Tai Tuivasa will now face Louie Sutherland at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia on May 2. The matchup was made after Tuivasa’s original opponent, Sean Sharaf, withdrew with a broken nose.
New Fight Added for May 2 in Perth
The heavyweight clash between Tuivasa and Sutherland joins the UFC Fight Night 275 card in Perth. The event is headlined by former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates. The co-main event is Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld.
Tuivasa’s Recent Struggles
Thirty-three-year-old Tai Tuivasa is under pressure. He has lost six fights in a row. His losing run began with back-to-back knockout defeats to Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich in 2022. He then suffered submission losses to Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura.
Tuivasa lost a split decision to Jairzinho Rozenstruik in the summer of 2024. After that fight he said he was burned out and planned to take time away to recover. After about a year and a half out of the Octagon, his comeback fight in February against Tallison Teixeira ended in another defeat by unanimous decision.
Sutherland Steps In on Short Notice
Thirty-two-year-old Louie Sutherland takes the bout on just over a week’s notice. He is still chasing his first UFC win. Sutherland has two losses in the Octagon so far. Last year he was quickly submitted by Valter Walker with a heel hook. Most recently, he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Brando Pericic just last month.
Both fighters will be looking for a fresh start. Tuivasa wants to end a long skid and get momentum back. Sutherland wants to prove he belongs in the UFC and pick up his first victory in the promotion.
What to Watch on the Fight Card
The Perth card has several notable fights. The main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates will headline the show. Beneil Dariush and Quillan Salkilld meet in the co-main event. Tuivasa vs. Sutherland is one of the meaningful heavyweight matchups on the undercard and could have implications for both men’s careers.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Tai Tuivasa (33) | Lost to Tallison Teixeira by unanimous decision in February; on a six-fight losing streak |
| Louie Sutherland (32) | Lost by 1st round TKO to Brando Pericic last month; previously submitted by Valter Walker last year |
This report is presented by UFCcoverage.
