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Tag: Serghei Spivac

  • Jailton Almeida Set For Return At UFC 311 On January 18

    Jailton Almeida Set For Return At UFC 311 On January 18

    The year-opening pay-per-view for 2025 has its first fight, with heavyweight standout Jailton Almeida set for the chance to return to a win streak.

    Almeida (21-3) had his push toward a maiden title fight on MMA’s biggest stage violently stalled by some Curtis Blaydes hammerfists at UFC 299 this past March. It didn’t take him long to rebound, however, with the Brazilian submitting Alexandr Romanov in quick time three months later.

    Having retained his #6 position in the rankings, Almeida will once again need to defend that spot next January if he’s to place his name back in the title conversation.

    Per Brazilian reporter Léo Guimaraes, “Malhadinho” is slated to share the cage with #7-ranked contender Serghei Spivac (17-4) at the UFC 311 event on Jan. 18.

    A location is yet to be announced for the PPV.

    Like Almeida, Spivac is coming off a bounce-back performance. The Moldovan 29-year-old suffered a difficult TKO setback at the hands of Ciryl Gane in 2023 but returned this year to avenge a past defeat to Marcin Tybura.

    Having now competed in three straight main events, “Polar Bear” will have the chance to advance his championship ambitions on the PPV stage early next year.

  • UFC Rankings Report: Serghei Spivac Ties Stipe Miocic After UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    UFC Rankings Report: Serghei Spivac Ties Stipe Miocic After UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: There was one change to the male P4P order this week and it comes toward the bottom, with Charles Oliveira (#14) getting boosted above his fellow former UFC champion Sean Strickland (#15).

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson has received a late reward for her efforts at UFC 303 in late June, moving up one spot to #4 at 135 pounds at the expense of former title challenger Irena Aldana (#5).

    Further down, Yana Santos has returned to the top 10 courtesy of her victory over Chelsea Chandler this past weekend, climbing above Miesha Tate (#11) and Pannie Kianzad (#12). the former of whom has dropped three positions. The defeated Chandler, meanwhile, remains clinging on to a ranking at #15 despite not boasting a single victory in the weight class.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: No changes.

    Lightweight: No changes.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: At 205 pounds, former title challenger Dominick Reyes has edged closer to the top 10, moving up to #13 and swapping positions with Bogdan Guskov (#14).

    Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac returned to winning ways in Saturday’s main event, avenging his 2020 loss to Marcin Tybura by locking the Polish veteran in an armbar inside the opening minutes. As a result, “Polar Bear” has risen by two places to #7, where he’s met a man on the opposite trajectory in the great Stipe Miocic. The ex-champ has slipped another spot to share that step of the ladder with Spivac.

    Those changes have resulted in Jailton Almeida climbing one spot to #6 and the defeated Tybura slipping a place to #9.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    Serghei Spivac Gives Short & Sweet Response To Jailton Almeida’s Callout Following His UFC Fight Night Main Event Win

    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.

  • ‘Forever Indebted To Serghei Spivac For That Quick Finish’ – MMA Fans React To Spivac’s Slick Armbar In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    ‘Forever Indebted To Serghei Spivac For That Quick Finish’ – MMA Fans React To Spivac’s Slick Armbar In UFC Fight Night Main Event

    Serghei Spivac continued his upward momentum and scored revenge in the process with a quick finish of Marcin Tybura in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.

    Spivac got right on Tybura’s back as the round started, scoring an early takedown. The Polish heavyweight answered by reversing and getting in the Moldovan’s guard.

    While Tybura tried to do work from there, it ultimately proved to be his undoing. Spivac locked his legs around the veteran’s arm and rolled through with an armbar from the back, scoring a verbal submission.

    Serghei Spivac Avenges Loss To Marcin Tybura With First-Round Submission In UFC Fight Night Headliner

    Tybura and Spivac first met at UFC Fight Night Norfolk in February 2020, with the former winning via unanimous decision.

    “Polar Bear” has now won four of his last five fights and rebounds from a second-round TKO loss at the hands of Ciryl Gane last year in Paris. His only losses in the UFC have come against Tybura, Gane, Walt Harris, and current interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall.

