Streaking heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa is looking to stack up bigger and bigger names on his growing Octagon résumé – and welcomes the idea of a July pairing against former two-time undisputed UFC champion Stipe Miocic in July at UFC 276.

Tuivasa, who currently sits at #3 in the official heavyweight rankings, landed a stunning second round knockout win over Derrick Lewis at UFC 271 in February – felling the most prolific knockout artist in promotional history with a massive step-in elbow in a rallying performance.

Catapulted to the top-3 rankings, Tuivasa scored his fifth consecutive victory with his knockout triumph against the former title challenger, adding Lewis to a run of stoppages against Augusto Sakai, Greg Hardy, Harry Hunsucker, and Stefan Struve.

On a collision course for a potential heavyweight title shot with another victory, Tuivasa has recently been linked to a matchup against former two-time undisputed heavyweight titleholder, Miocic.

The Ohio native has been sidelined since dropping his title in a rematch loss against current kingpin, Francis Ngannou, and according to Tuivasa – a July pairing with the Euclid veteran makes sense for both next.

“It’s definitely a fight that I think should be up next, or especially it’s the fight I want,” Tai Tuivasa told MMA Junkie reporter, Farah Hannoun. “I think the other guys around the clock, I think we’re gonna be around for a few more years and out of respect, I think I would love to share the ring with him, and I think I’m up there for a chance of it, so why not? He’s a great fighter, someone I’ve watched for many years and someone I’d definitely love to challenge myself against.”

“I’m on a five-fight (win) streak now, and now I’m number three (in the rankings), it’s not that hard,” Tai Tuivasa explained. “Stipe (Miocic) is in front and like I said, it’s somebody I’d love to challenge myself against, especially that it’s somebody that I’ve seen do his thing for many years. And, well, he’s still in front of me at the end of the day, somebody I’d like to go against.”

With UFC 277 confirmed to take place on July 2. – Tuivasa claims an International Fight Week showdown with Miocic is ideal.

“I think that was the timeline that we heard Stipe (Miocic) wants to have a fight in, so that kind of makes sense, as well,” Tai Tuivasa said.