For the first time in over eleven years, Brazilian MMA fighter Gleison Tibau can say that he is no longer a part of the UFC roster.
Even though the promotion opted not to re-sign the fighter, a confident Tibau says that offers from other promotions have been pouring in.
“There are many offers coming, but nothing is set yet,” Tibau said to MMA Fighting. “Rizin offered me a fight with Takanori Gomi on two weeks’ notice, but I was in Brazil, I was taking care of my cookie business and wasn’t even training, so I couldn’t take it. ACB also sent me an offer, but then they cancelled some cards, so I turned it down. Bellator asked me to wait a little bit, but they are interested. There’s also a promotion from Abu Dhabi, another one in Russia as well. I will sign one-fight deals only so I remain free.”
The last time that Tibau competed outside the promotion was in May of 2007, when he defeated Antonio Moreno at a Nordeste Combat Championship event.
Another move the fighter plans on making is to compete at welterweight, despite fighting at 155 pounds for the majority of his professional MMA career.
“I should have done that a while ago,” Tibau said. “I only train with the best welterweights and do super well in the gym. The weight cut has bothered me a lot. I want to fight as well as I do in training. I perform well at 170, and with the weight cut I have no explosion, no strength, no resistance, so I will move up a weight class.”
Tibau earned a 16-12-0 record in the UFC (33-14-0 overall), with notable wins coming over Terry Etim, Rich Clementi, Jeremy Stephens, Josh Neer, Caol Uno, Kurt Pellegrino, Rafael Dos Anjos, Jamie Varner, Pat Healy and Norman Parke. Tibau’s last bout under the UFC banner came at UFC Fight Night Utica, where he suffered a decision loss to Desmond Green.
