MMA Fighter Tyrell Fortune Wins UFC Debut After Scoring Error Reversal

Fortune's victory comes 14 years after being pronounced dead during a weight cut.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:50pm

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Heavyweight MMA fighter Tyrell Fortune secured his first UFC victory on Saturday, but not without some initial drama. After being announced as the loser due to a scoring error, officials corrected the mistake and declared Fortune the winner by unanimous decision over Marcin Tybura. Fortune's long road to this UFC debut includes a harrowing incident 14 years ago when he was pronounced dead during a weight cut, before making a full recovery.

Why it matters

Fortune's comeback story after being pronounced dead during a weight cut over a decade ago is an inspiring tale of perseverance and resilience in the world of professional MMA. His UFC debut win also highlights the importance of accurate scoring and transparency in combat sports judging.

The details

In his UFC Fight Night debut, Fortune initially received judges' scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28, giving him the unanimous decision victory over Tybura. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer incorrectly read the scores, leading to confusion that Fortune had lost. Officials quickly corrected the error and declared Fortune the rightful winner after he had already left the octagon. Fortune, a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion, said he was upset with his own performance despite getting the win, noting he took the fight on just two weeks' notice.

  • Fortune was pronounced dead during a weight cut in 2012.
  • Fortune secured his first UFC victory on March 25, 2026.

The players

Tyrell Fortune

A heavyweight MMA fighter who secured his first UFC victory on March 25, 2026, 14 years after being pronounced dead during a weight cut.

Marcin Tybura

The opponent Fortune defeated by unanimous decision in his UFC debut.

Bruce Buffer

The UFC cage announcer who initially read the scores incorrectly, leading to confusion over the outcome of the fight.

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What they’re saying

“I was so upset with myself. I felt I didn't do enough. I was just upset. With two weeks' notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time.”

— Tyrell Fortune, UFC Fighter

“I tried to forget about it for so long... because it seemed so far-fetched. Like, 'Man. I died. Everything was over for a second, and I came back to life.' And it really changed my perspective of life in general and how I view just living life on a day-to-day basis. When you're in a situation like that, you really start to look at your values as a person, and you see what's important to you, because it was all self-inflicted.”

— Tyrell Fortune, UFC Fighter

What’s next

Fortune will look to build on his UFC debut victory with a stronger performance in his next fight.

The takeaway

Tyrell Fortune's inspiring comeback story after being pronounced dead during a weight cut over a decade ago underscores the resilience and determination required to succeed in the high-stakes world of professional MMA. His UFC debut win also highlights the importance of accurate scoring and transparency in combat sports judging.