out since we know what each guy has to do to win.

 

[SaigeVanZant]

Steep A isn't taking that fight

 

[g*r*b]

I think Stipe and Tai could have a realluy good night on the town drinking together. I don't think it would take much convincing to get Stipe to do a shooey.

 

[Kenny Powerth]

Why would he not take the fight? Waiting on a TS?

it’s a good #1 contender fight

 

[MeagoR]

5 fight KO streak they should give Tai whom ever he wants at this point.

 

[gluehuffer1776]

Any of those options ends his shoe drinking hype train

 

[JustOnce]

This ain't Stipe. Someone's been drinking UFC koolaid.

 

[Final Say]

Tai is riding high right now. One of the few guys that I would say could be problematic for stipe, even though it should be an easy fight for stipe (just like everyone else)

 

[laleggenda27]

I voted for Stipe, but I don't actually think it would happen. My guess is that Stipe is waiting to see if an interim title is created, in which case he would likely fight for it. Until the UFC clarifies what it's doing with the title, it probably makes sense for Stipe to wait a bit longer.

 

[Abundance]

That means they’re setting up Jones/Gane?

 

[WildShrimper]

His attitude to fighting is refreshing, seems extremely humble even if the shoey is gross.

 

[Bad Karate]

Tai makes it very hard not to like him. His attitude is refreshing.

 

[Bad Karate]

Any of those options ends his shoe drinking hype train

He hits hard enough and his chin is solid enough that it is not a foregone conclusion that anybody beats Tai at this point, although i would heavily favor Gane over him, solidly favor Stipe vs him and Blaydes i see as a pick em fight.

 

[BigTruck]

Stipe wants it to be for the interim title and is holding out