UFC: Tai Tuivasa books first UFC main event with bout against Junior dos Santos at UFC Fight Night Adelaide

The walk to the octagon is a part of the job UFC fighters look forward to every bout, and Tai Tuivasa makes it his own like few others.

While the majority of fighters walk to high tempo rock or hip hop tunes, the UFC's No.10 ranked heavyweight makes his way to the cage to the sound of what can only be described as timeless pop classics.

Vanessa Carton's 'A Thousand Miles', 'The Horses' by Daryl Braithwaite and, most recently, Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On.'

"I've always walked out to these – as people call them – girly songs," Tuivasa told the Herald. "Really, that's my jams. These are the songs I listen to all the time…I just have fun with it."

Tai Tuivasa's Octagon walk is even better with Titanic music 😂 #UFC225 pic.twitter.com/3x0WnqY51q

— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 10, 2018

They clearly have the desired effect of getting him pumped for a fight, with the 25-year-old Australian unbeaten in 10 bouts (3-0-0 UFC) and a date with former champion Junior dos Santos next on the cards.

Tuivasa will meet the 34-year-old Brazilian, now ranked No.7, in the main event when the UFC returns Down Under in December, with a five-round bout headlining the UFC Adelaide card.

Since signing with the UFC last year, Tuivasa has remained and fought his first three bouts with the company in the space of seven months. And much like his walk to the cage, he's made his presence felt walking back after winning too, celebrating by chugging beer out of a random fan's shoe.

"I thought if I was doing it every other weekend, I may as well pump one after winning a fight. It's really just one of those things," he said. "I've kind of put myself in a spot. I'll be walking around and just be having fellas going 'do a shoey.'

"It'll be like seven o'clock in the morning and people will be like 'oi, do a shoey.' I'm like, 'bro relax.'"

Tai Tuivasa's official nickname should be "Shoey" not "Bam Bam".#UFC #mmahottake #hottakemma pic.twitter.com/Vj9y0hkdBu

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) August 8, 2018

Unlike the heavily active Tuivasa, dos Santos (19-5-0; 13-4-0 UFC) has taken the opposite approach in recent years, fighting just once a year since 2014. That'll change for the Brazilian in December as he comes into the bout fresh off a five-round unanimous decision win over Blagoy Ivanov in July.

Tuivasa said he wasn't surprised to see dos Santos take the fight despite his recent trend, and said it was just a case of shooting his shot to see what came of it.

"I wanted to fight dos Santos. It was just one of those things I put out there. It was either I get the fight or I don't get the fight…I remember when he ran the world; I remember when he was the baddest dude on the planet.

Hey Mr Miyagi, I Didn’t get a reply from my last response, but since your not keen on Asia should come to Australia, it’s the best!! Or you don’t like the weather or you don’t like Home and Away? Or Shoeys? I’ve accepted to dance with you..#Waiting 😴 @ufc @Mickmaynard2 https://t.co/u9tUVDQ5tE

— Tai BAM BAM Tuivasa (@bambamtuivasa) August 16, 2018

"I want to at least say I fought that guy or I got a hiding from that guy or I beat that guy. That's why I do this."

The bout in Adelaide will be Tuivasa's third on Australian soil in four fights, and his first five-rounder. In his previous three UFC bouts, he's only been taken the distance once. He admitted he was unsure of what to expect going into a headliner, but that was one of the best things about how he works.

"Put me in deep water and I'll find a way to swim."

Current card for UFC Fight Night Adelaide, December 2.

Five-round heavyweight (main event): Tai Tuivasa (Australia) v Junior dos Santos (Brazil)
Three-round flyweight bout: Wilson Reis (Brazil) v Ben Nguyen (USA)
Three-round flyweight bout: Kai Kara-France (NZ) v Ashkan Mokhtarian (Australia)
Three-round light heavyweight bout: Jim Crute (Australia) v Paul Craig (Scotland)