UFC Vegas 114: Myktybek Orolbai Dominant Against Chris Curtis
Myktybek Orolbai turned a welterweight experiment into a one-sided victory, dominating chris curtis on the ground at UFC Vegas 114 and winning a unanimous decision as the night’s featured prelim.
Fight Recap: Grappling Overwhelms the Standup
Orolbai came out fast on the feet but quickly imposed a grappling game plan, taking chris curtis down repeatedly and controlling the fight across three rounds. Early strikes included a body front kick and a partially connected high kick from Orolbai; Curtis answered with short shots as distance closed, but he could not keep Orolbai off him once the clinch and takedowns began.
The Kyrgyzstan fighter repeatedly dragged Curtis to the mat, transitioning to back mount at times, flattening the American out and landing strikes from top position. Takedowns piled up throughout the night: by the start of round three Orolbai had already broken the record for most welterweight takedowns landed in a fight and would finish with a takedown total of 19. Judges awarded Orolbai a unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three scorecards.
What This Loss Means for Chris Curtis
Known as “The Action Man, ” Chris Curtis was looking to build on a July victory over Max Griffin but was unable to find a path back to his striking or create the finish he badly needed. Curtis fought to regain position along the cage and offered moments of defensive resistance, but Orolbai’s repeated lifts and returns to the canvas kept the veteran trapped underneath and unable to dictate the pace.
Curtis entered the matchup with mixed recent form and was the betting underdog in pre-fight markets, listed at +275 while Orolbai was the favorite at -350. The loss by unanimous decision leaves Curtis to reassess after being controlled across three rounds.
Orolbai’s Rise and Immediate Consequences
With the win Myktybek Orolbai showcased an effective transition to welterweight: he is now 3-0 at 170 pounds and 5-1 overall in the UFC. His second straight dominant performance followed an earlier first-round knockout of Jack Hermansson at UFC Qatar, and his relentless wrestling on this card underscored why oddsmakers favored him coming in.
Orolbai’s takedown-heavy approach not only earned a clear decision but set a new welterweight benchmark for takedowns in a single fight. The victory cements his standing among welterweights and marks a decisive moment in his run at 170 pounds.
As the card moved on after a last-week shuffle that placed this bout on the featured prelims, Orolbai’s performance left little doubt: he controlled every phase that mattered and earned a convincing unanimous decision over a veteran opponent.
