The canine days of summer time are winding down, however the UFC is simply heating up. This Saturday, one week away from UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, Dana White‘s promotion units up store in its Las Vegas homebase for UFC on ESPN 61 from the UFC Apex facility.
Stay protection of this occasion begins at a later time than what was initially scheduled. As a result of fights falling off the cardboard, UFC on ESPN 61 will begin at 5 pm ET/ 2 pm PT with the undercard on (the place else?) ESPN and ESPN+ earlier than heading to the primary card at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT.
Instantly following the UFC on ESPN 61 most important occasion of the night, the Octagon offers strategy to the squared circle of boxing with Prime Rank on ESPN and a most important attraction that includes Venado Lopez vs. Angelo Leo for the World Featherweight Championship starting at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT. So far as this week’s present from MMA’s high promotion is worried, 10 bouts will probably be held from the Apex.
Heavyweights Do Battle in Rematch for UFC on ESPN 61 Essential Occasion
Highlighting the night time’s trimmed schedule is a rematch within the heavyweight ranks within the UFC on ESPN 61 most important occasion. No. 8 contender Marcin Tybura (25-8 MMA, 12-7 UFC) collides with No. 9 contender Serghei Spivac (16-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC).
As with all UFC most important occasions, this one is an marketed most of 5 rounds at 5 minutes per spherical to shut the present.
The Sequence So Far…
Heading into the rematch on Saturday night time, the all-time collection between these two rivals stands at 1-0 in favor of the previous. On Leap Day in 2020, Tybura notched a unanimous resolution victory over Spivac after three rounds throughout that night time’s undercard in Norfolk, VA.
How will chapter two play out? That’s why we’re right here.
UFC on ESPN 61 Essential Occasion Fighter Comparability and Betting Odds
Forward of the UFC on ESPN 61 most important occasion this weekend, each contestants stand stage in peak at 6-foot-3 and have equivalent 78-inch reaches. Tybura establishes some separation with a two-inch leg attain benefit (46 inches to 44 inches) over Spivac.
At present, the oddsmakers have Serghei Spivac put in as a -150 favourite on the cash line, whereas Marcin Tybura counters as a +125 underdog. For those who plan on betting on this or another struggle occurring this weekend in MMA or fight sports activities, please wager responsibly.
Tybura Seeks to Go 2-for-2 vs. Spivac Saturday
Marcin Tybura enters the primary occasion on Saturday night time having posted a document of 3-2 in his final 5 fights. Again in March, he scored a first-round submission (rear-naked choke) in opposition to Tai Tuivasa (14-7 MMA, 8-7 UFC). It was the latter’s fourth consecutive setback.
Lately, Tybura was interviewed by the MMA Unhinged YouTube channel about a wide range of subjects, together with dealing with off in opposition to Spivac for the second time.
“I really really feel like Serghei will probably be– Serghei gained some weight, I can inform. He’s a lot stronger, which all the time offers him rather more alternatives within the gameplan which he brings to the struggle,” Tybura mentioned. “I believe [his gameplan] is extra like clinching, doing extra grappling and wrestling. He will probably be rather more harmful on this space, however I believe I improved extra in stand-up, placing, kicking, That could be a unique factor for me.”
Will he get his hand raised versus Spivac for the second time? Tune in on Saturday and discover out.
Spivac Returns for First Struggle in Near A 12 months
Within the different nook, Serghei Spivac enters the UFC on ESPN 61 most important occasion on Saturday night time having gone 3-2 himself over the past 5 fights, but it surely’s been some time since he’s set foot contained in the Octagon. Over the Labor Day weekend in September of final yr, he sustained a second-round knockout loss (punches) to Ciryl Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in Paris.
Having to take nearly a full 12 months off from fights isn’t straightforward. It’s even more durable when the fighter in query is somebody who’s attempting to take the subsequent step within the top-15 rankings at heavyweight like Serghei Spivac is.
Thus, it’s time to ask the age-old query once more: With an 11-month-plus hiatus, how a lot ring rust does Spivac have going into this one? The reply will reveal itself this upcoming weekend.
Evaluation, Movie Research, and Prediction
With this most important occasion going down within the heavyweight ranks, don’t anticipate this one to go the complete 25 minutes, particularly since these males have mixed for 30 victories inside the gap.
Tybura Has a Sensible Floor Sport
When Marcin Tybura takes his adversary to the cage mat, the night time on the workplace may very well be a fast one. Simply watch the tape of his March struggle versus Tai Tuivasa.
Spherical one noticed Tybura assume full management of the struggle upon touchdown a takedown, peppering Tuivasa with a barrage of floor and pound pictures. On another night time, the amount of these punches would have produced a knockout.
With Tuivasa softened up, Tybura opted to use the torque to lock up a deep rear-naked choke, and at one level, the printed audio picked up his opponent’s heavy respiration. If Tybura can drop Serghei Spivac, he may very well be effectively on his strategy to one other submission victory this Saturday night time.
Spivac Can Punch His Strategy to a W
Within the different nook, Serghei Spivac has received seven of his 16 profession wins by the use of knockout, so he’s received fists of fury, one thing illustrated throughout his 2022 bout in opposition to Greg Hardy. Throughout the opening spherical of the bout, Spivac absorbed some kicks from the previous defensive finish earlier than taking him down.
From there, it was all Serghei Spivac, on a regular basis, grabbing the onetime Dallas Cowboy’s wrist to cancel out any menace of posturing up for floor and pound. Whereas Hardy labored his means again to a clinch, Spivac simply dropped him twice extra, taking again mount on the third effort.
After that, Spivac simply unloaded with punches on Hardy, with the referee leaving no different choice however to name off the struggle. Serghei Spivac doesn’t even have to take Marcin Tybura down within the UFC on ESPN 61 most important occasion. If he begins touchdown copious punches, it’s his world and we’re all residing in it.
Ultimate Ideas
Whereas UFC Apex playing cards are hit or miss, it is a fairly first rate headliner that the UFC’s booked for the weekend. Don’t miss it,
Prediction: Serghei Spivac by First-Spherical TKO.
