Tai Tuivasa has visions. He can see things in his head before they happen.
That's how the pride of Mt Druitt knew he was going to knock out Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 two weeks ago and it's how he knows he's going to become the UFC heavyweight champion.
"It kind of went exactly how it was supposed to go. I'm a bit of a head fighter – I watch things happen in my head, then they happen.
"I knew what he does, he's a heavy puncher and I was in a tough position there and I was a bit shocked he wanted to wrestle.
"But once he started hitting me I was like 'f**k, I've got to hit him back or he's going to punch the f***ing shit out of me'.
"I saw it. I knew it was going to go like that.
Hit him back he did – Tuivasa levelled Lewis with an elbow strike that sent the towering American crashing to the canvas and established Tuivasa as a top contender for Francis Ngannou's heavyweight title.
Tuivasa isn't sure if his next fight will be for the title – right now, he's focused on enjoying his time back in Australia after almost two years overseas – but he can imagine what it'll be like once he claims the UFC belt.
"I'll be walking around with it (the belt) on my waist like a clown. I'll be that old clown at the pub telling everyone how great he was when I was young. It's going to happen. It will happen," Tuivasa said.
"As long as you have a crack, what's the worst that can happen? You might lose. That's it.
"I have a team and I believe as long as everyone in the team does their job it's going to go well. I have a few business things to take care of, but I'm back into training next week and I'll regroup with my team.
"They understand the fight game a bit better than I do, they know who's who, I just love fighting. I'm not far from the belt now and f**k, we're on a roll, we may as well gun it."
Tuivasa is currently ranked third at heavyweight, behind former champion Stipe Miocic and recent title challenger Cyril Gane.
There's also the looming spectre of former light-heayvweight champion Jon Jones and his long-expected move to heavyweight.
Ngannou is currently embroiled in a contract dispute with the UFC and his status is uncertain, but the Cameroonian already boasts a recent win over Gane.
Miocic hasn't fought since losing the title to Ngannou last March and Jones hasn't entered the cage since February of 2020. Tuivasa is popular, dangerous and active, and there is no time like right now for him to be thrown into the title mix.
It will be a tall order – Ngannou is the most fearsome puncher in the sport and has never been knocked out, but Tuivasa wouldn't shy away from the magnitude of the task.
"That's why I do this stuff, the challenge. Obviously I do it to get paid, but I love the challenge, that aspect of fighting," Tuivasa said.
"It's happened to me, I've lost as well, and the person you lose to always has that feather in their hat. It's something you go after – or I do, anyway."
