UFC Sydney preview: Tybura vies for upset over Werdum on Aussie-filled bill
The UFC's trip to Sydney was met with some unwelcome drama this week, but Marcin Tybura's eyes remain on the prize ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
While Fabricio Werdum has been answering for the latest of several altercations with a much smaller man just days before he and Tybura are set to square off at Qudos Bank Arena in the heavyweight main event of UFC Fight Night 121, the 32-year-old Tybura has garnered comparatively negligible time in the spotlight, which oddly befits his modest UFC resume of 3-1.
But that can all change come fight night.
The Pole's last win came at the expense of a former champion in Andrei Arlovski at UFC Fight Night 111 this past June, and he expects consecutive wins over ex-titleholders to put him in title contention in a division lacking a clear front-runner to challenge reigning king Stipe Miocic when all is said and done this weekend.
Werdum, however, has been here before.
In fact, the 40-year-old was just pitted against another comparatively unheralded foe in October at UFC 216, where he made short work of Walt Harris after his original opponent, Derrick Lewis, pulled out with a back injury just hours prior. The former champ now steps in for Mark Hunt - who was pulled from the card over health concerns last month - in pursuit of his second straight victory.
Related: Werdum to face Tybura in Sydney; Hunt blasts White after being pulled
Werdum has alternated wins and losses over his last four, a run that began at UFC 198, where he was brutally unseated by Miocic in less than a round. His designs on reclaiming the strap are no secret, but after this week's altercation with welterweight Colby Covington got him summoned on assault charges and featured in headlines for all the wrong reasons, he'll have a little more to worry about than re-emerging as a contender during his stay down under.
Aussies abound
Those who paid to see Saturday's slate of face-punching will have plenty of homegrown talent to cheer on, as 10 Aussies are set to compete across the 13-fight bill.
Bec Rawlings will look to put her two-fight skid and weight management struggles behind her when she meets the debuting Jessica-Rose Clark in the women's flyweight co-main event. The 28-year-old takes a UFC record of 2-3 into her first fight at 125 pounds in more than four years, while her fellow Aussie - who tangled with UFC alum Sarah Kaufman this past March - makes her maiden voyage to the Octagon with a professional record of 7-4.
Native son Jake Matthews aims to snap a two-fight skid and live up to his billing as a top prospect in a move up to welterweight opposite Bojan Velickovic, while Melbourne's Dan Kelly meets fellow "TUF Nations" alum Elias Theodorou - both of whom will look to get back in the win column - in a middleweight tilt on the main card.
Several Australian prospects will seek statement victories on the remainder of the bill, as the streaking Alexander Volkanovski meets short-notice newcomer Shane Young - his third scheduled opponent on the card - in featherweight action, Ashkan Mokhtarian vies for his first UFC win at fellow flyweight Ryan Benoit's expense, and a pair of promising debutants aim to remain undefeated on the prelims.
In the Fight Pass featured bout, Nadia "187" Kassem meets fellow Australian Alex Chambers - who will return from a 26-month layoff in a strawweight clash. Kassem makes her first walk to the Octagon with four first-round knockouts in as many pro bouts and just over two minutes of total cage time to her name.
Also debuting is heavyweight Tai "Bam Bam" Tuivasa, who'll tangle with Rashad Coulter 13 months after finishing a seasoned UFC alum in James McSweeney by first-round stoppage. Like Kassem, the 24-year-old has never heard the second-round bell in five professional fights.
Related - UFC Sydney predictions: Werdum seeks 2nd straight win down under
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)