Chris Curtis Slams Opponent for ‘No Intention’ to Fight at UFC Vegas 114
LAS VEGAS – Chris Curtis expressed his frustration following a dominant performance by Myktybek Orolbai at UFC Vegas 114 on . Orolbai controlled the fight with a relentless grappling attack, securing 19 takedowns and over 12.5 minutes of control time, while Curtis landed just 12 significant strikes.
Curtis didn’t mince words when sharing his initial reaction on Facebook, describing the bout as “as fun as a wet fart in church.” He acknowledged a clean bill of health and a strong training camp, but ultimately attributed the result to a lack of engagement from his opponent. “Sorry guys. Physical therapy went well. My knee held up. I had a great camp. No excuses. Just a s— night and a s— fight. Man had really good grip strength and it’s incredibly hard to fight a man that has no intention of being in a fight,” he wrote.
This isn’t the first time Curtis has publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with an opponent’s approach. In , a tense exchange followed his fight against Jack Hermansson, where Hermansson utilized a point-fighting style to secure a decision victory. Curtis has consistently demonstrated a willingness to openly discuss his concerns about the competitive dynamic in his fights.
The fight against Orolbai marks a challenging moment for Curtis, who previously expressed frustration with a controversial stoppage in his January bout against Roman Kopylov at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas. In that fight, Curtis protested the referee’s decision to stop the contest with just one second remaining in the third round, a result that saw Kopylov win by knockout. That fight was later recognized as the #15 Best MMA Fight of the Year for 2025 and the #53 Best MMA Knockout of the Year 2025.
Kopylov defeated Curtis via head kick at 4:59 of the third round, a finish that was initially met with protest from Curtis. The Tapology fight center details the bout as lasting 14 minutes and 59 seconds in total. At the time of the fight, Kopylov was considered a moderate favorite with betting odds of -230, while Curtis was a slight underdog at +185.
The contrast between these two recent fights highlights a recurring theme in Curtis’s career: a willingness to engage in striking exchanges and a frustration when opponents prioritize avoiding those exchanges. Orolbai’s strategy of repeatedly securing takedowns and maintaining control on the ground effectively neutralized Curtis’s striking advantage.
Orolbai’s performance at UFC Vegas 114 also drew attention for coming close to breaking Khabib Nurmagomedov’s takedown record. While the record remained intact, Orolbai’s 19 takedowns demonstrated a clear grappling focus and a strategic approach designed to exploit Curtis’s vulnerabilities.
Born in , Roman Kopylov, currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He began his martial arts journey at the age of nine, nurtured by parents who were both former athletes. Kopylov is a five-time world champion in hand-to-hand combat sambo, and holds degrees in economics and physical education from Kemerovo State University and Novokuznetsk Institute.
Curtis concluded his post-fight message with a note of resilience, stating, “Got some thinking to do and some stuff to figure out. But, I walked out with no physical damage at all, just my pride really hurt. Thanks for the love and support. We’ll witness where we go from here.” This suggests Curtis intends to reassess his strategy and potentially adjust his approach to future matchups.
The outcome of the fight leaves questions about Curtis’s path forward in the welterweight division. While his striking prowess remains a significant asset, he will need to address his susceptibility to grappling-heavy opponents to achieve consistent success. The UFC Vegas 114 fight serves as a stark reminder of the importance of a well-rounded skillset in the modern mixed martial arts landscape.