Serghei Spivac Bio
Serghei Spivac is a Moldovan professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on January 24, 1995, in Chișinău, Moldova, he has built a reputation as a dangerous submission grappler with a strong wrestling base and a patient, ground-focused approach. Nicknamed the “Polar Bear,” Spivac carries a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and fights out of Chișinău for the MIR Production team. As of February 2026, he is ranked among the top contenders in the UFC heavyweight division.
Early Life and Background
Serghei Spivac was born and raised in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Growing up in a post-Soviet country with a deep appreciation for combat sports, he was drawn to wrestling and grappling from a young age. He eventually earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a credential that would later define his fighting style and confidence on the ground.
Spivac continues to live and train in Chișinău, representing the MIR Production fight team. His Orthodox stance, 191 cm frame, and 198 cm reach give him a strong physical foundation for the heavyweight division. Outside of training, he is a family man, and his personal life remains closely tied to his hometown.
Path to MMA
Spivac made his professional MMA debut in September 2014 at the age of 19 with the Ukrainian promotion Real Fight Promotion. He faced Andrey Serebrianikov in his first fight and finished the bout with a TKO in the final minute of the opening round. The victory signaled the arrival of a promising heavyweight talent from Moldova.
Over the next several years, Spivac competed across multiple regional promotions, including World Warriors Fighting Championships, Eagles Fighting Championship, and N1 Pro. He captured the vacant WWFC Heavyweight Championship with a first-round rear-naked choke over veteran Travis Fulton and successfully defended the title against Ivo Cuk and Tony Lopez. By the time he signed with the UFC, he had compiled an unbeaten run on the European scene built largely on submissions and ground control.
Serghei Spivac Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Between 2014 and 2018, Serghei Spivac fought exclusively in regional European promotions. He went undefeated while competing for Real Fight Promotion, World Warriors Fighting Championships, N1 Pro, and Eagles Fighting Championship. His finishes during this stretch included a kimura, multiple armbars, a head kick TKO, and a rear-naked choke to claim the WWFC Heavyweight Championship.
His regional title reign included defenses against Ivo Cuk and Tony Lopez, both of which ended in the first round. This long stretch of regional competition gave Spivac the experience and finishing instincts that would later translate to the UFC stage.
UFC Debut and Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Serghei Spivac made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 151 in 2019 against Walt Harris, stepping in on short notice for Alexey Oleynik. He suffered the first professional loss of his career, falling by TKO in just 50 seconds. The setback, however, did not slow his development within the organization.
In his next outing at UFC 243, Spivac faced Tai Tuivasa and produced the signature moment of his early UFC run. He survived early trouble from leg kicks, repeatedly took the Australian down, and locked in an arm-triangle choke in the second round for his first UFC victory. He followed that win with subsequent decision and TKO victories over Carlos Felipe, Jared Vanderaa, and the legendary Alexey Oleynik, establishing himself as a rising contender.
Top-Tier Contention (2022–2025)
Spivac’s 2022 campaign began with a first-round TKO of Greg Hardy at UFC 272, followed by a second-round stoppage of Augusto Sakai at UFC on ESPN 40. He then headlined UFC Fight Night 218 against Derrick Lewis in February 2023 and secured an arm-triangle choke in the opening round. The performance earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
His next major test came against former interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC Fight Night 226 in September 2023, where he suffered a second-round TKO loss. Spivac rebounded in August 2024 at UFC on ESPN 61, defeating Marcin Tybura by first-round armbar in their rematch to earn another Performance of the Night bonus. After a loss to Jailton Almeida at UFC 311 in January 2025, Spivac dropped a unanimous decision to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 316 in June 2025.
Style and Strengths
Serghei Spivac is best known for his grappling-heavy style. He relies on chain wrestling, top control, and a steady stream of submissions once the fight hits the mat. His black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu shows in his variety of finishes, including armbars, rear-naked chokes, arm-triangle chokes, and neck cranks. Combined with his height, reach, and patient pace, his style is well-suited for grinding down larger heavyweights.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Spivac’s most memorable moments is his 2019 submission of Tai Tuivasa at UFC 243, which announced his arrival in the heavyweight division. His first-round arm-triangle choke of Derrick Lewis in February 2023 earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus. He added a second bonus with the first-round armbar of Marcin Tybura at UFC on ESPN 61 in August 2024.
Serghei Spivac Career Wins
Across his professional career, Serghei Spivac has compiled 17 verified wins, with 8 by submission, 4 by knockout or TKO, and 2 by decision. His finishing rate reflects his identity as a grappler who prefers to settle fights on the ground rather than trade on the feet.
UFC Highlights
Spivac’s most notable UFC victory came in October 2019, when he submitted Tai Tuivasa by arm-triangle choke at UFC 243 for his first promotional win. Additional UFC victories include TKO finishes of Carlos Felipe, Jared Vanderaa, Greg Hardy, and Augusto Sakai, along with submission wins over Derrick Lewis and Marcin Tybura. His most recent UFC victory came on February 21, 2026, when he defeated Ante Delija by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 267.
Other Wins and Performances
Before joining the UFC, Spivac went unbeaten on the regional circuit and captured the WWFC Heavyweight Championship. Notable finishes from this era include a first-round rear-naked choke of veteran Travis Fulton to win the title and first-round stoppages of Ivo Cuk and Tony Lopez in successful defenses.
Serghei Spivac Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Spivac was born and raised in Chișinău, Moldova, where he continues to live and train. His background reflects the working-class roots of many Eastern European combat sports athletes, with limited public information available about his parents and upbringing.
Personal Life
Serghei Spivac is married to his wife, Marina, and the couple has a daughter who was born in 2020. His father passed away in 2025. Spivac is known for keeping his personal life private, and he is not known to have any other publicly confirmed relationships or children.
2025 Season Performance
Serghei Spivac entered 2025 following a strong 2024 campaign that included a Performance of the Night win over Marcin Tybura. He opened the year at UFC 311 in January, where he suffered a late first-round TKO loss to Jailton Almeida. The result briefly halted his momentum inside the heavyweight ladder.
Spivac was later booked against Shamil Gaziev for UFC Fight Night 256 before the pairing was shifted to UFC 316 in June 2025. After Gaziev withdrew with a broken finger, Spivac instead faced Waldo Cortes-Acosta and dropped a unanimous decision, with 10 of 13 media outlets scoring the bout in his favor. A rescheduled bout with Gaziev at UFC Fight Night 265 in November 2025 fell through when Spivac withdrew for undisclosed reasons.
Spivac closed his 2025 campaign with a unanimous decision win over Ante Delija at UFC Fight Night 267 on February 21, 2026. Looking ahead, he is currently scheduled to face Vitor Petrino on August 22, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 285.
