UFC heavyweight contender Serghei Spivac doesn’t seem interested in pushing for a specific name following his win this past weekend.
Spivac headlined a low-key card at the Apex on Saturday night, getting his chance for redemption opposite fellow European Marcin Tybura. The Polish fighter defeated his Moldovan peer on the scorecards back in 2020.
But “Polar Bear” got his revenge in Las Vegas, quickly locking in a tight armbar for the verbal submission less than two minutes into the very first round.
The performance, which saw Spivac earn a performance bonus, was followed by a relaxed interview from the 29-year-old heavyweight, during which he dismissed a push from Michael Bisping to call out a name.
Instead, Spivac simply said he’d be content sharing the cage with anybody above him in the heavyweight pecking order. And while he didn’t make the matchmaker’s life any easier, one contender did by throwing his name into the hat…
Almeida Calls Out Spivac, Gets Direct Response
During his post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Spivac reflected on his victory in the latest UFC Fight Night main event and assessed what could lie in his future.
“Polar Bear” reiterated his decision to avoid specific callouts, explaining that it’s difficult to pinpoint a name in an ever-changing weight class.
“When people ask me what’s next, it’s very hard for me to say because a lot of things can change in the heavyweight division really quickly,” Spivac said. “So it’s good for me when the UFC says who is next as opposed to me having to choose. I understand that tournaments happen every single Saturday, every single week, so I’ll wait and we’ll see what’s next.”
Spivac did have his attention turned to a callout that he was the recipient of, however.
Soon after the Moldovan’s win, the #7-ranked Jailton Almeida pitched a clash with him next. Spivac had little to say in response, but the three words he did utter would appear to signal a green light.
“Let him train.”
Almeida is coming off the first defeat of his UFC career, having had his push for a title shot stalled by Curtis Blaydes by way of a violent TKO at UFC 299 this past March.
Spivac, meanwhile, has won four of his last five. The sole loss in that run was a knockout setback at the hands of Ciryl Gane in Paris last September.
