UFC Fight Night – Marcin Tybura vs Ante Delija: Preview & Betting Tips

The heavyweight division is of focus on the prelims of UFC Paris this Saturday as veteran contender Marcin Tybura welcomes Ante Delija to the UFC Octagon for the very first time.

Tybura (27-9) enters this contest ranked number seven at heavyweight, a spot that highlights his consistency over nearly a decade in the promotion. At 39 years old, he is well aware that his title window has passed, but he remains a tough fight for anyone outside the elite.

Delija (25-6), on the other hand, finally makes his UFC debut after years on the regional and PFL circuits. A veteran of 31 professional fights, the Croatian is best known for his time in the Professional Fighters League, where he posted an 8-3 record and captured the 2022 PFL heavyweight championship.

Tale of the Tape

Marcin Tybura – Odds 1.98 (Bet MGM)

Record: 27-9

Age: 39

Height: 6ft3

Reach: 78”

Weight: Heavyweight

Stance: Orthodox

Ante Delija – Odds 1.83 (Bet MGM)

Record: 25-6

Age: 35

Height: 6ft4

Reach:

Weight: Heavyweight

Stance: Orthodox

Marcin Tybura vs Ante Delija: Analysis

The gameplan should be pretty simple for this one for Tybura. His striking is rarely threatening and is designed mainly to close distance and keep opponents honest. His bread and butter is his clinch work and takedowns, followed by nasty ground-and-pound from top control.

Against someone like Delija, who has been controlled in past fights, Tybura’s best bet is to drag this into the kind of slow, grinding fight that saps energy.

Delija’s knockout power is undeniable, and if he can stuff takedowns and keep Tybura at range, he could land something big before the UFC veteran settles into a rhythm.

That’s easier said than done though because the Polish fighter is known for his toughness.

One of the biggest differences in this matchup is the quality of opposition each man has faced in recent years. Tybura’s UFC losses have come against legitimate contenders, fighters like: Alexander Volkov, Ciryl Gane, and Tom Aspinall.

Delija, by contrast, found success in the PFL but was not consistently facing top ten UFC calibre heavyweights.

Tybura vs Delija: Prediction & Betting Tips

This may not be the most exciting fight on paper, but it’s a classic example of a tested UFC veteran against a new face who still needs to prove himself at this level.

Tybura’s experience, proven chin, and ability to dictate the terms of a fight make him the safer play here. While Delija could land something early, the more likely scenario is Tybura grinding out rounds with control and top pressure.

I don’t quite understand why this fight is being priced up as a pick’em given that Tybura has proven himself to be a gatekeeper of the heavyweight division for some years now. My pick is Marcin Tybura moneyline at odds of 1.98 (Bet MGM).

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