Tai Tuivasa recorded another landmark victory at UFC 271 in defeating Derrick Lewis – and Dana White joined in with the fun afterwards.
It was a brutal performance from the Australian fighter, who knocked Lewis out cold with a stunning right elbow.
The win was a massive shock to those in attendance, with Lewis considered a big home favourite going into the fight. However, it wasn’t to be for the American.
Read: Joe Rogan taken off UFC 271 commentary in surprise late call
Tuivasa delivers ‘shoey’ promise
After his victories, Tuivasa traditionally toasts his success with a ‘shoey’. The act involves drinking out of your own – or somebody else’s – shoe. It sounds horrific, but it has become strangely popular across the sporting world.
Many sporting fans will have become familiar with the act through Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian has a ‘shoey’ every time he records a podium finish. His compatriot later took the tradition into the sport of the UFC.
Read: Tai Tuivasa suggests he’ll take the ‘shoey’ to gross levels if he beats Derrick Lewis
After his UFC 271 victory over Lewis, Tuivasa didn’t disappoint – or otherwise, depending on how you feel – the fans. He took a shoe from Steve Nelk, sat on top of the Octagon, and drank from it.
Dana White joins ‘shoey’ trend
Although we’d all been anticipating that Tai Tuivasa would do the ‘shoey’, the last person you would expect to perform such an act would be Dana White.
The UFC president stated in July: “If the world was on fire and everybody was dying of thirst, that’s the last f***ing thing I would do.”
White seemed pretty committal on whether he was going to join the trend. However, after Tuivasa’s UFC 271 win, the Australian convinced the boss to participate.
In a video originally posted on the Australian’s Instagram account, White can be seen drinking from a shoe.
We can only assume the liquid contained in the shoe, and unfortunately, the video cuts off before we see the UFC president’s reaction. But the image of him drinking from a shoe is an iconic one, nonetheless.
Tuivasa has now won his last five UFC fights – all by knockout. Perhaps his rapid rise up the sport convinced White to take up a tradition that fans never thought possible.
Featured Image Credit: Getty