UFC on ABC 8's Myktybek Orolbai promises to deliver 'big surprise'
UFC on ABC 8's Myktybek Orolbai promises to deliver 'big surprise' Myktybek Orolbai aims to rebound in a big way at UFC Baku.
Myktybek Orolbai has something in store for the fans this Saturday.
Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who welcomes Tofiq Musayev to the UFC, says he has a big surprise for the people watching UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Orolbai knows he has a tough outing with Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), but that won't stop him from delivering in the octagon.
"Last fight was a tough fight," Orolbai said through an interpreter, speaking to reporters at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "Kyrgyz people are warriors. We're Kyrgyz warriors. God gave me this fight, but I have a big surprise for you this Saturday."
Orolbai is coming off one of the wildest fights of 2024. He went to war and had his eye swollen shut in a war against Mateusz Rebecki last October. Orolbai lost the fight by split decision.
Orolbai is determined to get back to his winning ways, and feels recovered and ready to take on Musayev.
"Tofiq is 35 years old, I'm 27 years old," Orolbai said. "I'm in a great shape right now, so I think everything is on my side here, but I'm ready for Saturday, and I'm going to show you on Saturday."
Orolbai's ambitions go beyond getting a win on Saturday. He wants that to be the start of a title campaign at 155 pounds.
"That was my whole dream," Orolbai said. "When I was 18 years old, my dream was to be in the UFC, and now we made it. God chose me to be the first fighter from Kyrgyzstan, and that carries a lot of weight on me, and that's why I also want to be the first to bring the title to Kyrgyzstan."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 minutes ago
- USA Today
Joe Rogan references Ilia Topuria to highlight that it's 'an amazing time for the sport'
Amidst concern over the UFC's decreasing popularity, Joe Rogan insists the sport is in a great spot. Several super fights such as Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria and Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall have either failed to materialize or are yet to materialize, leaving UFC fans frustrated. But popular podcast host and UFC commentator Rogan thinks skill and talent-wise, MMA is the best it's ever been. He used undefeated, former UFC featherweight champion Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) as an example. "Ilia Topuria, who's fighting Charles Oliveira at the end of the month – that guy is insane. That guy has knocked out two of the greatest featherweights of all time: (Alexander) Volkanovski and Max Holloway," Rogan said on a recent episode of his "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. "Nobody could knock those guys out at featherweight before. He did, and he made it look easy. He's just on another level from everybody. Now he's moving up to 155 pounds. He decided he cleared out that division, and he's moving up. "There's guys like that, their level is above everybody else's level, and with Ilia, it's everything. It's his submissions, his kicks, his punches, everything. He can do anything. He does everything perfect. All his technique is perfect. He's f*cking driven and ultra confident. This is an amazing time for the sport, man. It's a crazy time because these guys that are coming in with like one fight in the UFC, they look like world-class contenders right away." Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC) for the vacant lightweight title in the UFC 317 main event on June 28 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Forbes
18 minutes ago
- Forbes
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Says ‘I Want To End Jake Paul's Career'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Jake Paul, left, gestures towards Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Mexico's ... More former world champion, right, as Oscar De La Hoya, of Golden Boy Promotions, center, looks on during a boxing news conference at the Avalon Hollywood Theatre in Los Angeles on May 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) On Saturday, June 28, Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will face off in a 10-round boxing match. If Chavez gets his wish, the contest, which will be contested at 200 pounds, will be the final fight of Paul's boxing career. During an interview with Ariel Helwani, Chavez was asked if he was motivated to score a knockout when the two meet at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and get Paul out of boxing. 'Yes,' Chávez said. "You know, I still think that I'm better than Jake Paul, so I think after this fight maybe Jake continues to fight and tries to be a better boxer, but I don't think he has the skills and everything to win the fight. Yes, I want to end Jake Paul's career." Chavez, a former WBC middleweight champion, enters the upcoming matchup with a 54-6-1-1 record. He is coming off a July 2024 decision win over former UFC fighter Uriah Hall. The 39-year-old said of his fight against Paul and what he hopes it could lead to. 