Latest news with #MyktybekOrolbai
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
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."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in UFC on ABC 8 debut
Tofiq Musaev enters his UFC on ABC 8 debut with a more decorated resume than most newcomers, but he knows stepping into the octagon is something unto itself. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who won the 2019 Rizin FF lightweight grand prix and has beaten the likes of Patricky Freire, Johnny Case and Sidney Outlaw, will test himself against the 155-pound roster in the UFC starting with Saturday's matchup against Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+). Advertisement "It's a dream of all fighters to be fighting in the UFC," Musayev said through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC on ABC 8 media day. "It's a different level of course. I feel very lucky that I'm ere. I have fought in different organizations but this is a unique one. I have prepared well and I am going to represent my country with pride. I have prepared specifically for my opponent." Although Musayev has proven himself to be high level, there's speculation about whether, at 35, he's coming into the shark tank of the UFC's lightweight division too late to rise to the top. Only time will tell, but he intends to give it his best shot. "Age is just a number for me," Musayev said. "If anyone thinks otherwise, they shouldn't even be competing in the UFC." Advertisement "I'm focused on my opponent and later on I will focus on the next steps. This fight will determine what the next fights will be." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Baku: RIZIN vet Tofiq Musayev ready for 'different level' in debut
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former RIZIN, Bellator star Tofiq Musyaev signs with UFC for debut vs. Myktybek Orolbai
Former RIZIN, Bellator star Tofiq Musyaev signs with UFC for debut vs. Myktybek Orolbai Former RIZIN and Bellator star Tofiq Musayev is headed to the UFC. His debut is already set, and it'll be in his home country. Musayev (22-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will take on Myktybek Orolbai (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a three-round lightweight bout at UFC on ABC 8. The event takes place June 21 at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. Musyaev, 35, has not competed since November 2023. He rose to notoriety in RIZIN with five straight wins, including a tournament championship. In the final, he defeated Patricky Freire. After a loss to Roberto de Souza, Musayev signed with Bellator and went 1-1 under the promotion's banner. Following the Bellator-PFL merger, Musayev returned to RIZIN and won back-to-back fights. He then signed with GFL, but the MMA league never got off the ground. Orolbai, 27, aims to bounce back from a carnage-filled war vs. Mateusz Rebecki in October. The bout earned Fight of the Night and saw both men bloodied and battered. Orolbai lost a split decision, which marked his first UFC defeat. His first two UFC fights were wins vs. Uros Medic and Elves Brener. Current UFC on ABC 8 lineup
