UFC Fight Night: Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura Preview & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Aleksander Rakic makes his heavyweight debut after a four fight skid, with Marcin Tybura tasked with welcoming "The Rocket" to his new division.
Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura facts
What time are Aleksandar Rakic and Marcin Tybura expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 283
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez main card
Uros Medic vs Daniel Rodriguez (Welterweight)
Jan Blachowicz vs Navajo Stirling (Light Heavyweight)
Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura (Heavyweight)
Dusko Todorovic vs Robert Valentin (Middleweight)
Vlasto Cepo vs Gilbert Urbina (Middleweight)
Milos Janicic vs Noah Gugnon (Lightweight)
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs Rodriguez prelims
Ludovit Klein vs Tofiq Musayev (Lightweight)
Oban Elliott vs Michael Oliveira (Welterweight)
Borislav Nikolic vs Mark Vologdin (Bantamweight)
Dennis Buzukja vs Bogdan Grad (Featherweight)
Mateusz Rebecki vs Kyle Prepolec (Lightweight)
Nina Milosevic vs Hailey Cowan (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jovan Leka vs Alexander Poppeck (Heavyweight)
Marina Spasic vs Stephanie Luciano (Women’s Strawweight)
Aleksandar Rakic: "The Rocket" looks for a fresh start up a weight class
Once touted as the future of the light heavyweight division, Alexander Rakic (14-6) makes his heavyweight debut in the wake of a rough KO loss to Azamat Murzakhanov in his last bout at 205. “The Rocket” began his UFC tenure at 6-1 but has now dropped four in a row with three stoppage losses to prompt a move to heavyweight. One of the largest light heavyweights in promotional history, Rakic’s 6’4” frame and 78” reach is a promising indicator that he could be right at home without a draining weight cut to factor in. The Austrian born Serb’s best asset is his thunderous kicking game and calculated striking style, although he’s been let down by lapses in fight IQ, poor cardio, and an unwillingness to pull the trigger when it counts.
Marcin Tybura: Does "Tybur" have another fraud-check left in the tank at this stage of his career?
Widely regarded as one of the heavyweight division’s premiere gatekeepers, time appears to be catching up with Marcin Tybura (27-11) after a long career of beating back fighters who were not Top 10 level material. With Saturday night marking his twenty fifth fight with the promotion, “Tybur” is coming off back-to-back losses to recent signings, Ante Delija and Tyrell Fortune, two fighters that he likely would have fraud checked at the height of his powers. Tybura was known for a slick boxing game that belied his stocky frame, coupling his underrated striking with solid takedowns and punishing ground and pound.
Aleksandar Rakic vs Marcin Tybura prediction
Rakic’s chin is a potential X-factor here. This is his first bout at heavyweight and he’s been KO’d brutally in two of his last three fights a weight class down. This could be down to a miserable weight cut, but considering the amount of damage that he’s taken, Tybura could well blast him with an overhand early and ruin his heavyweight debut.
With that being said, Rakic is still good value as a moderate favorite here. Tybura is 40 years old and has looked pretty awful in his last two fights, with the damage that he’s taken across the course of a long career seemingly catching up with him. Even in his heyday, he does his best work when he’s able to drag his opponents to the mat, wear on them, and finish them with ground and pound. Rakic has excellent takedown defence and considering that he’s not going to be undersized in his new weight class, I like his chances to shuck off any takedown attempts, negate the clinch, and keep this one on the feet.
If that’s where it stays, Rakic is a considerably better striker than Tybura. I see “The Rocket” chipping away at the Pole with powerful kicks and sharp combinations, potentially even putting Tybura away in the early goings or late in the fight as the damage piles up. He’s a risky pick given his recent run of form, but give me Rakic by decision.
Prediction: Aleksander Rakic to win by decision
