Marcin
Tybura hasn’t completely shut the door on fighting Jairzinho
Rozenstruik after submitting Tai Tuivasa
at
UFC Fight Night 239.
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Tybura headlined card opposite “Bam Bam,” which also marked the
Polish heavyweight’s fourth outing at the UFC Apex. Tybura
maintained his perfect Apex record by submitting Tuivasa in the
first round after surviving an early onslaught. Tybura got the
finish with a rear-naked choke after raining down a barrage of
punches on Tuivasa. Tybura admitted to being surprised by the
Australian’s durability during the post-fight press conference.
“For sure, the toughness,” Tybura said. “I was on his back and
hitting hard there. I don’t know how many punches [that was], but I
was feeling like [they were] pretty heavy. And he didn’t care about
them at all. He didn’t look like that’ll be changing anything for
him, he’ll be still here defending himself. But I knew he’s very
tough. I knew he’d be there til the end, til I make him quit.”
Jairzinho
Rozenstruik called out Tybura in the immediate aftermath of the
fight. Rozenstruik and Tybura were originally slated to meet at a
UFC Fight Night event in February 2022 before the bout was moved to
UFC 273 in April 2022. However, Tybura pulled out of the matchup at
the last minute, citing an illness despite having made weight.
Congratulations @MarcinTybura!
I see you! 👀
#UFCVegas88— Jairzinho ‘BIGI BOY’ Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik)
March 17, 2024
While he would prefer fighting a higher-ranked opponent, Tybura
isn’t the kind of fighter to turn down a fight the UFC offers.
Additionally, Tybura feels he owes Rozenstruik the fight due to
their history.
“I kind of feel like I’ve always been the fighter who never rejects
the fights … If UFC wants to do it I’ll agree. But no, I’d rather
have someone high ranking,” Tybura said.
“[I see the fight playing out] similar [to] this one. But the thing
is I little bit owe to Jairzinho because our fight was scheduled a
year ago or so. And then I have to reschedule it, and then I pull
out from the fight because I have some health issues. So that might
be the fight I’ll have to do it to make it right to him.”
Tybura bounced back from a knockout loss to Tom
Aspinall with his win over Tuivasa and is now 3-1 in his last
four. Meanwhile, Rozenstruik is coming off a stoppage win over
Shamil
Gaziev in the
UFC Fight Night 238 headliner earlier this month.