LAS VEGAS – They are retreating, but for [autotag]Marcin Tybura[/autotag]It’s a much more different fight.
Saturday, Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) faces [autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag] in a rematch that serves as the main attraction of UFC on ESPN 61 which takes place at UFC Apex. The two heavyweights fought four years ago in Norfolk, Virginia, where Tybura scored a unanimous decision victory over the 25-year-old newcomer.
Since then, Tybura has improved a lot on Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) – enough to almost feel like a different fight.
“He’s definitely (improved),” Tybura said at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 61 media day. “I saw some of his fights and he performed very well using his skills, taking downs, submitting. I see that he has gained a little weight, mainly muscles, so he is stronger, stronger. a different fighter.”
Tybura, who is coming off a submission victory over Tai Tuivasa, was hoping to meet a high-profile opponent on Saturday. But in any case, he is taking Spivac seriously and sees the advantage of achieving a second consecutive victory in the Octagon.
“It’s always exciting when the UFC calls and offers a fight,” Tybura said. “I’ve been here a long time and I’ve had a lot of struggles, but it’s still the same. I know the UFC was a big dream for me, so when I get the call I’m always excited. It puts me closer to the top, but I feel like you can gain something in every fight.”
A win at UFC on ESPN 61 would make Tybura 4-1 in his last five appearances, with his only loss coming to interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Tybura doesn’t even want to think about a possible title shot, as it has already cost him before.
“I’ve been in fights where I was really close to getting there and didn’t make it, so now I’m just trying to focus on the fight,” Tybura said. “That’s what I’m doing. It’s like my fight with Tom Aspinall, which was two fights ago. Right now, it’s like looking for some answers that I don’t know yet and trying to be one of the five fighters.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC on ESPN 61.
This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: Marcin Tybura sees Serghei Spivac as ‘a different fighter’ ahead of UFC rematch on ESPN 61
