Heavyweight Tyrell Fortune finally earned his first UFC victory on Saturday, overcoming a decades-old tragedy and a scoring controversy.
Fortune defeated Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night in Seattle. However, a misread score by announcer Bruce Buffer initially gave the win to Tybura.
The error was corrected after Fortune exited the octagon. He later reflected on his past, recalling how a 2012 weight-cut incident left him pronounced dead.
"It was just after my junior-college season," Fortune said. "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.’"
The win came on short notice, after an injury withdrawal forced him into the fight with just two weeks’ preparation.
"I felt I didn't do enough," Fortune said. "With two weeks' notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time."
Fortune, a former NCAA Division II wrestling champion, now moves forward with renewed clarity after a life-altering moment.
"It really changed my perspective of life in general and how I view just living life on a day-to-day basis," he told ESPN.
"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."