Digital Social Hour
From UFC Fights to Building A Cannabis Empire | Tai Tuivasa DSH #1355
Sun, 27 Apr 2025
From UFC fights to building a cannabis empire, this episode with Bam Bam is packed with valuable insights and unforgettable stories! 🌱💥 Join Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour as he sits down with UFC fighter and entrepreneur Tai "Bam Bam" Tuivasa to discuss his rise in the octagon, life-changing moments, and his new venture, Bam Bam Buds. 🥊🌿 You’ll hear about Tai’s early career challenges, his Samoan roots, his famous Shoey celebration, and how he’s navigating life outside the ring. From wild fight stories and hilarious cultural moments to his struggles with injuries and the journey to creating a thriving cannabis business, this conversation has it all. Tai’s authenticity and humor shine through as he shares why Aussies are a “different breed” and what it takes to bounce back from setbacks. 🌍🔥Don't miss out—watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets! 📺 Hit that subscribe button and join the conversation for more eye-opening stories on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly. 🚀 Let’s go! 🥳👊CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro00:30 - Growing Up in a Big Family02:35 - Getting into the UFC05:00 - ARES - Protect Yourself from EMF05:50 - Overcoming Adversity07:20 - What Makes a Great Fighter09:58 - Kinsta - The Best WordPress Hosting11:00 - Taking Time Off14:58 - Australian Food Culture17:05 - Australia vs The US: Cultural Differences19:00 - LA vs Dubai: City Comparisons20:53 - Declining Sex Rates22:05 - Dangerous Animals in Australia24:18 - Can You Skydive? Safety Tips27:54 - The Shoey: Australian Tradition29:02 - Where to Find Tai APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [email protected] GUEST: Tai Tuivasa https://www.instagram.com/bambamtuivasa SPONSORS: AIRES TECH: https://airestech.com/ KINSTA: https://kinsta.com/dsh NOTION: https://www.notion.com/ LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/ The views and opinions expressed by guests on Digital Social Hour are solely those of the individuals appearing on the podcast and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the host, Sean Kelly, or the Digital Social Hour team. While we encourage open and honest conversations, Sean Kelly is not legally responsible for any statements, claims, or opinions made by guests during the show. Listeners are encouraged to form their own opinions and consult professionals for advice where appropriate. Content on this podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, financial, or professional advice.#ufcpressconference #recreationalmarijuana #mmanews #ufc #ufcweighin
Chapter 1: Who is Tai Tuivasa and what is his UFC journey?
Very early in my career, I kind of shot out real fast. And that was against JDS. And I just went out guns blazing and ended up... You got gassed. Nah, I ended up getting clipped. Oh, shit. And he dropped me and then next minute I remember I wake up, I just, my eyes opened and I just saw his elbow hit me in the face and I was like, yeah, fuck.
All right, guys, we got Ty here from Australia. Let's go, man. How are you, bro? Long flight.
Very long flight. I've been over here for a little bit now, so I'm definitely ready to go home. You up or down gambling? From last night, definitely down. But I haven't been out to the casino much. I'm staying there, but I haven't been down there until last night. Do you gamble a lot in general? Nah, but when I do, I kind of do. I've kind of got that personality in anything I do.
You got that addictive personality? Oh, yeah. That's probably why you're good at fighting, at least. You like fighting, right? I definitely like fighting.
I like the fight of fighting. When did that start? Since young. I grew up in a big household, so I was fighting around. 11 siblings, right? Yeah. That's insane. It's unheard of these days. I'm an islander. That's too much Samoan. We're Samoan, so it's kind of normal. It's normal out there, huh? Yeah. I'm an only child. You're the only child?
Yeah. Yeah. How's that? Honestly, it kind of sucked. Yeah. Kind of lonely. I wish I had some siblings. Sometimes you have too many. Yeah. Are you close with all of them?
Yeah, we're pretty close. Yeah? So it's good. We're a tightening family.
Are any of them fighters too? No. So just you had that anger in you?
