Charismatic heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura are set for a collision in the main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 17 March 2024.
Tuivasa (14-6) is looking to return to winning ways after suffering a hat-trick of losses: he has been stopped by Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich (both knockouts) and Alexander Volkov (submission) in matches spanning from September 2022 to September 2023.
The 30-year-old Australian, who is affectionately nicknamed ‘Bam Bam’, says he is more than willing to learn from his defeats.
“You can't sit around and cry about it. That's not how I roll, you know what I mean? I move forward, I learn. And I live," he said.
"I took a lot away from those fights. But what it was, I needed the time, I need the rest. I've had a rest now. I've been back home surrounded by people that I love. I'm refreshed now, I'm ready to roll.
“I fight to pay the bills. And I love it. I love the battle, the actual fight. Obviously it takes a lot of preparation, dedication and hard work to get there. That all comes along with it. That's more like the cherry on top for me.”
Tybura (24-8) is also coming into the clash on the back of a defeat, having been stopped in the first round by Tom Aspinall in July of last year. He had put together a run of seven wins from his last eight trips to the Octagon prior to running into Aspinall.
The 38-year-old Pole is expecting a banger against his opponent, who is renowned for pushing forward and throwing strikes even when under heavy fire.
“I feel very comfortable in a brawl. I don’t like to wait much. I feel like if he goes forward, I will be there, and we will exchange a lot,” said Tybura. “His striking is great, but I’m also there. I’ve focused on movement a lot and I don’t think it’ll be a boring fight.”
The rest of the fight card features Bryan Battle taking on Ange Loosa in the welterweight co-main event; Nigeria’s Kennedy Nzechukwu faces Ovince Saint Preux in a light heavyweight bout; and Thiago Moises v Brad Riddel in a lightweight clash amongst others.
UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura - FIGHT CARD
- Main event: Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa v Marcin Tybura
- Welterweight: Bryan Battle v Ange Loosa
- Light heavyweight: Ovince Saint Preux v Kennedy Nzechukwu
- Lightweight: Thiago Moises v Brad Riddel
- Women’s bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad v Macy Chiasson
- Middleweight: Gerald Meerschaert v Bryan Barberena
- Lightweight: Natan Levy v Mike Davis
- Women’s bantamweight: Josiane Nunes v Chelsea Chandler
- Featherweight: Christian Rodriguez v Isaac Dulgarian
- Flyweight: Jafel Filho v Ode’ Osbourne
- Featherweight: Josh Culibao v Danny Silva
- Women’s strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim v Cory McKenna
- Bantamweight: Charalampos Grigoriou v Chad Anheliger