Marcin Tybura and Jonata Diniz at UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Jake Noecker/Cageside Press
Heavyweight Jonata Diniz had his high-profile showdown with Derrick Lewis at UFC Edmonton earlier this month canceled on weigh-in day due to Lewis’ illness, but luckily for him he was able to take on Marcin at short notice.・I was able to participate in UFC 309 as a pair with Tybura.
The downside for Diniz, a former GLORY kickboxer, was that unlike Ruiz, Tybura was less likely to throw a hand. The grappling-savvy Polish fighter will likely consider dragging Dinis into deep water instead.
Tybura took the lead with a high kick, and Dinis followed with a harder high kick. Moments later, Dinis shook Tibura onto his back. Diniz went on top, but Tybura simply swept him, revealing the kickboxer’s inexperience on the ground. Now “Tyber” is in half guard on top, giving him time to recover and work towards the finish.
Dinis closed his guard and put his arms around Tybura’s neck, and the Polish star landed on his body. With plenty of time to spare, Tybura choked Diniz with a rabbit punch before passing to his guard with about 90 seconds left in the first round. A right hand landed next to Dinis’ head, but Tybura showed a fairly conservative approach, careful not to lose position while mixing in the odd elbow.
Marcin Tybura fired another high kick, a front kick, in the opening minute of the second round. Dinis looked for a breakthrough, but he might have delayed it a step. Tybura was trying to set something up with his right hand, but he finally changed levels and scooped up Dinis and put him on his back. From there, Tybura worked the entire round, about four minutes, and won it. He broke the top time many times, and with 20 seconds left, Down hit him with a series of elbow strikes! Dinis was chest-opened and barely managed to get back into the chair, but was saved by help from the bell and corner. The bridge of Dinis’ nose and one eyelid were both torn. The cutman was given his own job.
But before Diniz could start his third run, the doctor examined him and asked the Brazilian a few questions. No matter what he asked, he shook his head, not liking the answer, and referee Herb Dean waved it away. A subsequent broadcast of UFC 309 suggested that wobbly feet was the culprit. Whatever the reason, Marcin Tybura won by TKO.
Official results: Marcin Tybura def. Jonata Diniz TKO (Doctor Stop), Round 2, 5:00
