In this three-part series, I will choose my top UFC men’s fighters of 2020, looking back over what they have achieved during the year. I will detail their fights and performances and explain why, in my opinion, they excelled during 2020.
2nd: Marcin Tybura
2020: 4-0 – one TKO, three unanimous decisions, one Performance of the Night (POTN) bonus. Now 8-5 in the UFC, 21-6 overall.
Age 35. Polish. #15 UFC Heavyweight.
1:February – defeated Sergey Spivak by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) on the prelims. This was only Spivak’s second loss in twelve professional fights and he had never gone to a decision before, finishing eight of his ten wins in the very first round.
2: UFC 251 (July) – defeated UFC debutant Maxim Grishin by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) on the early prelims.
Grishin was unbeaten in his last nine bouts (two draws) and in 20 of his last 21 fights overall. In his 40 professional fights, this was only his second decision loss.
3: October – defeated Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) on the main card.
4: December – defeated Greg Hardy by TKO with 29 seconds of round two left on the main card, earning himself a POTN bonus on the last card of the year and entering the heavyweight rankings. The finish had come due to ground and pound after a takedown and was the first time Hardy had ever been finished.
Marcin Tybura finishes Greg Hardy with some relentless ground and pound! 💥#UFCVegas17 pic.twitter.com/jjE4HJVEtG
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) December 20, 2020
Hardy had only lost once in his past six bouts and this was his third professional defeat overall. For Tybura, this was his first finish since March 2017, ten fights ago.
“Tybur” really turned his form around in 2020 as he had lost four of his last five coming into the new year including by KO/TKO three times. Having now won four in a row he enters 2021 as a ranked heavyweight and will hope for a bout against someone with a number next to their name the next time he enters the Octagon.
Great way to end a perfect year! Looking forward to 2021 and a ranking run. #UFCVegas17
— Marcin Tybura (@MarcinTybura) December 20, 2020
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