Andrei Arlovski Takes Disappointing Decision Loss To Marcin Tybura At UFC Singapore

After a huge comeback run in 2015 that had Andrei Arlovski in the verge of a UFC heavyweight title shot, the veteran fighter went 0-4 over the past two years with losses to Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, and surging newcomer Francis Ngannou. Understandable losses, in other words. Losses to the best heavyweights in the world. For his UFC Fight Night match in Singapore, Arlovski was given an easier test in #13 ranked Marcin Tybura.

Unfortunately for Andrei, there are no easy fights in the UFC and Tybura was an M-1 heavyweight champ before being called up to the big leagues. While Arlovski clearly had a striking advantage, Tybura was better on the ground where the majority of the fight was held. Tybura’s grappling exhausted Arlovski and earned him two of the three rounds of the fight. He was awarded the decision with a score of 29-28, 28-27, and 29-27.

Arlovski came out strong at the start of the first, throwing a cool mule kick that had Tybura moving back. But Tybura got the fight to the ground soon after and advanced his position to mount, battering Arlovski from on top for the majority of the round. With a minute left Tybura tired and Andrei finally escaped from the bottom, getting to his feet and going to work with his boxing. Tybura ate a number of big shots as Arlovski stalked him around the outside of the cage until the end of the round.

Round two started with Andrei continuing his striking assault before slowing down the pace and leaning against Tybura on the cage to regain some steam. He lit Tybura up as they separated and then attempted a takedown that almost ended with Tybura on his back before they ended up back against the fence with the two trading short elbows and knees. The ref eventually split them up, but they went right back to the cage for another rest until the end of the second.

The third round saw Tybura on top of Arlovski on the ground, with an exhausted Arlovski unable to get back up. Tybura passed through a succession of controlling positions, taking Andrei’s back and holding it for the majority of the round. Arlovski’s best moves were some near escapes and reversals, but Tybura’s ground control was too strong.

It’s a fight Arlovski should have been able to win. Whenever the two weren’t tied up, Arlovski was clearly winning the exchanges and hitting Tybura with big shots. But if Tybura wasn’t closing the distance, Arlovski was doing it himself. The two wasted time against the cage multiple times, and the close range allowed Tybura to take Arlovski down in the third, securing him the win.

Arlovski made no comment following the fight, but at 0-5 now and this loss to a fighter outside of the top ten, there’s good reason to question whether he will (or should) continue to compete.