Tai Tuivasa is focused on his goal of making the big bucks.
Heavyweight knockout artist Tai Tuivasa is heading into possibly his biggest fight ever. He will be taking on Ciryl Gane in the main event of the first-ever UFC Paris event. After years of MMA being illegal in France, the UFC finally gets the opportunity to put on a show for the French fans. The hometown hero Gane will be up against Tiuvasa who is riding a five-fight KO streak.
Because of Tiuvasa’s impressive winning streak lately, he has been in talks for a possible title shot. If he can get past Gane on Saturday, he could find himself on the short list of opponents for Jon Jones. Jones should be ready to make his heavyweight debut soon and if the champion Francis Ngannou is unable to fight, Tuivasa could fit right in.
Jones has also been linked to a possible interim title fight against Stipe Miocic, but it seems that fight is not making any progress. When asked what he thought about Jones and his approach to picking a fight, Tiuvasa didn’t seem too interested.
“That business doesn’t really bother me,” he explained to TMZ Sports. “All I’m focused on is winning this Saturday and negotiating a new contract for bigger money and then whatever happens after that is what happens. I’m here to fight. I’m a fighter. I’m a prize fighter. So I know that if I win this weekend, it’s going to help me dramatically in my next contract negotiation. So that’s kind of my main focus. And whatever happens after that will be a bonus.”
Tai Tuivasa is looking to win in Paris and renegotiate his contract.
Now at the top of the heavyweight division, every fight for Tuivasa is an important one. There is no doubt that a fight with Jones would be the most lucrative, and if he is looking for more money that would be the route to go. When comparing the two, Gane and Jones, Tuiavsa admitted that both excite him and he just needs to get the job done.
“They both make me a bit horny but I have to take care of business this week first and then worry about what’s to come next,” he said.
UFC Paris goes done on Saturday, Sept. 3 live from the Accor Arena. Preliminary bouts begin at 12 pm ET with the main card slated for 3 pm ET on ESPN+.
Watch the entire interview here:
