UFC heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa succumbed to a fifth straight setback, most recently dropping a split decision loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 305. Tuivasa approached the fight with a measured strategy but failed to mount significant offense throughout the fight.
Rozenstruik kept the contest in the kickboxing range and put his jab and counter-punching prowess to work. Tuivasa displayed flashes of his explosive self while swarming in to get in range but Rozenstruik did a spectacular job of cutting off from the ring and recalibrating to dictate the pace. In the end, the judges controversially scored the fight 28–29, 29–28, and 29–28 in favor of the Surinamese fighter.
Tuivasa took to Instagram to acknowledge the challenges of being a fighter with a dash of introspection, resilience, and gratitude. He posted adorable pictures with his son and captioned the post:
“All this really ain’t that easy. I try my best all the time I compete against the best of the best. I challenge myself all the time. Sometimes it’s worth it sometimes you question a lot.”
He added:
“I get hit I fall down but I will never stay down. We get up we keep moving! Love you again too all my real ones means a lot too me I’m sorry too you all too. Ups and downs. We ride! Hang with my [blood] then back to the drawing board.”
Tai Tuivasa reflects on his split decision to Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Tai Tuivasa’s recent record suggests a diminished stature from his former explosive ways that helped him achieve five straight wins over formidable names.
At one point, he was also on the cusp of a title shot after he folded the organization’s record holder for most KO/ TKO wins, Derrick Lewis at UFC 271. However, former interim champion Ciryl Gane stalled his momentum with a knockout victory in September 2022.
Reflecting on his fifth straight loss and recent setback against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 305, Tuivasa wrote:
“Fu*k! What a sport. I put my all into this camp and didn’t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans I put my all into this [and] didn’t get the treats. My bad… Love you all the real ones. Live to fight another day.”
