Marcin Tybura slugs out a unanimous decision victory against “Big Ben” for fifteen minutes
Ben Rothwell vs. Marcin Tybura took place at UFC Fight Island 5.
A heavyweight matchup between veterans Ben Rothwell and Marcin Tybura took place at tonight’s event.
Headlining the 14-bout event in a matchup between top-five ranked bantamweights Marlon Moraes and Colby Sandhagen. The co-main event features a featherweight bout between Edson Barboza and Makwan Amirkhani inside the Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
Rothwell and Tybura both coming of recent winning streaks. Rothwell won a split decision over Ovince Saint Preux, who stepped up in weight for the bout, at UFC Jacksonville in May. It was his second straight win after a TKO victory over Stefan Struve.
In the blue corner, Tybura also has won his past two bouts, most recently taking home a hard fought unanimous decision over Maxim Grishin at UFC 251. Previously, he won a decision against Moldova’s Sergey Spivak to snap a two fight loss streak.
Neither man is currently ranked in the UFC’s heavily criticized official UFC rankings, but that could change with a statement victory in this match-up.
ROUND 1:
The respect is shown, they touch gloves. “Big Ben” Opens up with a rally of punches. Rothwell with the pressure early and the punches in bunches landing clean. Constant pressure from Ben walking Tybura down landing a set of punches backing up Tybura. Two minutes gone. Typura lands a long right hook clean. Rothwell lands left hook to the body and switches it up to the hand. Tybura countering with his jab. A stinging right lands from Rothwell and appears to momently stun Tybura. Marcin responds with a loud body kick to the body. They return to the middle and Tybura lands another body kick. They are in the phone booth, Rothwell landing uppercuts. Ben throws a high head kick and loses balance, but gets straight back up and pressures Tybura back to the cage to end the round.
MyMMANews.com scores it: 10-9 Ben Rothwell
ROUND 2:
Second round bel rings. They come to the centre. Ben Rothwell lands a low leg kick. Tybura returns with his own. They come in and clash together with Tybura landing a glacing elbow it seems. They enter the clich, no punches thrown, both cancelling each other out here and eventually Ben pushes him up against the cage. They break and come back to the centre. Ben seems to be slowing down in the second, Tybura looks more fresh of the two. A stinging right hand from Rothwell. Both evenly matched. A huge knee from Tybura doesn’t seem to faze Rothwell. Both fighters are landing clean on each other. Both slugging it out. Ben moves forward after eating punches from Marcin Tybura and that closes the round.
MyMMANews.com scores it: 10-9 Marcin Tybura
ROUND 3:
Third and final round. Both men touch gloves. Ben Rothwell coming in with his infamous left to right technique and landing punches. Marcin Tybura starting to counter a slow Ben Rothwell in the third. A beautiful inside leg kick lands for Tybura. Tybura shows incredible footwork and head movement and invades the punches from Ben. Tybura pushes Rothwell up against the cage and locks up his hands behind Big Ben for a double leg and he completes the takedown. Tybura lands on top and now he is raining down strikes from the top. Ben Rothwell is holding the guard, no transitional movements from Ben Rothwell on bottom. Thirty seconds to go. Tybura landing strikes to teh body and hand relentlessly, untill the final buzzer goes.
MyMMANews.com scores it: 10-9 Tybura
Official Result: #UFCFightIsland5 results: @MarcinTybura def. Ben Rothwell via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
