Tai Tuivasa has a new opponent for UFC Perth on May 2, with Louie Sutherland stepping in after Sean Sharaf withdrew due to a broken nose.
The UFC’s Australia and New Zealand social media account announced the change on Friday. Sutherland, an English heavyweight known as Vanilla Gorilla, is also 0-2 inside the Octagon, having suffered first-round knockout losses to Valter Walker and Brando Pericic since signing with the promotion as a former Levels Fight League champion in 2025. Despite his current skid, he now has the chance to face a former top-five contender on short notice.
The matchup gives both fighters a path to their first UFC victory, though the stakes are considerably higher for Tuivasa. The Australian is currently on a six-fight losing streak, having last won inside the Octagon with a knockout of Derrick Lewis four years ago.
Since that victory, he has fallen to Sergei Pavlovich, Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, Marcin Tybura, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and, most recently, Tallison Teixeira at UFC 325 in Sydney in February. He had previously climbed as high as number three in the heavyweight rankings before his current run began.
Australian fans will still see Tuivasa compete at home at RAC Arena, and the Perth crowd will be firmly behind him as he looks to end the losing run on familiar ground.