SALT LAKE CITY – Marcin Tybura might’ve taken away Alexandr Romanov’s undefeated record, but the he’s is still high on his opponent’s ceiling.
The heavyweight handed Romanov (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) his first professional defeat at Saturday’s UFC 278. Tybura (23-7 MMA, 10-6 UFC) outlasted Romanov to win a majority decision on the scorecards.
Tybura thinks Romanov is still on the rise despite the setback.
“That wasn’t something I was seeking – to get his first loss,” Tybura told reporters at the UFC 278 post-fight news conference. “I think he’s a tough opponent, and I think his hype is still there. I think he’s still getting to the top, and I’m also getting to the top. So we just clashed a little bit sooner than we’re supposed to. He’s still there.”
This win put Tybura back in the win column. He was coming off a loss to top contender Alexander Volkov in October 2021. Tybura, who was scheduled to return earlier this year, but had to withdraw from his bout due to illness, is hoping to get a quick return and make up for lost time.
“The last fight it wasn’t so lucky for me, I got pulled off short notice, and I was more humble for this one and tried to focus on what to do,” Tybura said. “I didn’t think about it or search for names. We’ll start moving on, but I don’t have anyone or a date. (I want to be back) as soon as possible, I guess.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 278.
