It’s no surprise that when a card was announced in Florida that our man Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa put his hand up to fight.
I dare say he is going to be doing some of his best work outside the octagon, but let’s also hope that he gets back in the win column inside it as well.
Wonderboy Thompson and Kevin Holland headline a very deep card but let’s not kid ourselves about which fight we are looking forward to the most.
Our full UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs Palovich Tips & Preview can be found below.
Our man Tai Tuivasa skyrocketed up the UFC Heavyweight rankings courtesy of five wins in a row, all via KO/TKO from October 2020 until Fbraury this year.
This a considerable feat considering he fights in the heaviest and most dangerous division in the sport.
Although he eventually lost his title eliminator fight against Ciryl Gane in Paris in September, he had the local rocked at one stage of the fight and was seconds away from another famous victory.
Sergei Pavlovich is the #5 ranked UFC Heavyweight who has just the one loss on his 17 fight professional record.
That loss came when making his debut in the promotion back in November 2018 against former division gatekeeper Alistair Overeem.
His biggest win, just like Tuivasa, came with a KO win against Derrick Lewis in Texas and just like his last four wins, came in the first round.
This is a real test for Bam Bam if he is to keep touch with the top of a division that has a hell of a lot of money fights at the top end with the announcement of Jones vs Ngannou recently for March.
Tai is at a stage in his career where he knows his game well and where to implement his big shots and can land that knock out blow at some stage.
The ‘Co-main event’ of the evening see the return of Stephen Wonderboy Thompson who we last saw in Las Vegas in December 2021.
The now 39 year old has just three wins in his last nine fights but all bar one of those have gone to a decision.
Kevin Holland was a victim of the late reshuffle of the card at UFC 279 in September and while he got paid a pretty penny for it, he ultimately lost quickly and by devastating fashion against Khamat Chimaev at catchweight.
The UFC has rewarded him here with a real opportunity against a quality, and highly ranked welterweight in Wonderboy.
Both of these guys are excellent and unique strikers which makes for a really interesting fight.
This is a great match up for Thompson who has had a tough time of it in recent years against some very good wrestlers in Belal Muhammad, Gilbert Burns and Tyron Woodley.
I’m wary that Wonderboy’s age will catch him but he is very good from a distance and uses his range well.
I’m hedging my bets.
Rafael Dos Anjos is a former champion of the UFC and a very complete and well rounded individual.
He is now 38 years of age but has recent wins over Paul Felder and Renato Moicano (on short notice and at catchweight).
He has losses to Michael Chiesa, Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman in the last few years but his style allows him to continually be in fights.
Bryan Barberena has earned this shot off the back of three wins on the trot, most recently beating another former UFC champion in Robbie Lawler in July.
He does however have eight losses to his pro fighting resume and this is another step up in competition.
His best attribute may very well be his dog and fight. He proved that against Lawler.
RDA is simply too short in this match up and while he should win the fight, I have to be with Barberena at the price.