Tai Tuivasa defeated Curtis Blaydes in a violent stand-up war, but his willingness to absorb heavy shots raises serious concerns. While Hokit landed increasingly heavy punches throughout the fight and showed improved striking variety including effective elbow work, his reckless style could lead to knockout losses against harder hitters like Alex Pereira or Sergei Pavlovich. The fight showcased Hokit's improved takedown defense and striking power under coach Mike Winkeljohn, but his deviant behavior and middle-finger antics perfectly suit the Trump-Dana White era of UFC. A potential matchup with Derrick Lewis looms, though concerns exist that Lewis may prioritize a paycheck over going for the win.
Tai Tuivasa ground out a hard-fought victory over Curtis Blaydes on April 12, 2026, but the manner of the win left observers questioning how long the Australian heavyweight's brawling approach can sustain him at the elite level.
Tuivasa, known as "Bam Bam," carries a 15-10 record and sits ranked ninth in the UFC heavyweight division. The 33-year-old southpaw from Australia stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and trains out of Lions High Performance Centre. He lands 3.66 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and the Blaydes fight highlighted both his improved takedown defense and his growing striking variety, including effective elbow work developed under coach Mike Winkeljohn. His willingness to absorb punishment in exchanges, however, remains a genuine liability.
The potential next opponent on the horizon is Derrick Lewis, ranked eighth in the heavyweight division. "The Black Beast" is 29-14, stands six-foot-three with a 79-inch reach, and lands 2.46 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. The 41-year-old American is a known knockout threat, though questions have been raised about his motivation to actively pursue a finish rather than simply collect a payday.
Also looming over Tuivasa's future is the presence of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who is mentioned among the harder hitters capable of exposing Tuivasa's defensive vulnerabilities. Pereira carries a 13-4 record and lands a striking-heavy 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an imposing 62 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tuivasa's improved grappling defense opens doors at heavyweight, but his chin-first style invites serious danger against knockout artists
- A matchup with Lewis at ranked eighth versus ninth could have real divisional implications for the top-ten picture
- Pereira's elite striking output at 62 percent accuracy represents a significant step up from what Tuivasa faced against Blaydes
