UFC on ESPN 61 video: Marcin Tybura, Serghei Spivac make weight in Las Vegas

The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

LAS VEGAS – The main event for the UFC’s latest home show is official after the headliners made weight Friday.

Ahead of UFC on ESPN 61 (ESPN/ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex, heavyweights [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

Check out the video from their trips to the scale above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.

Marcin Tybura: UFC interim champ Tom Aspinall proved he’s the most dangerous heavyweight

Marcin Tybura sees former foe and current interim champ Tom Aspinall as the most dangerous heavyweight in the UFC heavyweight division.

LAS VEGAS – There’s a lot going on at the top of the UFC’s heavyweight division. But for [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag], one thing is clear – [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] is the biggest threat there is.

Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC), who headlines UFC on ESPN 61 (ESPN, ESPN+) this Saturday at UFC Apex in a rematch against Serghei Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC), sees Aspinall as the most dangerous fighter in the weight class despite Jon Jones still being on top as the UFC heavyweight champion and Aspinall the interim.

“I think so,” Tybura said at the UFC on ESPN 61 media day when asked if Aspinall was the most dangerous heavyweight. “He proved it in this (last) performance.”

Aspinall defended his interim title last month in the co-main event of UFC 304, stopping Curtis Blaydes in the first round. Tybura, a former foe of Aspinall’s, was taken away by the performance.

“I saw the fight, and it’s crazy,” Tybura explained. “It’s crazy to think what this guy is capable of, and where is the roof? That’s the only question right now. Who can stop him now? I cannot tell. Jon Jones in his prime time, maybe, but now he’s a little bit older and the skills might not be there. I don’t know. It’s crazy where he’s going.”

Jones is expected to return from injury in November to defend his belt against heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic. This fight was supposed to take place in November 2023, but Jones withdrew from the bout due to a torn pectoral muscle. It’s been suggested by both parties that their expected meet at Madison Square Garden could very well be their last.

If that were the case, Tybura has no problem seeing the winner of Jones vs. Miocic not fighting Aspinall to unify the belts.

“Saying that is like saying that somebody is a coward and don’t want to face Tom Aspinall, but these guys, Jon and Stipe did a lot for MMA and the divisions they were in,” Tybura said. “So whatever they decide. I still see it as, as long as those guys want to fight together and want to bring attention to the UFC and MMA, I’m cool with that. If the winner (retires) after the fight, hang up the gloves after the fight, I’m also cool with it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.

UFC free fight: Marcin Tybura runs through Tai Tuivasa in quick submission win

Watch Marcin Tybura make quick work of Tai Tuivasa ahead of his return at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 61.

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] is entering his third consecutive UFC main event with momentum.

The heavyweight veteran is coming off a dominant, first-round submission win over Tai Tuivasa back in March. Tybura quickly closed the distance on Tuivasa, took him down, got his back, and submitted him with a rear-naked choke. the victory put him at 4-1 in his past five performances, with his lone loss coming against UFC heavyweight interim champion Tom Aspinall.

You can watch Tybura’s submission win in the video above.

Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) returns to the cage in the main event of UFC on ESPN 61, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He takes on Serghei Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) in a rematch that stems from 2020.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 61.

UFC slides Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 into main event slot

Four years later, UFC heavyweights Marcin Tybura and Seghei Spivac meet again.

Heavyweights are set to headline the UFC Fight Night event Aug. 10 as [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] will rematch in a five-round bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the promotion announced Thursday.

The bout was first reported in June, but it’s headlining status was not clear at the time. Eurosport NL first reported the bout would be a main event.

Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) and Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) first fought in February 2020. Tybura defeated Spivac by unanimous decision.

Four years later, they meet again. Spivac aims to bounce back from a September loss to Ciryl Gane by TKO, while Tybura hopes to continue momentum from a March submission of Tai Tuivasa.

The current UFC Fight Night lineup for Aug. 10 includes:

  • Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Jarno Errens vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Jhonata Diniz vs. Karl Williams
  • Danny Barlow vs. Uros Medic
  • Jafel Filho vs. Allan Nascimento
  • Chelsea Chandler vs. Yana Santos
  • Talita Alencar vs. Stephanie Luciano
  • Charalampos Grigoriou vs. Toshiomi Kazama
  • Javid Basharat vs. Chris Gutierrez
  • Damon Jackson vs. Chepe Marsical
  • Pannie Kianzad vs. Karol Rosa

UFC rematches Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac for August event

Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac will run things back in August.

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] and [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] will run things back in August.

Heavyweights Tybura (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) and Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) meet at a UFC Fight Night event Aug. 10 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Spivac confirmed the news on social media after an initial report from MMA Mania.

Tybura defeated Spivac by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 169 in February 2020, which kickstarted a five-fight winning streak. Tybura has won eight of his past 10, including a Performance of the Night submission of Tai Tuivasa in March.

Spivac comes off a TKO loss to Ciryl Gane in September. Prior to that, the 29-year-old finished Greg Hardy, Augusto Sakai, and former title challenger Derrick Lewis.

With the addition, the UFC’s Aug. 10 lineup includes:

  • Jarno Errens vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Jhonata Diniz vs. Karl Williams
  • Danny Barlow vs. Uros Medic
  • Jafel Filho vs. Allan Nascimento
  • Serghei Spivac vs. Marcin Tybura

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the UFC Fight Night.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 19: Marcin Tybura makes a move at heavyweight

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC Fight Night 239 in Las Vegas.

