B/R Exclusive: Tai Tuivasa on UFC 271, Best Knockout and Being the Shoey King

As it stands, Derrick Lewis is the knockout king, standing atop the UFC's history books with 13 knockout victories. But with four consecutive knockouts of his own, Tai Tuivasa is steadily gaining ground.

Tuivasa, 28, still has a ways to go before he gets on Lewis' level. But the Australian can change the narrative Saturday night when he faces slight favorite Lewis in the co-main event of UFC 271, going down in Lewis' hometown of Houston, Texas.

Tuivasa appears ready for the challenge. Fighting barely two months after knocking out Augusto Sakai in 26 seconds, a Tuivasa win would vault him deep into the division's top 10. And between two high-octane brawlers with a combined 19 knockouts in the UFC, the ending could be fast, furious and highlight-reel ready.

Tuivasa recently spoke to Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. First, we discussed Lewis and UFC 271. Then we took a deep dive into Tuivasa's weird but infectious signature move: the shoey.

Bleacher Report: What do you expect will happen Saturday night? Fifteen minutes of hardcore grappling, right?

Tuivasa: (laughs) Yeah, it'll be a jiu-jitsu match pretty much.

I haven't really thought that far ahead. [Lewis] is the knockout king. Of course, I'll be in there trying to knock him out. If it comes, it comes, and that's always what I'm trying to achieve. But either way, I'm just trying to get my hand raised.

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Are you concerned about the quick turnaround between December 11 and this Saturday?

It's actually been really good. I didn't mind a shorter camp (laughs). Obviously, a longer camp to prepare is always better, but I've been on a bit of a roll and I'm in good shape, so I don't think it's a problem.

Do you have a favorite knockout from your career?

Good question. Probably the Greg Hardy one, because he's kind of a d--head. Yeah, that was probably the most emotionally rewarding one.

Wow. Why don't you like Greg Hardy?

It's just the way he carries himself. You know, like a d--head.

John Locher/Associated Press

You lost three straight a while back, culminating in a loss to Sergey Spivak in your native Australia. After that, you began your current win streak. Was there a personal reckoning after that Spivak loss?

I think I was just focused on things other than fighting. And it was showing. I was doing business things outside of the cage. I just wasn't 100 percent in on fighting, and this sport requires 100 percent. It requires dedication and sacrifice, and I think I was just going through some mental issues. Just everyday things, you know? I'm just a normal bloke. 

So I really just had to have a look at myself and change some things outside of the cage. But definitely those losses were a blessing and a curse all in one. But it's not how you get knocked down, it's how you get back up. So looking back, it was definitely good for me.

Now for the shoey portion of the program. What originally made you think that was, you know, something you wanted to do?

Shoeys have been around for a long time. It was something my friends in Australia and I would do when we were pissed [drunk].

After my fights, I would be thinking about getting drunk after the fight, and that was it. I started doing them in the arena. And it sort of became my thing.

Are you comfortable with that? Being 'The Shoey Guy'?

Hey, I'm fine with it. Like I said, I've been doing it for a long time. People like it, so, yeah.

What are the rules for a proper shoey? I've seen people spit in them, but sometimes people go with the no spit. What's the correct approach here?

Yeah, I don't mind if there's spit. I suppose there's different levels to it, depending on the person. But a normal shoey is just getting some beer into a shoe, chugging it down, and getting the party started.

I suppose I've seen some weird things. Sometimes weird things go in the shoe.

Such as?

I really don't think I want to say it. (laughs)

How many shoeys would you say you've done, just a ballpark estimate?

Oh man. It would be up there. I bet it would have a few zeroes behind it.

Chris Unger/Getty Images

You seem to have a real connection with fans, and not just because you drink beer and bodily fluids out of their shoes. Is having that connection important to you? 

I love my fans. Without them, there is no us. I think one of the reasons why I get a lot of love is because I'm just a normal bloke. I get to do what I love for a living, and that's knockin' people out and gettin' pissed.

What's the Tai Tuivasa hangover cure? What if you have training the next day?

Well, I don't drink during camp, so that's a good thing. But aside from that, I'd say just keep going. (laughs)

Bottom line: What do you expect on Saturday night?

It's gonna be fireworks. This is the knockout king himself, Derrick Lewis. But there's a new knockout king on the way. I want to be the new knockout king. I think it's my time. We're both fan favorites, so I think we'll put a show on for the fans.

This exchange was edited for length and clarity.