"Teixeira almost immediately got the fight to the ground, with Tuivasa cramped against the fence just 15 seconds into the fight. Tuivasa tried to power up, but Teixeira was draped across his back, landing punches to the body. Tai did make it up, but Teixeira was still on him and landed a knee to the body. Tuivasa turned, back to the fence, but wound up taken down again, with Teixeira in mount this time."
"Teixeira would find space to land some decently heavy punches, but not blows hard enough to knock him out. Teixeira looked for a rear-naked choke next, but wasn't in position. Instead, Tuivasa powered up and out, the crowd erupting with cheers as he got back to his feet. He'd go on the offensive briefly before they tied up. If nothing else, Tuivasa survived the round."
"Then came a spinning back fist from Tallison, which Tuivasa deftly ducked under. The towering Brazilian appeared to have slowed a step, perhaps having expended too much energy in round one. Tuivasa touched the inside leg with a kick, then landed a hard one outside. He connected with a right, landed a kick, then Teixeira landed several strikes, which Tai simply ate, granite-chinned."
Tai Tuivasa returned to action after a year and a half away and a five-fight winless stretch, entering UFC 325 ranked No. 12 in the shallow heavyweight division. Tallison Teixeira immediately secured takedowns, pressed Tuivasa against the fence and worked from back control and mount, landing body shots and a knee. Teixeira searched for a rear-naked choke while Tuivasa spent much of the opening round defending on the canvas before powering back to his feet to the crowd's acclaim. In round two Teixeira opened with kicks and a spinning back fist that Tuivasa ducked; Tuivasa landed leg kicks and a right while weathering additional strikes as Teixeira drove for another takedown.
Read at Cageside Press
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