UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura

UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura (also known as UFC Fight Night 121) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on 19 November 2017, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.[2]

UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura
The poster for UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura.
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
Date19 November 2017
VenueQudos Bank Arena
CitySydney, Australia
Attendance10,021[1]
Event chronology
UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum

Background

This event marked the promotion's fifth visit to Sydney, and first since UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping in November 2014.[2]

A heavyweight bout between the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix winner and former interim title contender Mark Hunt against Marcin Tybura was expected to serve as the event's headliner.[3] However, on 10 October, Hunt was removed from the bout due to "medical concerns". He had recently admitted in an article trouble sleeping and said he's begin to stutter and slur his words. The UFC released a statement claiming that "the health-related statements made by Hunt represented the first time UFC was made aware of these claims". They also announced that it would be required that Hunt undergo further testing and evaluations prior to competing in any future bout. As a result, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabrício Werdum was chosen as his replacement.[4]

The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption welterweight winner Jesse Taylor was expected to face Belal Muhammad at the event. However, on 13 September, it was announced that Taylor was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential doping violation. He was flagged after an out-of-competition drug test conducted 22 August.[5] He was replaced by Tim Means.[6] On 13 October, USADA officially suspended Taylor one year for testing positive for anti-estrogen agent clomiphene.[7]

Jeremy Kennedy was expected to face Alex Volkanovski at the event. However, Kennedy pulled out of the fight on 5 October citing a back injury.[8] He was replaced by Humberto Bandenay.[9] In turn, Bandenay pulled out of the fight on 6 November and was replaced by promotional newcomer Shane Young. The bout took place at a catchweight of 150 lb.[10][11]

A lightweight bout between former Bellator Lightweight Champion Will Brooks and Nik Lentz was previously scheduled for UFC 216. However, the pairing was scrapped during the weigh-ins for the event, as Lentz was stricken with "medical issues" and deemed unfit to compete.[12] The fight took place at this event.[13]

A heavyweight bout between promotional newcomer Adam Wieczorek and Anthony Hamilton was initially scheduled to take place at UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till. However, the bout was removed a day before the event due to "safety concerns," as a few Lechia Gdańsk ultras – extreme and sometimes violent supporters of the local football team – showed up just prior to the weigh-ins. Wieczorek is a supporter of Ruch Chorzów, a Lechia Gdańsk rival team. The fighters were absent from ceremonial weigh-ins due to that reason, but the bout was eventually cancelled and rescheduled for this event.[14][15]

Bec Rawlings was originally scheduled to compete against Joanne Calderwood at the event. However, on 7 November, it was announced that Calderwood withdrew from the event due to "undisclosed reasons". She was replaced by promotional newcomer Jessica-Rose Clark.[16]

Jessica Rose-Clark, Ryan Benoit, Frank Camacho and Nadia Kassem missed weight at the official weigh-ins, coming in at 128, 129, 160 and 120 pounds, respectively. Rose-Clark and Benoit forfeited 20% and Camacho and Kassem forfeited 30% of their purses to their opponents and the bouts proceeded as catchweight bouts.[17]

Results
Main Card (Fox Sports 1)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Fabrício Werdum def. Marcin Tybura Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 49–46) 5 5:00
Catchweight (128 lb) Jessica-Rose Clark def. Bec Rawlings Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Belal Muhammad def. Tim Means Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28) 3 5:00
Welterweight Jake Matthews def. Bojan Veličković Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Elias Theodorou def. Dan Kelly Decision (unanimous) (30–28, 30–27, 30–26) 3 5:00
Catchweight (150 lb) Alexander Volkanovski def. Shane Young Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (Fox Sports 1)
Catchweight (129 lb) Ryan Benoit def. Ashkan Mokhtarian KO (head kick) 3 2:38
Lightweight Nik Lentz def. Will Brooks Submission (guillotine choke) 2 2:05
Heavyweight Tai Tuivasa def. Rashad Coulter KO (flying knee) 1 4:35
Catchweight (160 lb) Frank Camacho def. Damien Brown Decision (split) (28–29, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Catchweight (120 lb) Nadia Kassem def. Alex Chambers Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–27, 29–27) 3 5:00
Flyweight Eric Shelton def. Jenel Lausa Decision (unanimous) (30–27. 30–26, 30–25) 3 5:00
Heavyweight Adam Wieczorek def. Anthony Hamilton Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00

    [18]

    Bonus awards

    The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:[19]

    • Fight of the Night: Frank Camacho vs. Damien Brown
    • Performance of the Night: Nik Lentz and Tai Tuivasa

    Records set

    The event tied UFC 169, UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi and UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping for the most decisions at a single UFC event with 10. This event was also the longest UFC event with 3:04:18 of fight time.[20]

    See also

    References
    1. Staff (19 November 2017). "UFC Fight Night 121 draws announced 10,021 fans in Sydney". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
    2. Nick Walshaw (8 July 2017). "UFC in Australia: Sydney to host event at Qudos Bank Arena in November after three year wait". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
    3. Staff (12 August 2017). "Mark Hunt to headline UFC Fight Night in Sydney vs. Marcin Tybura". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
    4. Staff (10 October 2017). "UFC cites 'medical concerns,' pulls Mark Hunt from UFC Fight Night 121 in favor of Fabricio Werdum". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
    5. Staff (13 September 2017). "UFC statement on Jesse Taylor". ufc.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
    6. Shawn Bitter (11 October 2017). "Tim Means vs. Belal Muhammad in the works for UFC Sydney". mma-today.com. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
    7. Marc Raimondi (13 October 2017). "USADA suspends Jesse Taylor one year for positive drug test for clomiphene". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
    8. Nolan King (5 October 2017). "Jeremy Kennedy suffers back injury; out of UFC Sydney". mma-today.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
    9. Marcel Dorff (11 October 2017). "Humberto Bandenay takes short notice battle against Alexander Volkanovski in Sydney" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
    10. John Morgan (7 November 2017). "Humberto Bandenay out at UFC-Sydney; featherweight sought for Alex Volkanovski". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
    11. Marcel Dorff (12 November 2017). "Shane Young makes short note debut against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC Sydney" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
    12. Staff (6 October 2017). "UFC 216 loses a featured prelim on eve of event". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
    13. Steven Marrocco (16 October 2017). "Will Brooks vs. Nik Lentz targeted for UFC Fight Night 121". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
    14. John Morgan (21 October 2017). "Security concerns over rowdy soccer fans force 2 fighters out of UFC-Gdansk ceremonial weigh-ins". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
    15. Mike Bohn (22 October 2017). "Anthony Hamilton vs. Adam Wieczorek scratched from UFC-Gdansk, rescheduled for Nov. 18". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
    16. Shawn Bitter (7 November 2017). "Exclusive: Joanne Calderwood out – Jessy Rose-Clark steps in to take on Bec Rawlings". mma-today.com. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
    17. John Morgan (17 November 2017). "UFC Fight Night 121 official weigh-in results: Headliner set, but four fighters heavy". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
    18. "UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
    19. Brian Mazique (19 November 2017). "UFC Fight Night 121 Werdum vs. Tybura results: bonus winners, highlights, analysis, attendance, gate". Forbes. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
    20. Mike Bohn (19 November 2017). "UFC Fight Night 121 post-event facts: A long night leads to a dubious new record". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
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