After a big win in the main event at UFC Fight Night 239, [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] is making moves at heavyweight.

Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) took out Tai Tuivasa (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) with a first-round submission in Las Vegas. He’s won eight of his past 10 fights with setbacks against current interim champion Tom Aspinall and former Bellator champ Alexander Volkov, and he moves to No. 7 on the charts. Tuivasa took a slight tumble and is on a four-fight skid, but the losses have been to some of the elite in the division.

Also at the event, Macy Chiasson (10-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) submitted Pannie Kianzad (17-8 MMA, 5-5 UFC) in the first round and made a big leap at women’s bantamweight.

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings above.

Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Marcin Tybura after UFC Fight Night 239 win?

See who Marcin Tybura should fight next after his victory over Tai Tuivasa in the UFC Fight Night 239 headliner.

(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard’s Shoes: What’s next for Tai Tuivasa after UFC Fight Night 239 loss?)

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] joined a short list of fighters to rack up a dozen or more career octagon victories in the heavyweight division after he put away Tai Tuivasa in the UFC Fight Night 239 main event.

Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) used his grappling prowess to take down and submit the inferior Tai Tuivasa (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) inside the first round at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, achieving his first main event victory under the UFC banner.

The result put Tybura back on the winning track after a quick TKO loss to Tom Aspinall in July, but where does he go from here?

Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Tybura’s future after UFC Fight Night 239.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 239.

UFC Fight Night 239 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Ovince Saint Preux leads with $21,000

UFC Fight Night 239 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 239 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $189,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 239 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 239 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Bryan Battle[/autotag]: $4,000
vs. [autotag]Ange Loosa[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Ovince Saint Preux[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Kennedy Nzechukwu[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Christian Rodriguez[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Isaac Dulgarian[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Macy Chiasson[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Pannie Kianzad[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Gerald Meerschaert[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Bryan Barberena[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Mike Davis[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Natan Levy[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Chelsea Chandler[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josiane Nunes[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Jafel Filho[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Ode Osbourne[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Danny Silva[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Culibao[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Jaqueline Amorim[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Thiago Moises[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Mitch Ramirez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Chad Anheliger[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Charalampos Grigoriou[/autotag]: $4,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2391 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,551,500
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,258,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 239.

Marcin Tybura lukewarm about Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s callout after UFC Fight Night 239

Marcin Tybura responds to Jairzinho Rozenstruik’s callout after Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 239.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] got called out by [autotag]Jairzinho Rozenstruik[/autotag] fresh off his return to the win column.

The veteran heavyweight picked up a submission win over Tai Tuivasa (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) pm Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night 239 at the UFC Apex. The victory was a bounce back from his TKO loss to now-interim champion Tom Aspinall in July 2023. Just minutes after the win, Rozenstruik called out Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) for a fight.

“I kind of feel like I’ve always been a fighter who doesn’t reject fights, so if the UFC (wants it),” Tybura said when asked about Rosenstruik’s callout at the UFC Fight Night 239 post-fight press conference. “I’m not exactly one to respond, but if the UFC wants to do it, I will agree. But I’d rather have someone higher ranked.”

Tybura and Rozenstruik do have some history. They were supposed to fight in January 2022, but their fight was moved to a few months later. Weeks before the matchup, though, Tybura withdrew from the fight due to injury.

Tybura thinks a fight with Rozenstruik would go very similar to his first-round submission of Tuivasa.

“The thing is that I owe it a little bit to Jairzinho because our fight was scheduled a year ago or so, and I had to reschedule it, and then I pulled out from the fight because I had some health issues. So that’s maybe the fight I will have to do.”

Tybura is open to fight Rozenstruik, but he’s really hoping to get someone higher ranked. He has no specific name in mind, but just wants someone ahead of him.

“I didn’t bring any name because I really just wanted to focus on this one and get back in the win column, so right now I don’t have anyone in my mind,” Tybura said. “But anyone in the top 10 would be great. Right now it’s more like a celebration, and that’s it.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 239.

UFC Fight Night 239 results: Marcin Tybura sees own blood, promptly submits Tai Tuivasa

Tai Tuivasa was left snoring thanks to a Marcin Tybura rear-naked choke in the UFC Fight Night 239 main event.

In a division known for power and knockouts, [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] showed that for a big guy, he knows a thing or two about grappling.

In the UFC Fight Night 239 main event, Tybura (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) overcame a slicing Thai attack and submitted [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (24-9 MMA, 11-8 UFC) by rear-naked choke at 4:08 of Round 1.

Tuivasa drew blood early with a hard standing elbow that gashed Tybura’s forehead. Relatively unfazed, Tybura stood for a few more exchanges. He ducked under a Tuivasa combination and grabbed a double leg. Though Tuivasa initially defended successfully, Tybura eventually muscled him down.

Once on the canvas, Tybura moved from half guard to back mount and landed ground-and-pound all the way. Tybura wrapped his arm under Tuivasa’s neck. There was a brief struggle as Tuivasa attempted not to slip under, but eventually his consciousness evaporated. A few snores later, referee Herb Dean intervened and the fight was over.

With the win, Tybura reenters the win column after a quick July loss to Tom Aspinall. Tybura has now won three of his most recent four outings.

Since his UFC debut, Tuivasa has proven streaky when it comes to results. He started his UFC tenure 3-0, then lost three straight. He then won five in a row, and has since lost four straight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 239 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 239.