UFC veteran Aleksei Olenik’s head bounces off floor in brutal knockout loss against Britain’s Strongest Man winner
Former UFC star Aleksei Oleinik suffered a brutal knockout defeat in his first fight since being released by Dana White’s promotion.
The 79-fight MMA veteran returned to his native Russia for a seemingly routine match-up against an ex-UFC star who was riding a four-fight losing streak, Oli Thompson.
However, Oleinik was put to sleep when his British opponent landed a monstrous overhand right in round one to send him crashing to the canvas at REN TV Fight Club’s show in Moscow.
The 45-year-old hadn’t fought since being released by the UFC following a unanimous decision loss to Ilir Latifi at a private event attended by Mark Zuckerberg last October.
Oleinik had fallen short in four of his final five fights with MMA’s premier league but did previously enjoy better times in the UFC, beating the likes of former champion Fabricio Werdum, Ronda Rousey’s husband Travis Browne, and prolific knockout merchant Mark Hunt.
The submission specialist, who has tapped out 47 MMA opponents and won 60 fights, certainly had a better UFC career than Thompson as he suffered two defeats in 2012 before being released.
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‘Spartan’ has bounced around several promotions since his departure from the UFC but has struggled to put a real run of form together to earn another call from White.
Interestingly, before Thompson took up MMA, he held the title of Britain's Strongest Man after winning a nationwide competition in 2006.
The 43-year-old also qualified for the 2008 World's Strongest Man competition, later won by Poland's Mariusz Pudzianowski, who also went on to pursue an MMA career.
After picking up a high-profile win over a credentialed opponent, Thompson could earn a rematch with ‘Pudzian’ who beat him in 2014, when they were both just getting started in combat sports.
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Pudzianowski is set to face ex-boxer Artur Szpilka, who fight fans may remember from his clashes with Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora, on June 17.
All being well, Thompson may get the call to face the winner.
Whatever happens, the Englishman is certainly in a strong position following his viral stoppage win.