Tai Tuivasa Says Fighting Andrei Arlovksi at UFC 225 is “Massive” For Him

Tai Tuivasa spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of his fight with Andrei Arlovksi at UFC 225. Highlights are below:

On fighting a “legend” in Arlovksi: “For me to fight him, it’s massive…(Arlovski’s) got a point to make that he’s still here to be around, and I’ve got a point to make that I’m here to stay…This is where I can make my mark on the company and on the sport and on me, as an athlete. This is what fighting is, (expletive) testing myself. I claim myself to be a fighter. I don’t want to go fighting the lowest guys. I want to fight the guys who are legends and who are the best or who have been the best. Because one day I want to be the best. And to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.”

On getting the higher-profile fight: “And I appreciate the push. The UFC, I feel like they’re pushing me there, and I think that I’m worth it. I don’t think there are many heavyweights doing what I’ve been doing, and I think I’m here to get (those) sparks back to the division.”

On training for the bout: “I feel nervous when I go to training. And I feel (expletive) tired. I don’t want to train. I’m like a normal bloke. I hate training. No one wants to train. I want to go and eat all the good foods and drink all the good piss and do all that. But when the lights turn on, and the cage door shuts, I think that’s where I excel more.”