My brother, we definitely had it, depending on which one, definitely has it. My little brother actually is a boxer. He's still young. He's only 14, but he's definitely, he's got it in him. Okay. So I think he's probably going to be the next one. Did you start off with boxing or you went straight into mixed martial arts? My dad was a boxer.
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Chapter 2: How did Tai Tuivasa overcome his severe injury?
So it was my title defense in Australia and he snapped my knee. Holy crap. So, and then I went to the UFC meeting and I signed the contract with a fucked knee. And they, uh, they asked me, could I fight in four weeks? And I said, I don't think I could probably fight. I said, I probably won't fight for a year. So I was kind of hyped up.
I got signed and then there was a bit of a hype up by like Bam Bam from Australia signed. He's meant to be pretty good. And then it kind of died off. Cause I fucked my knee.
Damn. So you never felt the same after that?
Oh, no, I still feel normal. I just went through a very, very rough time. So I had my knee surgery. I snapped everything except the ACL. Holy crap. And then when I woke up from the surgery, I could only feel one arm. Jeez, you were paralyzed. Well, yeah, I kind of lost feeling to my whole right arm for about six months. Oh my God.
Was that supposed to happen? Definitely not. So they just messed up. Yeah, I think they fucked up. It was a public, it was a, I don't know. Sounds like a lawsuit. So yeah, that's crazy though. I didn't know that happened to you. Six months of no feeling in the arms.
And then at this time I was having, I had my son. So I was kind of fucked up there for a bit.
Yeah. Crazy timing. Having a kid while the worst injury.
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Chapter 3: What is Tai's fighting style and his view on the MMA sport?
Look at the UFC. Look what he's done. Yeah. Not just that. The UFC as a whole is run to a T. Like everything's on time. Fights are on time. All the workers are always on point. Yeah. They run a tight ship over there.
You see he's getting into boxing now? I see that. Saudi Arabia. I see that. Crazy money out there. Very crazy money. You might have to get out there, man.
I'm definitely not saying no. I want to get back in the gym and get focused on fighting and then get that out of the way and see what's next.
You got any opponents this year you want to go after?
This year, I'm going to sit out. I'm going to train when I get back and get in shape. I'm a bit fat at the moment. Yeah.
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Chapter 4: What are Tai Tuivasa's thoughts on UFC leadership and Dana White?
I think if there's anyone to beat Jones, it would be Tom.
Hmm. He's a lot younger. Yeah. Yeah. Jones in his prime, I think, would destroy him. Right now. Anyone's ever been Jones? Yeah. He's got one foot out the door now. He's getting up there in age.
Yeah, he's on his way out, that's for sure.
You think he's the GOAT? Yeah, definitely.
Yeah, I don't think it's close. Yeah, not fighting. He does some crazy shit outside the ring, but... So do you. Everyone does some crazy shit.
Everyone does their own thing. You Australians are wild, man. Aussies are pretty wild. Whenever I have Aussies on the pod, they ask me, you coming to the club tonight with us? I'm like, hell no. Yeah, you're not going out with the Aussies? I don't party. You don't party? I don't. You don't drink? I drink a little bit. A couple times a year. I got hammered the other night playing darts.
So you do drink? Yeah, a couple times a year. Damn. You don't hammer down the night? Yeah, like... Yeah, you're not going out with Aussies. Nah, I wouldn't last. We're pretty crazy. We love to party. You do. I wonder why. You guys are just trapped on the island out there. Bored.
I don't know, actually. It's kind of like a weird party culture. I've been around the world and I've partied around as well.
And it's like, yeah, Aussies are different. Yeah. You guys are a different breed. Where else has good parties though? You've been around the world. Yeah. Shit.
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Chapter 5: How is Tai balancing his fighting career with entrepreneurship?
So I trained and that's where I kind of went on my run there for a little bit. Okay.
How about to Dubai? I got to head out there, man. I love Dubai. Dubai's awesome. You like Australia more than the US? Oh, yeah, definitely.
