Teixeira Tops Tuivasa by Unanimous Decision at UFC 325

In a thrilling heavyweight clash at UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, Brazilian fighter Tallison Teixeira earned a unanimous decision victory over local favorite Tai Tuivasa, snapping his own brief skid while extending Tuivasa's to six consecutive losses. The judges scored the bout 29-28 across all three scorecards, rewarding Teixeira's grappling dominance in the early rounds despite a furious late rally from the Australian.

The fight unfolded on Saturday evening before a raucous home crowd at Qudos Bank Arena, where Tuivasa, a Sydney native, received one of the night's loudest ovations upon entering the octagon. Teixeira, standing at 6 feet 9 inches as the tallest active fighter in the UFC, faced boos from the partisan audience but quickly imposed his game plan. A jiu-jitsu black belt with a background of first-round finishes, Teixeira had entered the matchup off his lone career defeat, a third-round TKO loss to Derrick Lewis in July of the previous year. Prior to that, he had built momentum with knockouts, including one over Justin Tafa.

Tuivasa, 32, came in seeking redemption after nearly 18 months away from competition. Once ranked as high as No. 3 in the heavyweight division,...