'I want to make it clear that I'm still here,' said Chavez. "I'm not old, and I take this sport seriously. I train hard. I'm disciplined. I'm 39, so I don't think I'm old. I still feel good in the gym. I want to prove that I'm still here, that I'm still a good fighter. So I want to fight better opposition after this fight, and that's why I take this fight. Chavez has had a hard time shaking the visual of his 2019 loss to Daniel Jacobs. A fight where he came in overweight and quit in the fifth round. Chavez's action on that night left the crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona showering the ring with debris. Chavez is 3-2 since that loss, but he says he will be a different fighter against Paul. "Now I'm disciplined, I'm focused, I want to finish the fight with Paul with a win and take this opportunity to be back in real boxing. That's my goal." Paul (11-1) has not fought since he defeated Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in November 2024. The Paul vs. Chavez Jr. fight card streams on DAZN PPV. Paul vs. Chavez Jr. Main Event 200 lbs.: Jake Paul (11-1) vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1) x 10 Paul vs. Chavez Jr. PPV Main Card 200 lbs.: Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez (47-1) vs. Yuniel Dorticos (27-2) Unified Cruiserweight Championship (WBO & WBA titles) x 12 132 lbs.: Holly Holm (33-2-3) vs. Yolanda Vega (10-0) x 10 135 lbs.: Floyd 'Kid Austin' Schofield (18-0, 12) vs. Tevin Farmer (33-8-1) x 10 147 lbs.: Avious Griffin (17-0) vs. Julian Rodriguez (23-1) x 10 147 lbs.: Raul Curiel (15-0-1) vs. Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez (16-0-1) x 10 Paul vs. Chavez Jr. Preliminary Card 115 lbs.: John Ramirez (14-1) vs. TBD x10 126 lbs.: Victor Morales (20-0-1) vs. Renee Alvarado (34-16) x10 118 lbs.: Alexander Gueche (7-0, 5) vs Vincent Avina (8-1-1) x10 147 lbs.: Joel Iriarte (7-0) vs. Yusuph Metu (11-2) x10 108 lbs.: Naomy Valle (14-0) vs. Ashley Felix (7-3) x 10 We will have more on the Paul vs. Chavez fight and the upcoming fight card as fight night nears.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford to have KO bonus after Canelo's all-time stinker against William Scull
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford faced off Friday at the kickoff press conference for their Sept. 13 showdown. The highly-anticipated Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown on Sept. 13 will be the first fight financed by Turki Alalshikh to have a knockout bonus, Alalshikh announced Friday at the kickoff press conference for the Netflix-streamed undisputed super middleweight title bout in Riyadh. The lead promoter for Alvarez vs. Crawford is Dana White and TKO Boxing — the venture formed by Alalshikh, White and WWE President Nick Khan earlier this year. White is also the CEO of the UFC, where performance-related bonuses are a regular feature. "We will not have [a fighter who is running] anymore [on our shows], this is the first thing," Alalshikh responded when asked how he plans to prevent disappointing 'Tom and Jerry' fights moving forward. Advertisement "The second [thing], we will have in [Alvarez vs. Crawford] and [future] fights, bonuses for KOs." Alvarez's most recent ring appearance was a historically dreadful bout against Cuba's William Scull. Alvarez (152) and Scull (293) combined to throw the fewest punches in a 12-round fight in the 40-year history of boxing stat-tracker CompuBox. Scull refused to fight with Alvarez, instead choosing to throw pitter-patter jabs and moving constantly. "Canelo" was forced to chase him down and push to engage, but Alvarez's 34-year-old legs did a poor job of that and it made for an abysmal watch. The night before — also on a show funded by Alalshikh — Devin Haney (224) and Jose Ramirez (279) combined to throw the fourth-fewest punches at the time in a 12-round fight, while Rolando "Rolly" Romero (280) and Ryan Garcia (210) combined to throw the third-fewest punches ever in a 12-round fight. After the back-to-back disappointing shows, Alalshikh voiced his frustration with "Tom and Jerry" fights and fighters who competed with an unentertaining style. His debuting of the knockout bonus on Sept. 13 serves as an attempt to change boxers' approaches to fights, reminding them of the need to entertain as well as win. Advertisement Alalshikh did not clarify how much the knockout bonus would be for Alvarez vs. Crawford, although the pair's combined purses for the superfight are expected to exceed $100 million. Inside the distance or not, Crawford continued to insist that he has what it takes to defeat Alvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and become the first fighter of the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three weight divisions. "For sure, the belts are coming with me, they're coming home with me. I'm telling you right now," Crawford said to Alvarez. "I know Turki is in your corner," Alvarez responded, "but look, it's going to be very difficult. [Alalshikh is] going to be so mad that day, believe me." Advertisement Alvarez and Alalshikh have had an up-and-down relationship over the past year. Alalshikh said he would crush Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga this past September with a competing event that night, UFC 306. Alvarez was not impressed by those comments and retaliated against the Saudi boxing financier. The pair, however, ultimately reconciled and agreed on a four-fight deal this past February. The second of those four bouts for Alvarez will be against Crawford in September.
