The schedule is packed and plenty of action is expected in the Octagon on Saturday, August 10th when Marcin Tybura faces Serghei Spivac for the second time in his career, this time at UFC Fight Night.
The main card is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Fans who want to watch can do so via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, both of which offer a free trial. SlingTV does not offer a free trial but does have other promotional offers available.
The evening’s pre- and main card features nine more fights, including three in the women’s division. Bantamweights Yana Santos and Chelsea Chandler will face off on the main card.
In the main event, Tybura will look to repeat his feat from February 29, 2020, when he defeated Spivac by unanimous decision. Tybura has a career record of 25-8, while Spivac has a record of 16-3.
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WHO: Marcin Tybura vs Sergei Spivac
When: Saturday, August 10, 7 p.m. EST
Where: UFC 226 in Las Vegas
Electricity: FuboTV (free trial); DirecTV Stream (free trial); Sling
Gear: At Fanatics.com you can shop for jerseys, shirts, hats, hoodies and more. Fanatics also offers a sports betting service.
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Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will make his PFL debut
By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will return to MMA when he makes his Professional Fighters League debut in October, stepping back into the cage after two high-profile victories in boxing.
Ngannou will fight PFL 2023 heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira on Oct. 19 as part of a PFL pay-per-view superfight card. The PFL has not announced a location for the fight, although Saudi Arabia purchased a stake in the league last year.
“Renan is a great fighter, I’ve been watching him for years,” Ngannou said. “I’ve studied him for years and even advised people to watch this guy. He’s pretty unique, he’s athletic, fast and he showed that in his last fight.”
Ngannou has not competed in MMA since successfully defending the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022 before leaving the promotion in a contentious contract dispute. Ngannou was still UFC heavyweight champion when contract negotiations broke down after the African fighter said his demands for health insurance and personal sponsorships were denied. UFC President Dana White stripped Ngannou of the belt in January 2023.
Ngannou, 37, who defeated Stipe Miocic to win the UFC crown in 2021, signed with PFL in May 2023 in a deal that made him chairman and shareholder of PFL Africa.
While the PFL features a unique MMA competition format that includes a regular season, postseason and championship event, Ngannou will only compete on the promotion’s superfight cards.
He took a break from MMA fighting to turn his attention to the ring and a pair of heavyweights, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Not only did Ngannou surprisingly take Fury the 10-round distance, he also narrowly missed the upset when he lost in October 2023. He knocked Fury down in the third round and challenged him during a loss that showed Ngannou was far more dangerous than any other MMA fighter who has made the recently fashionable switch to boxing. The result reignited interest in Ngannou as a legitimate challenger in the heavyweight division, which has been repeatedly damaged by promotional conflicts and ego-driven disputes in an era of impressive talents who didn’t fight each other as often as they should.
Joshua knocked Ngannou down with right hooks in the first and again in the second round, earning an easy victory in March.
Both of Ngannou’s fights took place in Saudi Arabia, where the PFL aired a card earlier this year. The purchase price from the oil-rich kingdom was relatively modest – reportedly $100 million – but even in a minority role, Saudi-backed SRJ Sports Investments ensured that mixed martial arts events will take place in the country.
Ferreira has fought eight times since Ngannou’s last MMA fight, including a 21-second victory in February over longtime Bellator champion Ryan Bader.
“This is the fight of my life,” Ferreira said. “I’m preparing like never before to give Ngannou a lot of problems.”
Also on the October card: Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights against Larissa Pacheco.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
