Tai Tuivasa vs Tallison Teixeira — Fight recap

Tallison Teixeira defeated Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision after three rounds on January 31, 2026, with referee Marc Goddard officiating. Teixeira's superior cage control and grappling activity proved decisive despite both fighters landing significant strikes at similar rates—Tuivasa connected on 42 of 58 shots (72%) while Teixeira landed 51 of 74 (68%).

The difference came through Teixeira's wrestling, where he completed three takedowns and controlled 7:00 of the fight compared to Tuivasa's 3:58. Tuivasa showed strong striking accuracy, particularly with body work (10 of 10) and leg kicks (11 of 12), but his inability to defend or counter the takedown threat left judges favoring Teixeira's well-rounded approach.

The loss marks a significant setback for Tuivasa in the heavyweight division.