Ex-UFC fighter Alexey Oleinik was knocked out in the first round by Geronimo Dos Santos at BKFC 71 in Dubai, struggling against the heavier opponent and succumbing to a right hand that sent him to the canvas.
Ex-UFC fighter Alexey Oleinik had a rough introduction to bare-knuckle fighting. In his bout against Geronimo Dos Santos at BKFC 71 in Dubai, he was flattened in the first round. Ouch.
Oleinik, known for his grappling prowess, found it tough to showcase his striking skills. Dos Santos, a bigger and stronger opponent, outweighed him by over 30 pounds. That’s a lot!
The fight started with some clinch exchanges. But then, Dos Santos stepped into the pocket and unleashed a fierce right hand. It landed behind Oleinik’s ear, sending him crashing to the canvas.
Oleinik lay there for several minutes. The 47-year-old Russian eventually sat up and stood with medical assistance. Tough night for him.
The fight concluded just 1:49 into the opening round. Dos Santos secured a highlight-reel knockout. Quick and brutal.
Interestingly, Dos Santos had only one previous bare-knuckle fight before this knockout. He seems like a promising addition to the BKFC heavyweight division. Another former UFC fighter, Ben Rothwell, currently holds the championship title there.
So, what’s next for Oleinik? Only time will tell if he’ll return to the ring or call it quits.