Heavyweight fighter Tai Tuivasa is returning to the Octagon at UFC 293 after almost nine months. Moreover, it will take place in his home country of Australia, giving him a hometown advantage over his opponent, Alexander Volkov. One of the funniest characters in the UFC, let us take a look at the meanings behind some of his nicknames.
It is safe to say that Tai Tuivasa is one of the unique personalities of all the UFC. Besides being one of the best heavyweight knockout artists, he also has a funny persona. Not only that, but the Australian fighter also has a range of nicknames. Let’s take a look.
‘BAM BAM’ and ‘FTA’ – the most famous nicknames of Tai Tuivasa and the meanings behind them
Tai Tuivasa’s nickname ‘BAM BAM’ has drawn inspiration from the world of professional wrestling. The first person to use that name was former WWE (then WWF) superstar Bam Bam Bigelow, who weighed over 400 pounds when he was active. Sadly, Bigelow passed away in 2007, when he was 45 years old. The moniker ‘BAM BAM’ typically connotes an individual possessing a lot of strength. This characterization aptly fits Tuivasa. The Australian fighter is renowned for his knockout prowess, showcasing remarkable force in all his strikes.
When it comes to his second nickname, ‘FTA’, it is a different story. It is an acronym that means, ‘From the Area’. Tai Tuivasa has it tattooed on the inside of his lower lip. He had already introduced this term along with ‘Eshay’ to the UFC fans in his post-fight interviews. ‘FTA’ is Tuivasa’s attempt to pay homage to the neighborhood in Western Sydney, where he grew up.
On the other hand, ‘Eshay’ is a word that depicts a person who likes to call themselves ‘Roadmen’ or ‘Gangster’. Now let us take a look at another nickname that Tai Tuivasa shares with another fighter.
Sharing a nickname with Bryan Barberena
UFC welterweight luminary, Bryan Barberena, and the heavyweight sensation, Tai Tuivasa, are both recognized by the moniker ‘BAM BAM’ during their competitive bouts. Barberena has yet to fully embody his ‘Bam Bam’ moniker in the UFC. It is because the majority of his victories within the promotion have been achieved through decision.
Barberena has been fighting in the UFC since 2014. Since then, he has amassed a record of eight wins and six losses while using the same nickname as Tai Tuivasa. Meanwhile, having the same nickname did prompt the welterweight star to call out the Australian for a contest to claim the ultimate bragging rights of ‘BAM BAM’. Let’s take a look at that front.
Bryan Barberena’s challenge to Tai Tuivasa for rights on the ‘Bam Bam’ nickname
Both Tuivasa and Barberena belong to different weight classes. Hence, it is unlikely that fans will witness a fight between the two in the near future. However, Barberena proposed a competition to earn the right of the nickname ‘BAM BAM.’
During UFC on ESPN 42’s media day, the welterweight star said, “Maybe we do like, an eating competition? I am good with that. I will challenge him to an eating competition after the fight.” It seems like both fighters have no problems with using the same nickname. However, a friendly competition is not out of the question. Now, let us take a look at yet another nickname of Tai Tuivasa.
Why do some fans address Tai Tuivasa as ‘Shoeyvasa’?
When Tai Tuivasa defeated Cyril Asker at UFC 221, he celebrated his win by drinking beer from a shoe. This celebration is widely popular in Australia. Moreover, Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has also performed this celebration. When the Australian fighter was asked about this celebration, he expounded on its cultural significance in his native country. Additionally, he also mentioned that individuals have been known to use old footwear as drinking vessels.
This became a celebration synonymous with Tai Tuivasa and fans started to call him ‘Shoeyvasa’, which rhymes perfectly with his second name. To be precise, he was given this nickname by a media outlet after drinking beer from a UFC fan’s shoe after his fight at UFC 225. These antics have certainly made him a fan favorite in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.
Apart from the nicknames, Tai Tuivasa will be aiming to grab a victory this weekend after two consecutive losses. Moreover, Alexander Volkov is no cakewalk, as he possesses a great wrestling game and even has many knockouts to his name. We will have to tune in to UFC 293 this weekend to find out if Tuivasa can emerge victorious in his hometown.
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