Bruce Buffer has built a reputation as the gold standard inside the Octagon, but even the best have their off nights.
At UFC Seattle, Bruce Buffer found himself at the center of an awkward moment after announcing the wrong winner in the heavyweight clash between Tyrell Fortune and Marcin Tybura. Buffer initially declared Tybura the winner, only for officials to correct the result moments later and confirm Fortune had actually won.
Now, Bruce Buffer has broken his silence—and he didn’t dodge accountability. Speaking after the incident, Bruce Buffer made it clear he wasn’t pointing fingers.
“Well, I mean, I’m my own worst critic, of course, and I don’t put blame on anybody else,” Bruce Buffer said. “I’m the messenger, I’m the one that delivers it… so I accept full responsibility for it.”
He acknowledged there may have been confusion behind the scenes, but he didn’t use that as an excuse.
“Whether there was some confusion at the commissioner’s desk beforehand or whatever, not even worth talking about,” Bruce Buffer added.
Mistakes like this are rare for Bruce Buffer, who has spent over three decades as the voice of the UFC. From iconic title fights to historic moments, he has delivered thousands of announcements with near perfection.
That’s why this one stood out.
“Obviously it’s not an enjoyable moment because I’m a perfectionist,” Bruce Buffer said. “But it happened… I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and I am not one to make excuses.”
More than anything, Bruce Buffer said he felt bad for the fighters caught in the mix-up.
“Where I feel bad is that the moment I gave the fighter who thought he won, versus the moment I gave the fighter who thought he lost and then eventually won,” Bruce Buffer explained. “For that, I’m dearly sorry.”
“I have so much respect and I’m so honored to be able to announce these amazing Octagon warriors. I never want to lessen any moment in their lives.”
Bruce Buffer didn’t dwell on the mistake. Instead, he kept it simple, own it and move on.
“So for that, I apologize, and onward and upward,” he said.
Despite the slip-up, Bruce Buffer’s legacy remains untouched. One mistake doesn’t erase decades of excellence, it just proves that even the most reliable voice in the sport is still human.
