Londoner Sutherland’s start to life in the UFC has been chaotic. What should have been his debut fight in Perth in September was cancelled on 24 hours notice when opponent Justin Tafa withdrew through illness.
He went on to lose his actual debut the following month when agreeing to face Valter Walker on 10 days’ notice.
His place in the UFC was under threat when he lost against Brando Pericic in his home city earlier this year.
Victory over Australia’s Tuivasa and his willingness to jump in at the drop of a hat will earn Sutherland some credit in the bank.
“It’s overwhelming because I took a short notice fight against Walter, who I thought I could win against. I finally came here on a week’s notice and it feels sweet, it feels amazing,” Sutherland said.
“Me and my coaches said it, we did a big 360. We started here and it didn’t go to plan with Tafa pulling out, but listen, that’s on a week’s notice.”
In the main event, Carlos Prates put in a career-best performance to upset former welterweight champion and home favourite Jack della Maddalena.
Brazil’s Prates dropped Perth’s Della Maddalena with a leg kick in round three before forcing the referee to step in as he attacked with heavy elbow strikes.
It is the second former welterweight champion that Prates, 32, has stopped, having beaten Birmingham’s Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in November.
Della Maddalena, 29, was fighting for the first time since losing his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev on the same card.
