Tai Tuivasa, in his own words, never thinks too far down the line - but it's impossible for him to not at least dream about hoisting the UFC heavyweight title.
"I'm pretty close," he chuckles.
"Not bad for a boy, for a young boy from the west - and I'm going to go out there and prove everyone wrong, and I'm going to keep doing it.
"I'm f--king close to a belt man, how cool."
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Tuivasa spoke to Wide World of Sports ahead of his fight this weekend in Paris against Frenchman Cyril Gane - with the winner likely to be given a title fight down the line.
Like him or hate him, Tuivasa is the real deal - both in personality and fighting ability - most recently producing a stunning knockout on Derrick Lewis. And his antics have earned him plenty of praise, with UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently calling the Australian the biggest star in the division.
It's an honour that sits just fine with Tuivasa, who, like always, carries his western Sydney attitude with him wherever he goes.
"It's just me, that is me," he said.
"If I was born in the eastern suburbs I probably wouldn't be fighting.
"And like I've said, I've lost a lot of my family, a lot of my friends, who've gone down the path I was expected to go down - and they're what I fight for.
"I'm out here proving the world wrong, in more ways than one - this is for my brothers and sisters that didn't get to fulfil their dreams."
Gane is the division's number one contender and is a firm favourite at the sportsbooks - but so was Lewis.
Tuivasa just needs one opening, one punch, and he'll be in the world title frame.
"We're born underdogs - it's nothing new. Just means more money for the boys that put bets on me," he laughed.
Tuivasa prepared for this test in Dubai, where he usually heads before fights and previously spent more than a year based in. It's a move that has coincided with his surge up the rankings.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.
"It's good for me here. I'm out of my comfort zone here and away from a lot of my temptations, and friends and family - which puts me in a position where I have to work."
This isn't the same Tai Tuivasa that first stepped into a UFC ring to the sounds of 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton and made quick work of Rashad Coulter with a flying knee.
That fun-loving guy with highlight reel skills is still there. He's just more focused, more dangerous, and more driven - just ask his best mate and fellow UFC star Tyson Pedro.
"It's good to see that Tai's in a good spot - I can sort of tell, as I've known him for a long time," he told Wide World of Sports.
"I'd definitely say more mature - but not mature," Pedro laughed.
"Now it's just outbursts of the old Tai - but it's just good to see people you love grow as people, and become better versions of themselves - and that's what we're all trying to do, isn't it?"
The pair are continuing to dominate both inside and outside the octagon. Pedro was victorious in his recent fight against Harry Hunsucker, and will be watching on as both Tuivasa, and Robert Whittaker, fly the flag in Paris.
Like Pedro a few weeks ago, Tuivasa has had to put their beer company Drink West, and other side ventures, in the rear-view mirror as he focuses on Gane.
"I really love business, I love hustling, I love making money - so it's kind of hard for me sometimes, but I've had to put my head down and focus for this," he said.
"Without fighting, all the rest is just a blur."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Tai Tuivasa, in his own words, never thinks too far down the line - but it's impossible for him to not at least dream about hoisting the UFC heavyweight title.
"I'm pretty close," he chuckles.
"Not bad for a boy, for a young boy from the west - and I'm going to go out there and prove everyone wrong, and I'm going to keep doing it.
"I'm f--king close to a belt man, how cool."
LIVE UPDATES: US Open 22 day two highlights
READ MORE: Wayne Bennett's former club blindsided by player raid
READ MORE: 'Something going on' with stunned Tsitsipas
Tuivasa spoke to Wide World of Sports ahead of his fight this weekend in Paris against Frenchman Cyril Gane - with the winner likely to be given a title fight down the line.
Like him or hate him, Tuivasa is the real deal - both in personality and fighting ability - most recently producing a stunning knockout on Derrick Lewis. And his antics have earned him plenty of praise, with UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently calling the Australian the biggest star in the division.
It's an honour that sits just fine with Tuivasa, who, like always, carries his western Sydney attitude with him wherever he goes.
"It's just me, that is me," he said.
"If I was born in the eastern suburbs I probably wouldn't be fighting.
"And like I've said, I've lost a lot of my family, a lot of my friends, who've gone down the path I was expected to go down - and they're what I fight for.
"I'm out here proving the world wrong, in more ways than one - this is for my brothers and sisters that didn't get to fulfil their dreams."
Gane is the division's number one contender and is a firm favourite at the sportsbooks - but so was Lewis.
Tuivasa just needs one opening, one punch, and he'll be in the world title frame.
"We're born underdogs - it's nothing new. Just means more money for the boys that put bets on me," he laughed.
Tuivasa prepared for this test in Dubai, where he usually heads before fights and previously spent more than a year based in. It's a move that has coincided with his surge up the rankings.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he said.
"It's good for me here. I'm out of my comfort zone here and away from a lot of my temptations, and friends and family - which puts me in a position where I have to work."
This isn't the same Tai Tuivasa that first stepped into a UFC ring to the sounds of 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton and made quick work of Rashad Coulter with a flying knee.
That fun-loving guy with highlight reel skills is still there. He's just more focused, more dangerous, and more driven - just ask his best mate and fellow UFC star Tyson Pedro.
"It's good to see that Tai's in a good spot - I can sort of tell, as I've known him for a long time," he told Wide World of Sports.
"I'd definitely say more mature - but not mature," Pedro laughed.
"Now it's just outbursts of the old Tai - but it's just good to see people you love grow as people, and become better versions of themselves - and that's what we're all trying to do, isn't it?"
The pair are continuing to dominate both inside and outside the octagon. Pedro was victorious in his recent fight against Harry Hunsucker, and will be watching on as both Tuivasa, and Robert Whittaker, fly the flag in Paris.
Like Pedro a few weeks ago, Tuivasa has had to put their beer company Drink West, and other side ventures, in the rear-view mirror as he focuses on Gane.
"I really love business, I love hustling, I love making money - so it's kind of hard for me sometimes, but I've had to put my head down and focus for this," he said.
"Without fighting, all the rest is just a blur."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
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