Aussies look to improve UFC fortunes

World-ranked heavyweight Tai Tuivasa has finally turned to strength and conditioning work, as he strives to become one of several Australians trying to turn around their UFC fortunes.

Five locals on Sunday's UFC 243 card in Melbourne, headed by Robert Whittaker's middleweight world title defence, are coming off last-start losses.

In the case of 14th-ranked Tuivasa, the Sydneysider has suffered successive defeats since winning his first three UFC bouts.

At Marvel Stadium, Tuivasa will fight Moldova's Serghei "The Polar Bear" Spivac, who won his first nine MMA contests before losing last time out in his UFC debut.

Tuivasa has stayed at home to prepare rather than follow his usual routine of going to camp in Thailand and has made one other significant change.

"I've been doing strength and conditioning for the first time in my life, taking extra steps to get better," Tuivasa told AAP.

"A couple of losses will get you this and I've got to better my game."

Asked what he learnt from his losses, Tuivasa quipped "not to lose again!".

"A bit of patience. I think as a young fighter, as a bit of a hothead, I'm trying to get in in there and punch first.

"But I've got to slow it down a bit and pick my shots."

Other Australians looking to rebound from UFC losses are Jake Matthews, Megan Anderson, Nadia Kassem and Callan Potter.

Featherweight Anderson, who opposes French UFC debutante Zarah Fairn, will fight in Australia for the first time in almost five years after having her past eight contests in the United States.

Victorian welterweight Matthews, one of Australia's longest-serving UFC fighters, returns after an 11-month hiatus including the birth of his first child.

"I just wanted to be present during those early months," Matthews told AAP in the lead-up to Sunday's fight with Sweden's Rostem Akman.

"The extra motivation is definitely there ... I find myself pushing harder in training and that sort of point of breaking is extended outside of my threshold to push past all the pain.

"I think that's because of becoming a father."