TLDR
- Jack Hermansson is moving to welterweight for the first time in his 33-fight MMA career at UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025
- The 37-year-old middleweight veteran has alternated wins and losses for his last 10 fights at 185 pounds
- Hermansson will face Myktybek Orolbai, who is moving up from lightweight after missing weight twice
- The Norwegian fighter has never restricted calories while training before and describes the weight cut as difficult
- Fighting in Qatar provides a travel advantage with only a two-hour time difference from his home in Norway
Jack Hermansson will step into the octagon at a new weight class this weekend. The 37-year-old UFC veteran is dropping from middleweight to welterweight for the first time in his professional career.
Hermansson faces Myktybek Orolbai at UFC Qatar on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar. The fight marks a turning point for the fighter known as “The Joker” after 18 fights at 185 pounds in the UFC.
The decision comes after Hermansson suffered a knockout loss to Gregory Rodrigues at UFC 317 in June 2024. However, he says the move is not just a reaction to that defeat.
“I misread his punch and got caught, but I still think I prepared well for that fight,” Hermansson told reporters. He believes he could have performed better if the fight had continued longer.
The Norwegian fighter has struggled with consistency at middleweight. He has alternated between wins and losses for his last 10 UFC fights, a pattern that began after his main event victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in spring 2019.
Hermansson’s record at middleweight shows he has beaten less experienced fighters and former welterweights. Bigger and stronger opponents have typically handed him losses.
People have suggested the weight cut throughout his career. “People have been telling me ‘Try welterweight’ my whole career, but I said ‘No, I’m big enough, I’m good enough, I’m strong enough,'” Hermansson explained.
The Weight Cut Challenge
The move to 170 pounds has required major changes to Hermansson’s routine. He has never restricted calories while training before now.
“I’ve never had to restrict calories while training before. I’m used to eating whatever I want,” Hermansson said. “Now I’m suffering, and someone is going to have to pay for it.”
Despite the difficulty, Hermansson feels confident about making weight. He acknowledges this first cut is a learning process and believes he can do it better in future fights.
His opponent Orolbai is also changing weight classes. The fighter is moving back up to welterweight after competing at catchweight in his last two bouts when he missed the lightweight limit.
Travel Advantages
Fighting in Qatar provides Hermansson with a rare home advantage. The location offers only a two-hour time difference from Norway, compared to the nine-hour difference when fighting in Las Vegas.
“Last week I had great training, and if I would have travelled to the States, that week would have sucked,” Hermansson explained. Most UFC events take place in the United States, making American fighters’ travel much easier.
Hermansson holds an undefeated record in four previous Middle East appearances. His only UFC fight in the region was a first-round submission win over Kelvin Gastelum.
The UFC has not held an event in a Nordic nation since September 2019. That event in Denmark saw Hermansson lose to Jared Cannonier in the main event.
Hermansson believes the physical advantages will favor him at welterweight. “I think there is a reach advantage, and when it comes to the grappling, he’s not gonna be the bigger, stronger guy,” he said about Orolbai.
The veteran fighter enters UFC Qatar as a slight underdog at +165 odds. He views this as his last chance to make a real run in the UFC at age 37.
This will be Hermansson’s second fight of 2025. He has dealt with injuries, including back problems, that limited his activity in recent years. The quick turnaround represents a return to more frequent competition.
Hermansson will know after the fight whether the weight class change was the right decision. He plans to evaluate his performance at welterweight before deciding whether to stay at 170 pounds or return to middleweight.
The main card at UFC Qatar features a lightweight main event between Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker. Belal Muhammad faces Ian Machado Garry in the co-main event welterweight bout. Prelims start at 10 a.m. ET with the main card beginning at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
