Video: Is Tai Tuivasa UFC heavyweight title material after his KO of Derrick Lewis?

Going into UFC 271, you’d be forgiven if you considered Tai Tuivasa merely a fun fighter, but not a serious title contender.

That’s because Tuivasa had become known perhaps more for his victory “shoey” side show than he was for his fights. When Tuivasa completes a win, he chugs a beer out of a shoe – usually one from a stranger.

But at UFC 271, Tuivasa knocked out Houston hometown hero Derrick Lewis in rather brutal fashion. After he put Lewis face first into the canvas, UFC president Dana White said Tuivasa’s name deserves to be right up there with heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, former champ Stipe Miocic and former light heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones.

Tuivasa has put a three-fight skid in 2018-2019 way in the rearview mirror and now has five straight wins – all by knonckout. So has he Tuivasa moved past being just a fun fighter and into title material? Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of “Gorgeous” George Garcia, Brian “Goze” Garcia and Nolan King discussed that with host John Morgan.

You can watch their discussion in the video above, or check out this week’s full episode below.