The 29-year-old Tybura (12-1, 3 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge heavyweight title August 15, 2014, chocking out defending champion Damian Grabowskiin the opening round with theM-1 Challenge 50“Submission of the Night”.
The 6′ 3″, 250-pound Tybura (on top in picture to left), fighting out of Poland, successfully defended his title in his first defense last November in Beijing against previously undefeated Denis Smoldarev, using another choke hold in the first round at M-1 Challenge 53.
A former M-1 Challenge Grand Prix heavyweight titlist, Tybura is coming off his only professional loss this past May at M-1 Challenge 57, in which he was stopped in the third round by M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan Puetz in their “Super Fight,” due to a severely broken nose.
Undefeated in his last five fights, Delija (14-2-0, 5 KO/TKO, 7 SUB) is a grappling specialist from Croatia, who is coached by M-1 Challenge light heavyweight contender Maro Perak, who is headlining M-1 Challenge 60 versus Viktor Nemkov on August 5 in Orel, Russia.
The 6′ 5″, 250-pound Delija (standing in picture to right) won a three-round decision over veteran Konstantin Gluhov last April at M-1 Challenge 56 to earn this heavyweight title shot. Delija, 24, and Tybura have two common opponents: both defeated Gluhov – Tybura by first-round submission – Delija lost to Smoldarev by second-round submission.
Fights and fighters are subject to challenge. Additional bouts will soon be announced.
M-1 Challenge 61 will be held in association with the Beijing International Economic Forum at a unique cultural business center, Chang An No. 1 (see picture below headline), which consists of 78 palaces and villas located on 3.2 million square feet (250,00 square meters) of natural landscape.
Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 61 live on Cablevision’s Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable, Suddenlink Communications and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
