Marcin Tybura emerges from UFC Vegas 88 with more than just a victory – he carries with him a new scar etched in the aftermath of a tumultuous few minutes in the octagon against Tai Tuivasa.
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Facing off against one of the most powerful strikers in the sport, Tybura braced himself for an early onslaught as Tuivasa charged at him from the onset, unleashing a barrage of punches. In the heat of the exchange, Tuivasa delivered a devastating elbow strike that split Tybura’s head open, resulting in blood streaming down his face.
Despite the ferocious start, Tybura weathered the storm and seized control of the bout by taking Tuivasa down to the canvas. From there, he launched a relentless assault of punches until he found an opening to cinch in a rear-naked choke, ultimately rendering his opponent unconscious.
The conclusion came at 4:08 in the opening round, with Tybura securing the submission victory.
In the post-fight interview the Polish fighter said:
“It was striking and looking for the takedown. “I knew there was a cut and the first takedown, I didn’t succeed so I just knew I had to try it again. He was tough on the ground. I punch him so hard and he didn’t give up. He’s a very tough man.
“He managed to turn [on the ground] so I had to look for something else and there was a submission. I choked him for so long and he was having a very hard time and he was not giving up. I hear him breathing so hard and his skin changing color. I had a little bit more power to apply and I did.”
Initially resembling a typical Tuivasa fight, the bout commenced with a flurry of powerful strikes, many of which found their mark. The elbow strikes delivered by Tuivasa caused the cut on Tybura’s head, bolstering Tuivasa’s confidence as he pressed forward. However, this aggressive approach ultimately proved to be his downfall.
Once Tybura managed to clinch with Tuivasa, he diligently worked to bring the fight to the ground, where the heavyweights remained grounded for the duration of the bout. Despite Tybura’s relentless ground-and-pound assault, Tuivasa demonstrated remarkable resilience, refusing to concede defeat.
Ultimately, Tybura transitioned to a submission hold, and even then, Tuivasa showed his refusal to submit until he succumbed to unconsciousness from the rear-naked choke. This victory holds significant importance for Tybura, especially following his previous defeat against current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, marking his third win in his last four fights.
Tybura is optimistic that this recent triumph will pave the way for him to ascend the ranks in the heavyweight division.
“I just want to prove to everybody that I’m capable of doing good in the top 10. Anyone from the top 10 would be great for me.”
Meanwhile, Tuivasa suffers his fourth consecutive loss, all of which have come by way of knockout or submission. With this latest setback, it is conceivable that his tenure with the UFC may come to a conclusion.
