Tai Tuivasa's sporting spirit intact in statement following UFC Orlando loss, heaps generous praise on Sergei Pavlovich

Tai Tuivasa's spirit remains undeterred despite his brutal first-round KO loss to Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Orlando on Saturday night. In his first statement after the loss, 'Bam Bam' gave due credit to his opponents while also vowing to bounce back.

Tuivasa admitted to getting caught by Pavlovich first, after which he couldn't recover. 'Bam Bam' apologized to his followers who were robbed of the signature "shoey" that usually follows the Australian's fights. The 29-year-old wrote on Instagram:

"Fuck. Got done tonight 😔 Big love to my team fankyou for all y’all do ❤️ Congrats to @sergei__pavlovich got me first rocked me hard couldn’t recover. 👏🏽Time to come home see my family be back in the Area and regather 😌🥰 Last but not least. ORRRLAAAANDOOO Wooow what a crowd y’all really turned up tonight 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 I didn’t get to put on a show and a shoey tonight my bad I will be back. 💯🙏🏽🙏🏽 All my fans. Sick cunts love yahs ayyy 😘😘"

This was the second consecutive knockout loss for Tuivasa, having previously suffered a third-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane back in September. Large sections of the MMA community opined that 'Bam Bam' had returned to the octagon too soon after his all-out war against Gane.

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Tai Tuivasa was ready to "kill or be killed" going into UFC Orlando

Tai Tuivasa's loss to Ciryl Gane snapped a five-fight knockout streak that the Australian had mounted since 2020. 'Bam Bam' was looking to bounce back with a win over Sergei Pavlovich to close off the year before returning to his family.

However, Tuivasa knew that Pavlovich was no stepping stone and was well aware of the Russian's skillset. With two elite knockout artists inside the octagon, 'Bam Bam' knew that only one would be conscious by the end of the bout. However, the 29-year-old had expected things to go his way if it remained a stand-up affair. Tai Tuivasa told hindustantimes.com in the lead-up to UFC Orlando:

"You were in the top five, which is the best fighters in the world and, heavyweight division's the most scariest division in the league. I'm going there to kill or be killed and if he gets into a battle with me on the feet, I think he might come off second."