The Journey of Former UFC Fighter Teila Tuli

From Octagon to Hollywood

Over thirty years ago, Teila Tuli, also known as Taylor Wily, made his mark in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a sumo wrestler facing Gerard Gordeau in the first-ever UFC fight. Despite suffering a brutal KO loss in just 26 seconds, Tuli's life took a new turn in the early 2000s when he ventured into the world of acting.

Big Break in Hollywood

In 2004, Tuli secured his first acting role in the American TV show 'North Shore.' However, it was his role in the hit Hollywood movie 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in 2008 that propelled his acting career forward, starring alongside A-listers Mila Kunis, Jason Segel, and Kristen Bell.

TV Stardom

Tuli's most notable role came as Kamekona Tupuola in the popular American police drama 'Hawaii Five-0,' a role he portrayed from 2010 to 2020. Additionally, he has appeared in reboots of 'MacGuyver' and 'Magnum PI,' continuing to showcase his acting prowess.

Reflecting on His MMA Past

Despite his brief stint in the octagon costing him a tooth, Tuli has expressed no regrets about his time in MMA. In a 2018 interview with The New York Post, he shared, "There was a different feeling when you walked through that octagon. I was scared. I ain’t lying, I was scared. Now when I look back on it, now that I’m more mature, I’m just grateful to God to just have the opportunity to risk it."

"Because how many times are you going to have the opportunity to risk something that nobody else did before?"