Tag: Tai Tuivasa

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

Tai Tuivasa is on the worst losing skid of his career after being submitted at UFC Fight Night 239, now his future is in question.

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

[autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] was unable to turn things around against Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 239, and is now facing a career crossroads.

After being taken down and choked out by Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) in the opening round of Saturday’s heavyweight headliner at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Tuivasa (15-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC) now finds himself on a four-fight losing skid. The performances haven’t offered much in terms of redeeming qualities, either, and that’s cause for concern.

Can Tuivasa right the ship, or has his time already expired at just 31 years old? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Tuivasa’s future after UFC Fight Night 239.

[lawrence-related id=2725364,2724849,2724875]

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.

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.

UFC Fight Night 239: Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 239 odds between Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura, with MMA picks and predictions.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

In a 5-round heavyweight bout in the main event, Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura meet Saturday at UFC Fight Night 239 — also known as UFC on ESPN+ 97 and UFC Vegas 88 — at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC Fight Night 239: Tuivasa vs. Tybura odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.

The prelims begin at 4 p.m. ET, and can be viewed on ESPN+, while the main card starts at 7 p.m. ET, also on ESPN+.

Records: Tuivasa (15-6-0) | Tybura (24-8-0)

The southpaw Tuivasa takes the walk looking to halt a 3-bout losing skid. “Bam Bam” suffered a 2nd-round submission loss to veteran Alexander Volkov last time out at UFC 293, and he was knocked out by Sergei Pavlovich and Ciryl Gane in the 2 prior fights.

Tybura is also coming off a loss, as he suffered a KO/TKO loss in just 73 seconds against Tom Aspinall in the main event in late July in a Fight Night in London. Prior to that, the Polish-born fighter had won 7 of his previous 8 fights, with 6 of those bouts going the distance.

Tuivasa holds a slight 3.98-to-3.55 significant strikes landed per minute, although Tybura is a little more accurate at 59.17% with those strikes, to just 51.92% for the Aussie. Tybura also checks in with a 1.39 takedown average and 33.90% takedown accuracy percentage while barely a blip on the radar with a 0.07 submission average. However, Tuivasa is zeroed out in all of those categories, rarely going to the ground game if he can help it.

Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.

UFC Fight Night 239: Tuivasa vs. Tybura odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:25 p.m. ET.

  • Fight result (2-way line): Tuivasa -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Tybura -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
  • Over/Under: 1.5 rounds (Over -125 | Under -105)
  • Will the fight go the distance? (Yes +400 | No -700)

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

UFC Fight Night 239: Tuivasa vs. Tybura picks and predictions

Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)

TUIVASA (-115) is thirsty for a victory, and he should be able to get it if he is able to keep his feet. Tybura (-105) will want to get the Aussie out of his comfort zone and onto the mat. If Tybura can do that, he has an opportunity to get the job done.

However, Tuivasa should be able to keep this bout upright and go toe-to-toe with Tybura in a brawl. If he does that, he’ll go the same route as Aspinall and make quick work of Tybura.

In fact, playing TUIVASA BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+100) at even-money on the 7-way method of victory category isn’t a bad option. There is no sense paying a little extra and doing the 5-way method, with Tuivasa by KO/TKO, DQ or submission (-105), as the ground game just isn’t an option for the slight favorite.

Over/Under (O/U)

UNDER 1.5 ROUNDS (-105) is a good play here if you’re backing Tuivasa. If the favorite gets the job done, he is going to get it done quickly. On the flip side, if you’re leaning Tybura on the moneyline, then you’ll want Over 1.5 Rounds (-125). For Tybura to hang around, he’ll need to force this to the canvas. If he can do that, he’ll hang around past the midway point of Round 2, and then some. However, that’s not what is expected.

Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and us on Facebook.

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2559]

UFC Fight Night 239 video: Tai Tuivasa, Marcin Tybura make weight in Las Vegas

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

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

Ahead of UFC Fight Night 239 (ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex, heavyweights [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] (24-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) stepped on the scale at the official weigh-ins.

