Tyrell Fortune wins UFC debut after score error reversal, years after being pronounced dead

Heavyweight Tyrell Fortune roseate done the nonrecreational MMA ranks astir a decennary ago. It took until Saturday for him to unafraid his archetypal UFC victory, though it did not travel without drama.

Fourteen years aft being pronounced dormant during a value cut, Fortune present besides adds a UFC triumph to his comeback.

Fortune initially bushed Marcin Tybura by unanimous determination astatine UFC Fight Night, receiving judges scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused disorder by speechmaking the scores incorrectly, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.

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Tyrell Fortune reacts aft a triumph against Marcin Tybura of Poland successful a heavyweight combat during the UFC Fight Night lawsuit astatine Climate Pledge Arena connected March 28, 2026 successful Seattle, Washington. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The mistake went unnoticed until Fortune had exited the octagon and headed toward the tunnel. Officials brought him back, wherever helium was officially declared the winner.

"I was truthful upset with myself," Fortune said arsenic helium evaluated his performance. "I felt I didn't bash enough. I was conscionable upset. With 2 weeks' notice, I consciousness similar I did a bully job, but I besides request to travel with a amended show adjacent time."

The erstwhile NCAA Division II wrestling champion’s way to Saturday’s triumph includes a 2012 weight-cut incidental that near him pronounced dormant earlier helium made a afloat recovery.

Tyrell Fortune prepares to look Marcin Tybura of Poland successful a heavyweight combat during the UFC Fight Night lawsuit astatine Climate Pledge Arena connected March 28, 2026 successful Seattle, Washington.  (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

He recalled the experience, saying it inactive doesn’t consciousness existent years later. "I tried to hide astir it for truthful agelong ... due to the fact that it seemed truthful far-fetched. Like, "Man. I died. Everything was implicit for a second, and I came backmost to life,'" Fortune told ESPN.

"And it truly changed my position of beingness successful wide and however I presumption conscionable surviving beingness connected a day-to-day basis. When you're successful a concern similar that, you truly commencement to look astatine your values arsenic a person, and you spot what's important to you, due to the fact that it was each self-inflicted."

Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights Tyrell Fortune (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night astatine Climate Pledge Arena connected March 28, 2026 successful Seattle, Washington. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

"It was conscionable aft my junior-college season, and I wasn't a large heavyweight. I averaged astir 220, 230 pounds. That's successful the mediate of 2 value categories. International value classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I'm astatine 230. I'm like, ‘I tin either springiness up this 30 to 40 pounds, oregon I tin chopped value and beryllium bigger than everybody astatine 211.’ So that's what led to the determination to chopped weight."

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Fortune stepped successful to combat Tybura connected Saturday connected 2 weeks’ announcement aft an wounded withdrawal.

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