Three of the world's top ten UFC heavyweights have praised rapidly rising rival and Australian KO king Tai Tuivasa.
The 25-year-old Sydneysider will face his toughest test yet on UFC 225 in Chicago on Sunday (AEST), when he fights former world champion Andrei Arlovski of Belarus.
So far none of the former rugby league player's nine MMA opponents have survived beyond the first round, all falling to the brutal striking power of the fighter known as Bam Bam.
'He is young, tough and very strong," Arlovski said.
'No doubt he's very dangerous and I've got to stick to my game plan and be very disciplined."
Arlovski - who says he is surprised that Tuivasa has been ranked so highly, so quickly - will have height, reach and leg reach advantages over Tuivasa.
"He's a very big man," Tuivasa told AAP after meeting Arlovski for the first time
Two other leading heavyweights, who are fighting each other on the Chicago card, also regard Tuivasa highly after seeing him at close quarters in Perth last February.
They are established star Alastair Overeem of the Netherlands, who is ranked second, and No.4 contender Curtis Blaydes of the United States.
"He (Tuivasa) is a spectacular fighter," said Overeem who attended the Perth promotion as a guest fighter.
"He's one of those up and comer, so that fight (for me) could also lie on the horizon."
Accomplished wrestler Blades defeated Tuivasa's mentor Mark Hunt on the Perth card.
"I get the vibe, he's the Mark Hunt protege which is great for him," Blaydes told AAP.
"He has got a lot of potential, I think he's got some heavy hands, heavy elbows."
Asked about potentially fighting Tuivasa, Blaydes said, "If it happens it happens, after the Mark Hunt fight I'm not afraid of anyone."
The Tuivasa-Arlovski fight will be shown live on Main Event.
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