    Tybura, meanwhile, has now lost two of his last three fights.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Serghei Spivac Submits Marcin Tybura

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Serghei Spivac Submits Marcin Tybura

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, top-ten ranked heavyweights Marcin Tybura (#8) and Serghei Spivac (#9) clashed. While in the co-main event, Damon Jackson faced Chepe Mariscal in a featherweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Serghei Spivac def. Marcin Tybura via submission: R1, 1.44
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Chepe Mariscal def. Damon Jackson via unanimous decision (30-25×2, 30-26)
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov via split decision (29-28×2, 27-30)
    • Bantamweight: Chris Gutiérrez def. Quang Le via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
    • Bantamweight: Toshiomi Kazama def. Charalampos Grigoriou via submission: R2, 1.55

    Preliminary Card

    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano def. Talita Alencar via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa def. Pannie Kianzad via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
    • Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz def. Karl Williams via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal def. Jarno Errens via submission: R1, 3.52

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Youssef Zalal def. Jarno Errens

    Youssef Zalal locked in a standing rear-naked choke to get the win against Jarno Errens in their featherweight bout.

    Main Card Highlights

    Toshiomi Kazama def. Charalampos Grigoriou

    In this bantamweight bout, Toshiomi Kazama earned his first UFC victory after submitting Charalampos Grigoriou in the second round.

    Yana Santos def. Chelsea Chandler

    Yana Santos earned a unanimous decision win against Chelsea Chandler in their women’s bantamweight bout.

    Chris Gutiérrez def. Quang Le

    In this bantamweight bout, Chris Gutiérrez earned a unanimous decision victory against Quang Le.

    Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov

    Danny Barlow remains undefeated after being handed a split decision win over Nikolay Veretennikov in their welterweight bout.

    In the co-main event, Chepe Mariscal got it done on the scorecards to defeat Damon Jackson via unanimous decision.

    Serghei Spivac def. Marcin Tybura

    In the main event, Serghei Spivac took under two minutes to submit Marcin Tybura with an arm bar.

  • UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results: Bantamweight Misses By 5 Pounds

    UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac 2 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    After back-to-back events in Manchester, England, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back on home soil to stage another card at the Apex facility in Las Vegas.

    Topping the lineup will be a rematch between a pair of top-10 heavyweights, with Marcin Tybura and Serghei Spivac running back their 2020 bout, which the Polish fighter won by way of unanimous decision.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Damon Jackson, Danny Barlow, Chris Gutiérrez, and Yana Santos will all have their next assignments inside the Octagon.

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac takes place on Saturday, August 10, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!

    Main Card:

    • Heavyweight Main Event: Marcin Tybura (252lbs) vs. Serghei Spivac (238lbs)
    • Featherweight Co-Main Event: Damon Jackson (146lbs) vs. Chepe Mariscal (149.5lbs)***
    • Welterweight: Danny Barlow (171.25lbs)** vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Chris Gutiérrez (136lbs) vs. Quang Le (136lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Yana Santos (135.5lbs) vs. Chelsea Chandler (141lbs)*
    • Bantamweight: Toshiomi Kazama (136lbs) vs. Charalampos Grigoriou (136lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Women’s Bantamweight: Karol Rosa (135.5lbs) vs. Pannie Kianzad (135.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz (258lbs) vs. Karl Williams (243lbs)
    • Featherweight: Youssef Zalal (145.5lbs) vs. Jarno Errens (145.5lbs)
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (115lbs) vs, Talita Alencar (115.5lbs)

    *Chelsea Chandler missed the bantamweight limit by five pounds, fight status TBA

    **Danny Barlow missed the welterweight limit by 0.25 pounds, fight status TBA

    ***Chepe Mariscal missed the featherweight limit by 3.5 pounds, fight status TBA

  • Co-Main Event Canceled Days Out From UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2

    Co-Main Event Canceled Days Out From UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2

    Following this past weekend’s event in Abu Dhabi, the Octagon is set to return to the UFC Apex this Saturday for another Fight Night event.

    Top ten heavyweights are set to meet in the main event as Serghei Spivac and Marcin Tybura run it back, following their first encounter over four years ago.

    However, it was another fight on the card that many were singling out as the one to watch on August 10 in Las Vegas.

    Co-main event billing was set to go to a bantamweight clash between Chris Gutierrez and Javid Basharat, a match-up that certainly stuck out on paper.

    Both were looking to bounce back from losses in their last outings to try and push themselves towards the top 15 at 135 pounds.

    Unfortunately, as reported by Alex Behunin, the fight is now off and the reaction from the fans on social media certainly points towards this being the bout that people were tuning in for.

    “Well that’s decided then, I shall not be watching the fights”

    “Well there goes that card”

    “Bro come on that was the only good fight on the card”

    At this current time, it hasn’t been reported why the fight has been cancelled and what amendments will be made to the card as a result.

