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Tai Tuivasa of the UFC.

Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa apologized to the fans after losing seven straight fights in the Octagon when he was defeated at UFC Perth.

Tuivasa took on Louie Sutherland in the opening main card bout at UFC Perth. He entered the fight on a six-fight losing skid, yet he was the betting favorite heading into it, both due to his UFC experience and fighting at home in Australia. But Tuivasa struggled badly in the fight, as Sutherland took him down at will. At the end of three rounds, Sutherland won a unanimous decision with three 30-26 scorecards, as Tuivasa had a point deducted in the third round due to an illegal knee to the head of a grounded opponent.

The defeat gave Tuivasa seven straight losses, the second-most in UFC history behind the eight straight losses that Tony Ferguson once had. It seems likely the UFC will cut Tuivasa following this loss to Sutherland, as they rarely keep fighters on losing skids this long on the roster.

Tai Tuivasa Reacts to His Latest Loss

Following the fight against Sutherland, Tuivasa took to social media to react to the defeat. Check out what Tuivasa wrote on Instagram below.

“SORRY I tried I felt good I put in the work didn’t get result. I feel like (expletive) let my fans down again. Back to the drawing board for me. (Expletive) of a sport. BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP IM FROM WESTERNSYDNEY YOU GOTTA PUT ME OUT FOR ME TO GIVE UP. Sorry all my loyal fans I really am and to my team love yahs,” Tuivasa wrote.

Tuivasa Has Been in the UFC Since 2017

The defeat for Tuivasa makes it likely that this was the final time that UFC fans will see him compete inside the Octagon. He first joined the UFC in 2017, and ever since then, he has been a fan favorite. He became a star for knocking his opponents out with his giant fists and then drinking beer out of a shoe with the fans in the crowd. It was a great run for Tuivasa, but it’s likely come to an end, as the UFC very rarely gives fighters this long of a leash.

As for what’s next for Tuivasa, there are several routes he may go in his career. He could continue to compete in MMA, but his takedown defense and overall grappling are very poor, so it makes more sense for him to compete in a striking-only sport such as boxing, bare-knuckle fighting, or dirty boxing instead.

There is no doubt that Tuivasa is a fan favorite and someone who is loved all across the world. But he simply hasn’t done enough in the last few years to warrant having a spot on the UFC roster anymore. He’s been given far more chances than anyone else would have just because he’s so universally loved, but at some point, you have to get your hand raised, and Tuivasa just hasn’t done that. If this is the end, his last victory in the UFC came in February 2022 against Derrick Lewis.