Myktybek Orolbai destroys Hermansson with vicious KO

Jack Hermansson’s attempt to reinvent his career at welterweight came to a crashing halt Saturday afternoon at UFC Qatar when Myktybek Orolbai delivered a devastating first-round knockout that left the veteran fighter unconscious on the canvas at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.

A risky gamble goes wrong

Hermansson, who spent the past decade as a fixture in the UFC’s middleweight division, decided to drop down to 170 pounds for the first time to close out his 2025 campaign. The move represented a significant risk for the veteran fighter, who hoped a fresh start at welterweight might provide new opportunities and matchups to extend his UFC career.

UFC matchmakers presented an immediate challenge by pairing Hermansson with Orolbai, a dangerous up-and-coming fighter known primarily for his grappling prowess and relentless pressure. While some observers believed Hermansson possessed enough experience and skill to make a meaningful run at welterweight despite the difficult debut opponent, those hopes evaporated quickly once the fight began.

The brutal ending

Orolbai surprised many by keeping the action standing in the early moments rather than immediately pursuing takedowns. He used his striking to back Hermansson along the cage, setting up the fight-ending sequence that would leave fans stunned.

With Hermansson’s back against the fence and his defensive positioning compromised, Orolbai uncorked a powerful right hand that pierced through Hermansson’s guard. The punch connected flush, immediately shutting off Hermansson’s lights and sending him crashing to the canvas completely unconscious.

The impact of Hermansson’s head slamming off the canvas made the knockout even more brutal to witness. Orolbai managed to land one additional punch before the referee arrived to stop the contest, though Hermansson was clearly already knocked out cold from the initial right hand.

Empty tank revealed

The quick finish exposed harsh truths about where Hermansson stands at this stage of his career. Many wondered if the veteran fighter had enough left in the tank to compete at a high level, even with the advantages that moving to a lighter weight class might provide. Saturday’s result answered those questions emphatically and unfortunately for Hermansson.

The knockout represented another brutal finish for Hermansson, who has now suffered multiple devastating losses in recent years. These accumulating knockout defeats raise serious concerns about his ability to continue competing safely at the highest level of mixed martial arts.

Orolbai makes a statement

While Orolbai entered the fight primarily known for his grappling skills and grinding style, his striking performance against Hermansson demonstrated additional dimensions to his game. His willingness to keep the fight standing and hunt for the knockout showed confidence in his hands that opponents may have previously overlooked.

The victory represents a significant moment for Orolbai’s career trajectory. Defeating a veteran name like Hermansson, even one potentially past his prime, provides legitimacy and should earn Orolbai a step up in competition for his next welterweight assignment.

Questions about Hermansson’s future

The manner of the defeat leaves Hermansson facing difficult decisions about his fighting future. Another brutal knockout loss adds to the cumulative damage he’s absorbed throughout his career and forces honest conversations about whether continuing to compete makes sense from both a health and competitive standpoint.

At 37 years old, Hermansson may need to seriously evaluate whether pursuing fights at welterweight or any other weight class remains viable. The speed and power disadvantage he faced against a younger, fresher opponent like Orolbai suggests the physical decline that affects all aging fighters has caught up with him.

UFC Qatar main card action

The Hermansson knockout provided one of several exciting finishes on the UFC Qatar card streaming live on ESPN Plus. The event featured lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker clashing in the five-round main event, with significant divisional implications on the line.

The co-main event showcased welterweights Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry battling for potential title shot positioning. Additional featured bouts included a light heavyweight showdown between Volkan Oezdemir and Alonzo Menifield, plus a heavyweight collision featuring Serghei Spivac and Shamil Gaziev.

What comes next

For Orolbai, the impressive knockout should earn him a ranked welterweight opponent in his next appearance. His combination of grappling skills and newly demonstrated knockout power makes him a dangerous matchup for anyone in the division’s top 15.

Hermansson faces a much more uncertain future. Whether he attempts another welterweight fight, returns to middleweight, or considers retirement altogether remains to be seen. The concerning nature of Saturday’s knockout and his recent string of brutal finishes suggest taking time away from competition to evaluate all options would be prudent.

The UFC Qatar event continues demonstrating the promotion’s commitment to international expansion, bringing high-level fights to the Middle East and showcasing both established veterans and rising prospects on the same card.

Orolbai slept him BAD #UFCQatar pic.twitter.com/7G60jfLHW0

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) November 22, 2025