In a stunning turn of events during his UFC debut in Seattle, heavyweight Tyrell Fortune experiences a dramatic reversal when announcer Bruce Buffer mistakenly declares opponent Marcin Tybura the victor.
The Bout and the Blunder
Fortune, marking his entry into the UFC after a decade in professional MMA, battles Polish veteran Tybura in a three-round heavyweight clash that goes the full distance. Judges’ scorecards initially appear to favor Fortune unanimously, but shock ripples through the arena as Buffer announces Tybura as the winner.
Fortune exits the octagon and heads toward the tunnel, only for officials to halt him upon discovering the error. UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald addresses the crowd: ‘We have a mistake here. Mistake made in the announcement of Marcin Tybura, so we’re going to get Tyrell Fortune back in there. He didn’t expect his moment to happen like this, so we apologize for that. Bruce Buffer back on the mic again.’
Officials summon Fortune back to the cage, where Buffer issues an apology. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize for the mix-up,’ Buffer states. ‘The scoring is 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 to the winner by unanimous decision, Tyrell Fortune.’
Fortune’s Emotional Rollercoaster
A former Division II national champion wrestler who spent much of his career in Bellator, Fortune improves to 18-3 in MMA and enters the UFC heavyweight rankings upon their Monday update.
Reflecting on the night, Fortune shares his frustration: ‘I was so upset with myself. I felt I didn’t do enough. I was just upset. With two weeks’ notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time.’
He describes the mix-up: ‘Man, that was an emotional drop and then a high again. Once I was walking out of the Octagon I was just upset and frustrated with myself that I didn’t get the performance that I felt that I could. It was a little upsetting, feeling that I lost. But them having to come back in and get the win and getting my hand raised made everything feel right.’