    Read also: VIDEO: UFC Champ Sean O’Malley Reacts To ‘Close Fight’ Between Umar Nurmagomedov & Cory Sandhagen

  • Greg Hardy Speaks Out After Disappointing Loss To Spivac At UFC 272

    UFC heavyweight Greg Hardy is looking forward and not backward following his lopsided defeat to Serghei Spivac at UFC 272.

    Hardy came out firing a series of brutal leg kicks that successfully landed on Spivac in the opening minutes. Then, he was smothered on the ground and taken down numerous times in the first round.

    After Spivac got the top mount on Hardy, he landed a series of violent ground-and-pound combinations to finish the fight. Hardy failed to defend himself and the referee stepped in just a couple of minutes into the bout.

    In a recent Instagram post following the loss, Hardy updated his fans on his health and wellbeing after losing a third straight bout.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cav3Sn4LkXS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    “I’m ok first of all for those who wanna know,” Hardy said. “No excuses, gotta get better. I don’t know what to do but say sorry. More coming for the prince of War just gotta get my shit together. Thank you to the [UFC] and [Dana White] for being in my corner. Thank you coaches and training partners and agents [First Round Management]. Everyone did their job accept for me. This one is on me and there are no excuses for me lacking. I refuse to die but I have to reevaluate for sure.”

    Hardy has now lost three fights in a row with all three coming by stoppage. His last win came against Maurice Greene in October 2020.

    Hardy has had his fair share of ups and downs in the Octagon since transitioning from professional Football to MMA. After an impressive performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, he’s traded wins and losses inside the cage.

    Hardy was supposed to make his return to the Octagon earlier this year at UFC 270 before Aleksei Oleinik pulled out on short notice. He then faced a new opponent in Spivac and the fight was pushed back to UFC 272.

    UFC President Dana White has historically shown to have thin patience when it comes to fighters on losing streaks, and Hardy will likely need a win in his next appearance to remain on the UFC roster for the long term—if there is a next appearance.

    Who do you want to see Greg Hardy fight next?

  • Greg Hardy vs. Serghei Spivac Moved To UFC 272

    Greg Hardy will now be fighting at UFC 272.

    Hardy was supposed to make his return at UFC 270 against Aleksei Oleinik, but the Russian was forced out of the fight. Shortly thereafter, it was announced Serghei Spivac agreed to step up on short notice, but the former NFL Pro Bowler injured his finger and was forced to pull out.

    Now, the UFC announced that Hardy and Spivac has been rebooked for UFC 272 on March 5 in Las Vegas. The main event of the card sees Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal.

    Greg Hardy (7-4 and one No Contest) is on a two-fight losing streak. He’s coming off a first-round KO loss to Tai Tuivasa at UFC 264 and before that, suffered a TKO loss to Marcin Tybura in December of 2020. Prior to the setbacks, he TKO’d Maurice Greene and beat Yorgan de Castro by decision.

    The former Dallas Cowboy and Carolina Panther is 4-4 and one No Contest in the UFC with other wins over Dmitry Smolyakov and Juan Adams. His other losses were to Alexander Volkov and a DQ loss to Allen Crowder in his debut.

    Greg Hardy
    Image Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Serghei Spivac (13-3) had his three-fight winning streak snapped last time out as he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Tom Aspinall in September. It was a fight he took on short notice after beating Aleksei Oleinik, a TKO win over Jared Vanderaa, and a decision win over Carlos Felipe.

    The 26-year-old is 4-3 in the UFC with his other win being a submission victory over Tai Tuivasa. His losses came to Tybura by decision and a knockout loss to Walt Harris in his debut.

    With the addition of Greg Hardy vs. Serghei Spivac at UFC 272, the card is as follows:

    • Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal
    • Edson Barboza vs. Bryce Mitchell
    • Greg Hardy vs. Serghei Spivac
    • Marina Rodriguez vs. Yan Xiaonan
    • Jessica Eye vs. Manon Fiorot
    • Maryna Moroz vs. Mariya Agapova
    • Dustin Jacoby vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk
    • Tim Elliott vs. Tagir Ulanbekov
    • Jalin Turner vs. Jamie Mullarkey
    • Kevin Holland vs. Alex Oliveira
    • Devonte Smith vs. Erick Gonzalez

    Who do you think will win at UFC 272, Greg Hardy or Serghei Spivac?