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

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

UFC Fight Night 239 headliner Tai Tuivasa unfazed by three-fight skid: ‘I’ve been here before’

Tai Tuivasa’s confidence is high as he looks to snap a three-fight losing streak against Marcin Tybura.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] returns to the octagon under the unideal circumstances at UFC Fight Night 239, yet, he’s fully confident that he’s going to get the job done.

Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) takes on Marcin Tybura (24-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s card at the UFC Apex (ESPN+). He looks to snap a three-fight losing skid and get back to his winning ways. It’s a tough position to be in, because a fourth defeat would send him further down the rankings and maybe even make his status with the promotion uncertain.

But despite all the optics around the fight, Tuivasa said he’s unaffected by the stakes.

“There’s always pressure, but it’s no pressure I haven’t seen before,” Tuivasa told reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 239 media day. “I’ve been here before in my life and in fighting. My preparation has been good, so I’m relying on that.”

Tuivasa, No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie heavyweight rankings, said he knows a tough task is ahead. Not only due to the position he finds himself in, but also because No. 8-ranked Tybura is one of the most experienced names in the division.

The Australian said he holds Tybura in high regard, and by no means is taking him lightly.

“Marcin has been around for a long time – I’ve watched him for many years,” Tuivasa said. “He’s very experienced. I’m not going to be able to bring anything that he hasn’t seen before. I know his plan is to try to drag me through the rounds and then try to wear me down, I suppose. But this is the heavyweight division and I want to come down and come hard and try to get this job done.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

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

Tai Tuivasa opens as slight favorite for UFC Fight Night headliner vs. Marcin Tybura

Whether or not Tai Tuivasa gets back to his winning ways in March will be a close call, according to oddsmakers.

Whether or not [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] gets back to his winning ways will be a close call, according to oddsmakers.

Tuivasa will look to snap a three-fight losing skid when he takes on [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] in a heavyweight main event at UFC Fight Night on March 16 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

According to DraftKings, Tuivasa has opened as only a slight betting favorite at -125, with Tybura returning as the slightest of underdogs at +105. With odds this tight, there’s a good chance the fight could be a pick ’em or flip in favor of Tybura by the time they’re locked in the cage.

Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) aims to snap a three-fight skid that consists of finishes against Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov. Prior to the rough stretch, Tuivasa was on a five-fight winning streak and nearing title contender status.

Tybura (24-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) is 2-2 in his last four fights. He most recently lost by TKO to Tom Aspinall in July. The fight lasted only 73 seconds.

[lawrence-related id=2708468,2707117,2706305,2709274,2707808]

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Jan. 8-14)

There were 35 UFC fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Jan. 8-14.

Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura off UFC 298, shifts to March headliner

UFC heavyweights Tai Tuivasa and Marcin Tybura will now headline an event in March, rather than be part of UFC 298.

[autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag] is still on the UFC schedule, just on a different date with an increased number of rounds.

The heavyweight bout was originally scheduled for Feb, 17 at UFC 298 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. It will now headline the UFC Fight Night event on March 16 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, promotion CEO Dana White announced Friday. A reason for the shift was not given.

Tuivasa (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) aims to snap a three-fight skid that includes losses to Ciryl Gane, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov. All three losses came inside the distance.

Tybura (24-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) is 2-2 in his most recent four outings. His most recent loss was a TKO loss to Tom Aspinall in July. The fight lasted only 73 seconds.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for March 16 includes:

  • Tai Tuivasa vs. Marcin Tybura
  • Thiago Moises vs. Brad Riddell
  • Jafel Filho vs. Ode Osbourne
  • Isaac Dulgarian vs. Christian Rodriguez
  • Bryan Battle vs. Ange Loosa
  • Jaqueline Amorim vs. Cory McKenna

Matchup Roundup: New UFC fights announced in the past week (Dec. 11-17)

All the UFC fight announcements that were first reported or confirmed by MMA Junkie in the past week.

MMA fight announcements are hard to follow. With so many outlets and channels available, it’s nearly impossible to organize.

But here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got your back.

Each week, we’ll compile all the newly surfaced fights in one spot. Every Monday, expect a feature listing everything you might have missed from the UFC.

Here are the fight announcements that were broken or confirmed by MMA Junkie or officially announced by the promotions from Dec. 11-17.