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UFC on ABC 8's Myktybek Orolbai promises to deliver 'big surprise'

UFC on ABC 8's Myktybek Orolbai promises to deliver 'big surprise'

USA Today19-06-2025

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."

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