Lightweight brawlers Mateusz Rebecki and Myktybek Orolbai collided in one of the best (and bloodiest) three-round fights of the year earlier today (Sat., Oct. 26, 2024) at UFC 308 live on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
On paper, this was one of the more intriguing fights on UFC 308’s stacked card. Rebecki was coming off a surprising TKO loss to Carlos Diego Ferreira his last time out, but he’s one of the more physical imposing fighters at 155 pounds. He did enter Saturday’s “Prelims” fight as a sizeable betting underdog, but fight fans knew this lightweight scrap would be closer than that.
The action start early and fast. Orolbai only knows one speed and kept plodding forward no matter what Rebecki threw his way. In fact, a collection of jabs from Rebecki badly bruised and completely closed Orolobai’s eye, but the surging lightweight prospect kept pushing forward. That made for an incredible first round.
After a competitive and non-stop second round, Rebecki and Orolbai turned in a third round for the ages. In the opening minute of the round Rebecki caught Orolbai with a clean punch that knocked him to the canvas. Rebecki followed up with an onslaught of ground-and-pound and bloody combinations along the cage that would have ended almost anyone else. Luckily for fight fans, Orolbai kept fighting and the referee allowed the action to continue.
Moments later, Orolbai recovered from the punishment and flipped the script on a tired Rebecki. Orolbai started to tee off with some ground-and-pound and solid punches in the clinch as the crowd roared on. Rebecki dug deep and returned fire to keep Orolbai at bay. Both fighters were gushing blood, but they lasted to the final bell while swinging punches and trying to score the last blow.
It was an incredible fight that left half the Octagon covered in red. In the end, Rebecki was able to walk away with the split-decision win. Check out the insane action below:
OROLBAI’S EYE #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/98G7oGX3WR
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 26, 2024
A big shot from Mateusz Rebecki
This fight has been WILD! #UFC308
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi| @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/vrM29ndhN4
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024
HOW IS THIS FIGHT STILL HAPPENING #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/Nq0us2lbCi
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 26, 2024
WHAT A FIGHT ??
Myktybek Orolbai and Mateusz Rebecki did not disappoint #UFC308 pic.twitter.com/gverANcNS6
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 26, 2024
WHAT A FIGHT @RebeckiMateusz gets the Split Decision win at #UFC308!
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi| @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/trCdPzCIvb
— UFC (@ufc) October 26, 2024
For complete UFC 308 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.