In February of 2020, just before the UFC shut down shows during the pandemic, a skidding Marcin Tybura took to the cage. He was just 1-4 in his last five fights and, by all accounts, likely fighting for his UFC contract. After 15 minutes of grinding down Sergey Spivac, Tybura had his first win in what would eventually become a five fight win streak.
While that was a big turning point in his career and a fight he fondly remembers, it’s not one he ever considered revisiting. In fact, he saw little reason to do it when it was first offered to him as the UFC Vegas 95 main event.
“I thought about it – I have nothing to gain. That was my first thought,” Tybura said. “But maybe that was the only fight I could get during this time, during the summer. For other fights I would have to wait longer and I don’t like to stay training without a fight.”
Not only was he looking forward to fighting in the summer to possibly get more fights in, but Tybura also is making an effort to be a company man. He especially feels like it’s important because it’ll help keep the fights coming in.
“I’m trying to be a good work-man – a good employee,” he said. “It’s fine for me. It’s always good to have fights because I see many other fighters who are stuggling with getting the fights sometimes.”
With nothing to really gain from beating Spivac a second time, Tybura also recognizes that this isn’t as easy as it once was. Although he’s improved himself since that fight, he knows that this is not the same Spivac that it once was.
“I think he’s changed a lot too. I think after our fight, he got a pretty good win streak too,” he said. “In my opinion, what he’s actually improved is his power. I think he’s bigger… as I look at him, I think he’s bigger, he’s stronger and that probably helps him with the gameplan that he brings.”
You can catch the fight between Marcin Tybura and Sergey Spivak as the headliner to UFC Vegas 95. The fight card is this Saturday on ESPN+ beginning at 5pm EST.
