After nearly a dozen years as a professional, Marcin Tybura has been through a lot. He climbs to the top of the heavyweight division in M1 Global – capturing both their heavyweight and grand prix championsips. He’s spent the better part of a decade in the UFC fighting legends of the sport. He’s hung out in the top 15 of the UFC’s official rankings non-stop for the last two years.
Despite all of this and a win over a hot prospect last time out, Tybura finds himself fighting down the rankings this weekend at UFC Vegas 68. However, he’s not all that bothered by the fact.
“I did want someone with a higher ranking, but I was waiting so long for this fight, and they didn’t offer me anyone higher ranked,” Tybura said. “I accepted because at this point in my career I just feel good.”
While some people might have a solitary focus of making it to the top, he knows that there is more than one reason why he’s here. So as long as he’s achieving one of those goals. he feels good enough to fight anyone.
“I feel like I can fight with anybody. So, I was thinking, as long as it’s not a championship fight, it can be whoever,” he said. “It’s either climbing the rankings or making money right now.”
Of course, with any fighter in the last half of their 30s, there is questions about the time they have left. Tybura isn’t in a rush though, as he feels he’s got plenty more to give the sport that we haven’t seen yet.
“I know some might say that I’m turning 38 this year, but I’m still feelling feeling like I’m improving every year,” Tybura said. “I don’t feel anything like I should be rushing. So as long as people accept to fight me, I’m very happy to give them a chance to climb the rankings.”
Tybura will fight Blagoy Ivanov as part of the UFC Vegas 68 main card. The card will kick off at 1am EST on Sunday morning on ESPN+.
You can hear the entire audio of this interview at 2:00.
