Tuivasa says he forked out for flights, not the UFC ahead of UFC Paris
‘I pay for my own tickets… I did a lot of time at the back of the plane’: UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa reveals HE foots travel bill and hints employers refuse to fork out – despite headline role at UFC Paris
- Tai Tuivasa is headlining UFC Paris this weekend but paid for his own plane ticket
- He is uncomfortable in economy given his size but company did not pay for him
- Australian revealed he almost always shells out the money for his flights
Tai Tuivasa has revealed he foots the bill for his plane tickets, despite jetting in to headline the show at UFC Paris this weekend.
The heavyweight has found it too uncomfortable to sit in economy for an extended period of time on long-haul trips.
As a 273-pound fighter, comfort is king and seats to the rear of the plane are simply not equipped to handle Tuivasa.
Tai Tuivasa revealed that he paid for his flight to Paris rather than the UFC
He suggested the UFC are unwilling to pay for a smoother ride for him during an appearance on the MMA Hour.
He said: ‘I pay for my own tickets. I just get my own flights all the time. Most of my flights, I always pay for my own because I like to fly…
‘I did a lot of time in the back of the plane, now it’s time to sit up in the front.
‘I would agree (someone else should be paying for it) but that’s another argument for another time I suppose.’
Fighter pay has become a hot topic in recent months, with many outspoken critics on the current roster at loggerheads with the promotion.
The Australian has won his last five and takes on Ciryl Gane this Saturday night
Jon Jones, Luke Rockhold, Henry Cejudo, Nate Diaz and Francis Ngannou are just a handful of stars to have voiced their discontent.
Tuivasa refused to pile in on the UFC over the plane tickets but there’s no doubt about his star appeal this weekend.
Ciryl Gane will of course have the French crowd on his side on home turf in the first event to be taken to the country by the UFC since MMA became legal.
But in Tuivasa he faces a KO artist who will present immense danger at every turn.
Tuivasa has won his last five in a row and victory over Gane, who lost to Francis Ngannou at the start of the year, would put the heavy-hitting Australian in pole position for a title shot or interim fight.
Tai Tuivasa celebrates victory in the Octagon with a shoey after knocking out Derrick Lewis
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