Really? I'm an Aussie, but not even just that. Like, I've... I've been eating some fat food for the fuck. Bro, the food is not real food. Nah, it's all processed. Bro, it's not real food. I don't know.
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I don't know if anyone knows that, but the food here is not real. I don't, I don't know. I mean, there's a reason a lot of us are fat here. Shit. I'm fat too, but it's just, we're very lucky as Australians and even New Zealand. I think anywhere over that world side of the world, we've got such good produce. Love me some Australian Wagyu.
That shit's good. I can't wait to get home and cook me a steak. Yeah. I prefer a Wagyu over there than most of the steak here.
Yeah. Well, I think the best meats around the world, they're sold from Australia anyway. Are they? I'd say so. In Dubai and stuff, you're paying fucking $400 for Australian steak. Damn. You can pay for 20 bucks down the pub.
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Chapter 6: What is the Australian party culture and how does Tai describe it?
Oh, easily. Yeah. Jersey slept on though. It's a good state. Not Newark, but.
I definitely need to, I definitely need to go back and experience them. Yeah. That doesn't count as Jersey. But my last experience was a bit.
People only go there to fly. Fly out. That's where the airport is. Oh yeah. That's it though. You're not there for any other reason. I would say that too. The neighborhoods in Australia, any are like that or they're all safe over there?
No, it definitely depends where you go. Where I grew up was pretty rough, but that's home. Yeah. Definitely not like America. We don't have the numbers. We've got 28 million people of the whole country. Yeah, there's some states. LA's got more. We're definitely a lot smaller. You like LA? Yeah.
I like LA, but it's kind of, it wouldn't, it's not really, it's not really, it wouldn't be like my spot. Yeah. I don't know. I think it's just a bit, a bit full on and a bit.
Yeah. People care about social media there a lot. People care about it? Like their followers and their... Oh yeah, see, I wouldn't go. I don't know. I don't follow any of that shit. Yeah, they care about their look, their image. Yeah, I need to care about mine a bit too. It's a really materialistic city though. Yeah. I suppose Dubai would be like that as well. Is it? Very. Okay. Yeah.
I thought Dubai was more about money and... Well, that's the same shit. Yeah. Everyone's faking it probably. Yeah, there's a lot of that. Yeah, that's one of the downsides of social media, right?
I'd say so. Seen some people like that are really big on social media, but like they really ain't doing shit. Yeah.
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Chapter 7: What are Tai's opinions on food culture in Australia vs. other countries?
Yeah. That's usually most people with a big following, you know, they got to like make up for it somehow.
Yeah.
It's unfortunate. Well, what else is next for you this year, man? You're not fighting, so you're just going to... Well, I've been busy with this.
This has been a bit of a long process, but I'm still learning a lot about the game. Really just a foot in to get started, you know what I mean? But I've been spending time with my son, family time. But when I get back, I'm going to get back into training and I want to book a fight for next year. I'll start early next year. Yeah. You want more kids? Ooh, that's a good question. Yeah.
I wouldn't mind more kids. I think I just need to work more. Yeah. They're expensive, right? Yeah. I grew up in a big family, so it's kind of, I know how it is. Like,
I want to be set up a little bit more. Yeah. Yeah, you grew up with 10, 11 siblings, so you got to catch up, man. Let's see. Oh, I don't think I'm going that hard. My brothers have got like four or five a piece. Damn. Trump just offered 5K if you have a kid out here now. 5K? Yeah, today. Shit, sign me up. It goes to the woman though. Oh, it goes to the woman. Yeah.
So they get five grand a head now. Cause we're losing numbers here.
We used to do, we had a baby bonus in Australia. So it's kind of like a baby bonus.
Yeah. Where's that? Just in Vegas? In America. In America? Yeah. Cause our numbers are dropping. We're not having enough sex. So like we're, uh, more people are dying than are being born right now. Why do you think the no sex thing? I don't know. It's weird. I've been fine, but yeah, other people, I guess. Yeah. I mean, I'm chilling. Other people though, they're not having kids. Okay.
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