UFC Newcomer Tyrell Fortune Wins Debut After Scoring Error

Fortune's victory came after a dramatic mix-up with the judges' scorecards.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:52pm

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Heavyweight fighter Tyrell Fortune won his UFC debut by unanimous decision against Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night, but the victory was initially announced incorrectly by the cage announcer. Fortune, who was pronounced dead during a weight cut 14 years ago, had to return to the octagon after exiting to be officially declared the winner.

Why it matters

Fortune's comeback story and the scoring error highlight the drama and unpredictability of MMA, a sport where even seasoned veterans can face unexpected challenges. The incident also raises questions about the importance of accurate scoring and announcements in high-stakes professional fights.

The details

In the fight, Fortune received judges' scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28, giving him a unanimous decision victory. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer incorrectly read the scores, announcing totals that favored Fortune's opponent Marcin Tybura. The error went unnoticed until Fortune had already left the octagon, at which point officials brought him back to correctly declare him the winner.

  • Fortune was pronounced dead during a weight cut 14 years ago in 2012.
  • The UFC Fight Night event took place on March 29, 2026.

The players

Tyrell Fortune

A UFC heavyweight fighter who won his debut on March 29, 2026 after a scoring error was corrected. Fortune had a near-death experience 14 years ago during a weight cut.

Marcin Tybura

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

Bruce Buffer

The UFC cage announcer who incorrectly read the judges' scorecards, initially announcing Tybura as the winner before the error was caught.

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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

“It was just after my junior-college season, and I wasn't a big heavyweight. I averaged around 220, 230 pounds. That's in the middle of two weight categories. International weight classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I'm at 230. I'm like, 'I can either give up this 30 to 40 pounds, or I can cut weight and be bigger than everybody at 211.' So that's what led to the decision to cut weight.”

— Tyrell Fortune, UFC Fighter

What’s next

Fortune will look to build on his UFC debut victory and continue his comeback story in future fights.

The takeaway

Tyrell Fortune's dramatic UFC debut win, which came after a scoring error was corrected, highlights the unpredictable nature of MMA and the importance of accurate judging and announcements in high-stakes professional fights.