Skidding Tai Tuivasa ahead of UFC 305: 'Definitely there's some pressure, but I've been here before'

PERTH, Australia – Tai Tuivasa hopes he can rebound at UFC 305.

Tuivasa (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) aims to snap a four-fight losing skid when he faces Jairzinho Rozenstruik (14-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) in Saturday’s main card (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Tuivasa has gone through ebbs and flows throughout his MMA career, so he doesn’t see this as an unfamiliar position. “Bam Bam” was able to turn a three-fight losing streak to a five-fight knockout streak in 2020.

“Definitely there’s some pressure, but I’ve been here before,” Tuivasa said at Thursday’s UFC 305 media day. “I’m from Western Sydney. We’re on the losing end of the spectrum, but we overcome, and that’s what adversity is about. We come out winners, so I’m ready to come back now. F*cking losing is sh*t.”

He takes on Rozenstruik, who comes from a kickboxing background. Both Tuivasa and Rozenstruik have finished 13 of their 14 professional wins by knockout, so Tuivasa sees it as a fan-friendly matchup.

“I suppose it’s a good fight for both of us,” Tuivasa said. “I’ve been watching him for a while now. They’re usually the fights I like to take and challenge myself, so I’m looking forward to it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.