Myktybek Orolbai met Jack Hermansson in a welterweight bout on the main card of UFC Fight Night 265: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker on November 22, 2025, at the Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Both men were competing in new weight classes—Orolbai moved up from lightweight, while Hermansson made his first appearance at welterweight. Orolbai made an emphatic statement, scoring a first-round knockout at 2:46 with a perfectly timed overhand right.
The opening minute was a cautious battle for range. Hermansson, holding a significant height and reach advantage, worked behind a long jab and front kicks, looking to establish distance while testing Orolbai’s reactions. Orolbai remained patient, constantly moving his head and feinting level changes to keep Hermansson guessing. Although Hermansson briefly controlled the center of the Octagon, Orolbai’s speed and explosive footwork made it difficult for the veteran to settle into his preferred striking rhythm.
As the round progressed, Orolbai increased the pressure. He mixed quick body shots with feinted takedown attempts, forcing Hermansson to lower his hands and hesitate before throwing combinations. Hermansson attempted to answer with straight punches and knees up the middle, but Orolbai consistently slipped outside the center line and looked for opportunities to counter over the top.
Just before the halfway point of the round, Hermansson stepped forward behind a jab-right hand combination. Orolbai anticipated the attack, slipped the jab, and launched a crushing overhand right that landed flush on Hermansson’s jaw. The punch instantly dropped the Swedish veteran to the canvas. Orolbai followed with several accurate ground strikes as Hermansson attempted to recover, prompting the referee to intervene at 2:46 of Round 1, awarding Orolbai the victory by KO (punch).
The performance highlighted Orolbai’s evolution as a complete mixed martial artist. Known primarily for his relentless wrestling and grappling, he demonstrated patience, timing, and knockout power by capitalizing on Hermansson’s forward movement. Rather than forcing takedowns, Orolbai trusted his striking and delivered one of the most impressive knockouts of his UFC career.
For Hermansson, the defeat marked a difficult start to his move down to welterweight. Despite showing disciplined movement early, he was unable to cope with Orolbai’s speed and explosive counters, suffering his second consecutive knockout loss.
The victory improved Orolbai’s standing among the UFC’s top welterweight contenders and established him as a legitimate threat in his new division. His spectacular first-round finish was one of the standout performances of UFC Fight Night 265 and further enhanced his reputation as one of the promotion’s fastest-rising prospects.