UFC fighter at war with F1 over... the 'shoey'

UFC fighter Tai Tuivasa has slammed Liberty Media and Formula 1's appropriation of the 'shoey' amid Daniel Ricciardo's plethora of footwear-based celebrations. The Australian MMA star has earned the nickname 'Shoey-vasa' for similar antics in the octagon, with a suitable clothing range set to be released.

The sight of Ricciardo chugging champagne out of his race boot has become commonplace in F1, with the bizarre Australian tradition given global exposure by the Red Bull man's success over the past 12 months.

READ MORE: What happens to Ricciardo's 'shoey' boots?

Tuivasa has exposed the phenomenon to a whole new sector of sport fans, drinking beer from a stranger's shoe after defeating Cyril Asker at UFC 221 in Perth earlier this year.

Tai Tuivasa chugging beer out of a shoe? Tai Tuivasa chugging beer out of a shoe. pic.twitter.com/PvQJcpCXuk — Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) February 11, 2018

As he prepares to take on heavyweight veteran Andrei Arlovski, Tuivasa has released a range of t-shirts, depicting his 'shoey' celebration.

It comes fresh from F1 successfully trademarking the term to use on flasks, bottles, mugs and other drinking vessels.

Official UFC shirts out now!!! Link in BIO!! Get yours before fight day???? ???? #bambam #FTA #thetakeover #reebok #shoeyvasa #ufc #westernsydney #standup

A post shared by Tai 'BamBam' Tuivasa

FTA (@bambamtuivasa) on Jun 1, 2018 at 6:59am PDT

Crucially F1 were denied the trademark for clothing.

That hasn't stopped Tuivasa sounding off against the sport, however, criticising Liberty's attempts to "own" the strange slice of Australian culture.

"I don't give a s*** what those American businessmen try to do," Tuivasa said. "The Reebok shirt looks really cool; I'm absolutely rapt with it.

"So those blokes from F1 or wherever, they can get stuffed.

"The shoey doesn't f***ing belong to anyone. Nobody can own it. I've been drinking shoeys with my mates for years.

"And good luck to anyone who wants to stop me. They'll have to try and get a security team in there to stop me."