Win or lose this Saturday against Piotr Hallmann at UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Arlovski 2, Gleison Tibau will become one of the three active fighters with the highest number of fights in the UFC. The mark is a happy motivator for one of the biggest fighters in the UFC’s Lightweight division, who told Bloody Elbow that he now carries less weight on the eve of the events.
“This mark is consequence of eight years of work. Since my first day in the UFC, I ‘ve never refused a single fight, I’m always trying to stay healthy and ready for any call. UFC is my company and I try to be the ideal employee. I’ve thought before about moving to Welterweight but I’m comfortable where I am. I’m keeping myself lighter now, which helps with my weight cut. I know what I’m capable of, I can face anyone at Lightweight.”
Tibau plans to beat Hallmann and move up the rankings in his division.
“I believe that a win will put me in the top 15 of Lightweight. This is my goal right now.”
In the UFC since 2006, with only one fight outside of the promotion after his debut, Tibau’s 22 UFC bouts are one less than Josh Koscheck and Frank Mir, who are both taking breaks away from competition some losses but still are active UFC fighters. The all-time promotional record is held by Tito Ortiz, with 27 Octagon appearances.