Tai Tuivasa Responds to UFC Question

Tai Tuivasa has answered a fan question about whether he is still in the UFC after ending his Instagram silence following UFC 331. The heavyweight’s response was presented as a humorous one, with fans reacting warmly in the comments section. The exchange arrived in the same post in which Tuivasa addressed his latest defeat, apologized to his supporters and said he had been spending time with his family. Rather than offering a long explanation, Tuivasa paired the fan interaction with a message that acknowledged the disappointment of the result while stressing gratitude and a return to work.

Tuivasa fought Robelis Despaigne at UFC 331 and lost by split decision. That defeat was identified as his eighth consecutive UFC loss, tying the promotional record for the longest losing streak alongside Tony Ferguson. Tuivasa has also been winless for more than four years, a stretch that has fuelled doubts about his UFC future. His recent Instagram activity therefore carried more weight than a routine social-media update: it was his first public message after the loss and a direct response to the questions surrounding his place in the promotion. The post came two weeks after the defeat, giving Tuivasa a chance to address supporters in his own words before the conversation turned to what may come next.

Tai Tuivasa reflects after UFC 331

Tuivasa’s main message was candid about the outcome against Despaigne. He wrote: “Had a crack no good. Sorry all my peoples I fell short again. Thank you Jesus for all my blessings. Been chilling with my family, and I’m way too blessed to be stressed. Thankyou. Big love too my peoples @kingmofh @renan_problema_mma @mocco @bayatperformance @americantopteam we put in the work and I didn’t get the job done. Back to work.” The wording did not attempt to recast the split-decision defeat. Tuivasa plainly said that he fell short and that he did not get the job done, while also thanking the people named in the post. His reference to family and blessings added a personal note to a message otherwise centred on the fight result. The closing line, “Back to work,” provided the clearest indication of his immediate mindset. It did not erase the significance of an eighth straight UFC defeat, but it made clear that Tuivasa was framing the moment around renewed effort rather than retreating from the discussion. For a fighter whose future has drawn questions, that combination of accountability, gratitude and resolve was the central substance of the post.

The comments added another layer to Tuivasa’s return to Instagram. A fan asked whether he was still in the UFC, and Tuivasa replied in a way that was described as hilarious. The exact wording of that response was not included in the account, but the reaction around it was clear. One fan called it “F*cking hilarious.” Another wrote, “You are amazing. I believe you will get back on the winning track.” A further comment read: “We still ridin’ with you! to the next one!” Those replies show that the response landed as a light moment within a far more serious competitive backdrop. Tuivasa’s UFC 331 loss, his eight-fight losing streak and his four-plus years without a win are all part of the context. Yet the fan reaction also showed that supporters were engaging with his humour and continuing to offer encouragement after his public apology.

The key points from Tuivasa’s update

Tuivasa’s post can be read through two connected elements: the fight context and the tone of his response. First, he directly accepted responsibility for the UFC 331 result. He did not blame Despaigne, the decision or anyone listed in his thank-you message. Instead, he said that the group had put in the work and that he had not got the job done. Second, he used a fan question about his UFC status to create a lighter moment after a difficult run. That contrast helps explain why the exchange drew attention. The question came amid existing doubts about his future, while the reply prompted laughter and supportive comments. The update also established a clear short-term sequence. Tuivasa lost to Despaigne by split decision, stayed silent on Instagram for two weeks, then posted a message that combined an apology with gratitude and a declaration that he was back to work. There is no need to overstate that message: it was not a fight announcement or a result reversal. It was Tuivasa speaking after a setback, thanking those around him and responding publicly to a question that many fans had been asking.

• At UFC 331, Tai Tuivasa lost to Robelis Despaigne by split decision, a result described as his eighth consecutive UFC defeat.
• Two weeks later, Tai Tuivasa returned to Instagram, apologized for falling short, thanked people in his camp and said: “Back to work.”

Tai Tuivasa’s Instagram return did not avoid the difficult facts around UFC 331. He acknowledged that he fell short against Despaigne and addressed the people who had supported his preparation. At the same time, his humorous answer to the UFC-status question gave fans a lighter moment, and the comments showed continued backing from supporters. With his losing streak tied for the longest in UFC history and doubts around his future already widespread, Tuivasa’s message was notable for its directness: he accepted the result, expressed gratitude and said he was back to work.