Jeremiah Wells shocks Myktybek Orolbai with guillotine choke at UFC 330

On Saturday night, UFC 330 took place at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, drawing fans from around the world. The event featured a 12-fight card, headlined by a welterweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Ian Machado Garry. The co-main event was a women's strawweight bout between Mackenzie Dern and Gillian Robertson. The card also included several other matchups, such as Jalin Turner vs. Kaue Fernandes, Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics, Charles Johnson vs. Eduardo Chapolin, Vicente Luque vs. Tresean Gore, and Rafael Tobias vs. Lucas Fernando.

Jeremiah Wells, a 39-year-old West Philadelphia native, was the only local fighter on the main card. He faced Myktybek Orolbai in a welterweight bout. Wells entered the fight as an underdog, but he pulled off an upset by winning via submission with a guillotine choke in the third and final round. After the fight, Wells expressed his joy, saying, "I'm high off life right now. It hasn't hit me yet, and it probably won't hit me until like a week later." He also shouted out LeBron James, welcoming him to the city of Brotherly Love.

Wells' journey to the UFC was unconventional. He began training in MMA around 2010 at age 24, turned pro two years later, and made his UFC debut in 2021. Before his MMA career, he worked as a union member with IATSE Local 8, setting up events at venues like the Wells Fargo Center and the Art Museum. He had dreamed of fighting in Philadelphia, and that dream came true on Saturday night. His trainer, John Marquez, praised his grit, saying, "Wells is a dog. This fight, he's going to bring that Philly grit. Philly is different."

The atmosphere at the arena was electric, with thousands of fans attending the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday. Fans from across the country and around the world came to support the fighters. The event was seen as a natural fit for Philadelphia, known for its passionate sports fans. The success of UFC 330 may lead to more UFC events in the city in the future.

In the main event, Islam Makhachev was heavily favored to defeat Ian Machado Garry, with odds of -340. However, some analysts saw value in Machado Garry as a +290 underdog, given his size advantage and counter-punching skills. The co-main event between Dern and Robertson was also closely contested, with Robertson being undervalued for her activity and strength. The event was broadcast on Paramount+, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET.