Tai Tuivasa explains why UFC 325 comeback was difficult: ‘I’m ready to get back on a winning streak’

Tai Tuivasa admits his UFC 325 comeback wasn’t easy.

Tuivasa is set to take on Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 in Australia this weekend in an intriguing heavyweight fight. It’s Tuivasa’s first fight since UFC 305 in August of 2024, when he dropped a split decision to Jairzinho Rozenstruik.

Following the loss, Tuivasa said he’d take time away from the sport and will now return at UFC 325. Although Tuivasa always knew he’d be back, he admits the training camp initially wasn’t easy.

“It was hard at the start because I was fat as f**k. But I’m all good now,” Tuivasa said at UFC 325 media day. “I had to miss it. Getting your head punched in and then losing and losing and trying to come back, it’s pretty hard. But I’m ready to get back on a winning streak now. I’m ready to go hard, give it all.”

Once Tuivasa knew he’d come back, he said he began to get back into shape and train again to be prepared for his upcoming fight at UFC 325.

Despite being a heavy underdog, Tuivasa is confident he will be able to get his hand raised on Saturday against Tallison Teixeira.

“It’s been a while,” Tuivasa said. “I f*****g miss this shit.”

Tai Tuivasa is confident heading into UFC 325

Although Tuivasa is a big underdog, he has plenty of confidence ahead of UFC 325.

Tuivasa admits the first month of training camp wasn’t easy, but he has full confidence in himself ahead of the bout.

“I was going through a wall the first month of training. But I feel good now,” Tuivasa told UFC.com. “I knew it was going to be hard, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I was putting my feet up in my time off, so I knew it was going to be hard. Nothing comes easy. …

“My plan is to win this weekend, put my hand up and get back in there as soon as we can and work my way back up. I’ve been on a bit of a s*** trot, so get the job done this weekend, and we’ll go from there.”

Tuivasa enters the bout with a record of 14-8 and is coming off a split decision loss to Rozenstruik. He’s on a five-fight losing streak, with his last win coming in February of 2022 when he knocked out Derrick Lewis.