There is a packed card and plenty of action expected to take place in the octagon on Saturday, Aug. 10 as Marcin Tybura squares up against Serghei Spivac for the second time in their careers, this time at UFC Fight Night.
The main card is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Fans looking to watch can do so through FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, both of which offer a free trial. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but does have other promotional offers available.
There are nine other fights on the preliminary card and main card for the night, including three in the women’s divisions. On the main card, bantamweights Yana Santos and Chelsea Chandler square off.
In the main event, Tybura will be looking to repeat his performance from Feb. 29, 2020 when he defeated Spivac by unanimous decision. Tybura is 25-8 on his career while Spivac is 16-3.
Who: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac
When: Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. EST
Where: UFC Apex in Las Vegas
Stream: FuboTV (free trial); DirecTV Stream (free trial); Sling
Gear: Shop around for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more at Fanatics.com. Fanatics also has a sportsbook.
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Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou set to debut for PFL
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is set to return to MMA when he makes his Professional Fighters League debut in October, stepping back inside the cage after a pair of high-profile paydays in boxing.
Ngannou fights 2023 PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on a PFL pay-per-view super fight card on Oct. 19. The PFL did not disclose a location for the bout, though Saudi Arabia purchased a stake in the league last year.
“Renan is a great fighter, I have been watching him for years,” Ngannou said. “I have been studying him for years, in fact I’ve been telling people to watch this guy. He’s quite unique, he’s athletic, fast and he showed that in his last fight.”
Ngannou has not fought in an MMA bout since he successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022 before he left the promotion in a contentious contract dispute. Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract talks collapsed once the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were rejected. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January 2023.
The 37-year-old Ngannou, who defeated Stipe Miocic in 2021 to win the UFC crown, signed with PFL in May 2023 as part of a deal that made him chairman and equity owner in PFL Africa.
While the PFL has a unique MMA competition format that includes a regular season, a postseason and a championship event, Ngannou will compete only on the promotion’s super fight cards.
He took time off from MMA fights to turn his attention to the squared circle and a pair of heavyweights in Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Ngannou not only shockingly took Fury the 10-round distance, he came within one judge’s scoreboard of pulling off the upset in an October 2023 loss. He knocked down Fury in the third round and challenged him throughout a defeat that showed Ngannou was much more dangerous than any other MMA fighter that has made the recently fashionable move into boxing. The result sparked interest in Ngannou as a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division, which has been repeatedly hurt by promotional clashes and ego-driven disputes during an era featuring impressive talents who haven’t fought each other as often as they should.
Joshua floored Ngannou in the first round and again in the second with right hands for the easy win in March.
Both of Ngannou’s bouts were in Saudi Arabia, where PFL ran a card earlier this year. The oil-rich kingdom’s purchase was relatively modest — a reported $100 million — but even in a minority role, Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments ensured mixed-martial arts events will take place in that country.
Ferreira has fought eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA bout, including February’s 21-second victory over longtime Bellator champion Ryan Bader.
“This is the fight of my life,” Ferreira said. “I am preparing like never before to bring Ngannou a whole lot of problems.”
Also on the October card, Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights Larissa Pacheco.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
