Currently, Oralbai Uulu has fought five times in the UFC, winning four of them, three of which ended early. His only loss came in a close match against Mateusz Rebecki, where one judge awarded the victory to the Kyrgyz fighter, while two others gave it to the Pole.
One of the main reasons Myktybek is not in the TOP 15 is his participation in fights across different weight classes.
- His first fight was in the welterweight division (up to 77 kg).
- The next victory over Brazilian Elves Brenner was in the lightweight division (up to 70 kg).
- The bout with Tofik Musaev took place in an intermediate weight category, as Myktybek did not make the lightweight limit.
- The fight with Hermansson also occurred in the welterweight division.
- The match with Rebecki was held in an intermediate category by mutual agreement.
This difference in weight classes hinders his advancement in the official rankings, as fights in intermediate weights do not count towards forming the list of the best fighters in a specific division.
The UFC typically does not show much loyalty to fighters who miss weight. A striking example is Charles Oliveira, who was stripped of the lightweight championship title for being 200 grams over the limit before his fight with Justin Gaethje, despite winning that bout.
Thus, the failure to make weight in the fight with Musaev became another factor holding Myktybek back in the rankings.
Although the knockout in Qatar certainly strengthened his position, it is worth noting that Hermansson was not in the top 15, meaning that a victory over him does not guarantee a spot in the rankings.
UFC rankings updates occur on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and only then will it be known whether the Kyrgyz fighter will secure a place in the top, although the likelihood of this is low.
Why didn’t Myktybek receive the $50,000 bonus?
This question is actively discussed on social media. The tournament featured many memorable performances, yet the UFC chose to reward the following fighters:
- Valdo-Cortes Acosta — knocked out the well-known heavyweight Shamil Gaziev, stepping in for the fight just three days before the tournament.
- Kyoji Horiguchi — returned to the UFC with a confident victory via submission over Tagir Ulanbekov.
- Arman Tsarukyan — easily defeated Dan Hooker, inflicting significant damage.
- Luke Riley — finished the fight with a knockout followed by ground and pound.
Fans in the comments to the official UFC post express the opinion that Myktybek deserved the bonus the most, as he knocked out a larger opponent, Hermansson, with a single strike. However, the UFC likely made a choice based on media appeal: Riley's image evokes associations with Paddy Pimblett's style, while Myktybek does not use provocations or trash talk, which diminishes his marketability.
Although Myktybek Oralbai Uulu showcases bright fights and confident victories, his advancement in the rankings is hindered by:
- irregular appearances in one weight category,
- participation in intermediate weights,
- one instance of missing weight.
If Oralbai Uulu continues to win in the welterweight division, his entry into the top 15 will only be a matter of time.
