‘Was an odd choice’: Pros react to Marcin Tybura’s quick work of Tai Tuivasa in UFC Vegas 88 main event
Marcin Tybura bounced back from his most recent loss in a big way.
Facing Tai Tuivasa in Saturday’s UFC Vegas 88 main event, “Tybur” went to his grappling to nullify the hard-hitting Australian and despite Tuivasa showing some impressive resilience, he couldn’t stop Tybura from working his way towards a fight-ending rear-naked choke near the end of Round 1. It was the third win in four fights for Tybura, while Tuivasa has now slumped to the tune of four straight losses.
It wasn’t surprising to see Tybura go to his wrestling and submission skills to deal with Tuivasa, who has picked up all but one of his 14 pro wins by way of knockout. Fellow Aussie Megan Anderson took to Twitter to lament Tuivasa’s lacking grappling defense and praise Tybura for his tactics: “Tybura with the smart gameplan – take it to the ground and it was just a matter of time.”
See more of the pros’ social media reactions to UFC Vegas 88 below.
Marcin Tybura chokes out a slumping Tai Tuivasa
Tai not actively looking to peel the hands and just trying to grit out the rnc with that amount of time left, was an odd choice
Tybura with the smart gameplan – take it to the ground, and it was just a matter of time #UFCVegas88
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) March 17, 2024
Tybura was getting a haircut and changed his mind in the middle of the haircut
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 17, 2024
Bryan Battle and Ange Loosa get heated after eye poke leads to no-contest
Well alright. That escalated quickly. Run it back!
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 17, 2024
Yea, if you foul me, then say that, I think everyone will be pissed and want to bark back. But the eye poke looked legit. Sucks because Battle was for sure dominating. https://t.co/jAFWnEe0Z7
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 17, 2024
Aljo, the foul that happened to you was way more damaging, this guy wanted a way out. Do you agree!?
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) March 17, 2024
The fans won’t let him live that one down
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) March 17, 2024
Fuck man sorry for both guys that blows
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 17, 2024
Christian Rodriguez ekes out win over Isaac Dulgarian
Man that was a dog fight
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) March 17, 2024
It’s odd because we’re now told damage over the position wins the RD. But Dulgar gets about 3.5min of control in RDs 1&2, so it’s what do the judging favor more? Trust me, half us fighters are just as confused on what’s winning in a dog fight like that. I’m not mad at it. https://t.co/QliDMCntF2
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 17, 2024
Can someone explain to me the scorecard for Rodriguez vs Dulgarian?
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) March 17, 2024
28-28 for me. I gave Rodriguez the 10-8 in the third. A variety of scores are acceptable to me #UFCVegas88
— Jillian DeCoursey (@lionheartjill) March 17, 2024
