Former PFL champion Ante Delija is set to make his highly anticipated UFC debut on September 6th.
The recently signed heavyweight contender will face fellow veteran Marcin Tybura (27-9) in his first appearance inside the Octagon at UFC Paris. This matchup was initially reported by Eurosport.
Delija (25-6) is a former PFL heavyweight tournament winner, having claimed the championship crown in 2022 after finishing as a runner-up the previous year, 2021. His successful PFL campaign included notable victories over fighters such as Matheus Scheffel, Shelton Graves, and Renan Ferreira. He secured the 2022 championship and a substantial $1,000,000 prize by defeating Scheffel for a second time in the tournament final.
Prior to signing with the UFC, he held a 1-1 record in his final two PFL bouts. Delija recently rebounded with a swift first-round knockout victory over Yorgan De Castro at an event held in Slovenia this past April.
His opponent, Marcin Tybura, has been a consistent presence and ranked competitor in the UFC`s heavyweight division for nearly a decade. The Polish veteran is currently on a two-fight winning streak, coming off recent decision victories against Mick Parkin (who was previously undefeated) and Jhonata Diniz. Tybura has won three of his last four fights. This upcoming bout will mark his 23rd professional fight under the UFC banner.
The UFC Paris event itself is headlined by a significant middleweight contender clash between France`s own Nassourdine Imavov and Brazil`s Caio Borralho.
