NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Heavyweight Tyrell Fortune rose through the professional MMA ranks about a decade ago. He had to wait until Saturday to earn his first UFC victory, although it didn’t come without drama.
Fourteen years after being declared dead during a weight cut, Fortune now also adds a UFC win to his return.
Fortune first defeated Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night, receiving judges’ scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused confusion by incorrectly reading the scores, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Tyrell Fortune reacts after a victory against Poland’s Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The mistake went unnoticed until Fortune walked out of the octagon and into the tunnel. The authorities brought him back and he was officially declared the winner.
“I was so angry with myself,” Fortune said in assessing his performance. “I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. I was just upset. With two weeks’ notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to perform better next time.”
The former NCAA Division II wrestling champion’s journey to Saturday’s victory includes a weight-cutting incident in 2012 that left him declared dead before making a full recovery.
Tyrell Fortune prepares to face Poland’s Marcin Tybura in a heavyweight bout at the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
He recalled the experience, saying it still doesn’t seem real years later. “I tried to forget about it for so long…because it seemed so far-fetched. Like, ‘Dude. I am dead. It all ended for a second and I came back to life,'” Fortune told ESPN.
“And it really changed my outlook on life in general and the way I look at life on a daily basis. When you’re in a situation like that, you really start to look at your values as a person and you see what’s important to you, because it’s all self-inflicted.”
Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights Tyrell Fortune (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)
“It was right after my junior college season, and I wasn’t a big heavyweight. I averaged between 220 and 230 pounds. That’s in the middle of two weight classes. The international weight classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I’m at 230. I’m like, ‘I can either drop these 30 to 40 pounds, or I can lose weight and be bigger than everyone else at 211.’ So that’s what led to the decision to cut weight.”
Fortune stepped in to fight Tybura on Saturday on two weeks’ notice after withdrawing due to injury.
