Myktybek Orolbai entered UFC 330 as a 10-to-one favorite and was expected to win easily. Jeremiah Wells had other plans.
Wells, 39, submitted Orolbai with a power guillotine in the third round Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, pulling off what may be the biggest upset in the sport in 2026. According to CBS Sports, Orolbai was the largest favorite on the entire card.
The Kyrgyzstan contingent had traveled well and filled the arena with noise early. Wells' fellow Philadelphians were quieter at first, even with UFC welterweight Sean Brady visibly supporting his hometown fighter. That changed as the fight wore on.
Wells showed his knockout power early, rocking Orolbai several times in the opening minutes. But Orolbai's grappling proved superior, and he controlled much of the first two rounds. The third round pulled together both threads of the fight. Wells stunned Orolbai again with a combination. Orolbai, hurt and still confident in his takedown game, shot for the mat. Wells locked in the guillotine and choked him unconscious.
"I catch everyone with that. Even Joe Pyfer," Wells told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight. "That's my signature move."
After removing his gloves, Wells reflected on what the arena meant to him personally. He had worked inside Xfinity Mobile Arena years earlier and told UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby at some point that he would fight there one day. Saturday night, he did, and he won.
Wells indicated the victory may be his last. Without a top-15 opponent lined up, he said he sees no better moment to retire than after a win in his hometown.
The main event of UFC 330 featured Islam Makhachev defending his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry. Makhachev entered with a chance to extend his undefeated UFC streak to 17, which would break the record set by Anderson Silva. Garry, who has trained under BJJ legends Demian Maia and Charles Oliveira, was considered a credible threat to the champion's run.