1. Aleksei Oleinik began his professional fighting career in 1997, and is a veteran of M-1 Global, ProFC and IAFC and has competed for Bellator, KSW and YAMMA Pit Fighting.
47 Facts About Aleksei Oleinik
1. 2.
Aleksei Oleinik is one of only two fighters to win a UFC fight via Ezekiel choke, and has done so twice.
3.
Aleksei Oleinik made his return to grappling in a superfight against multiple-time World Champion Gordon Ryan on December 12,2019 at Quintet: Ultra.
4.
Aleksei Oleinik originally started MMA to prove himself to be strong.
5.
Aleksei Oleinik represented Russia for the Imperial Team in the M-1 Challenge 2009 season, where he defeated Sang Soo Lee.
6.
Aleksei Oleinik fought Robin Gracie trained Spanish BJJ black belt Rogent Lloret in a fight that ended in a draw.
7.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Mike Hayes in the opening round and won the match via a split decision.
8.
Aleksei Oleinik lost via TKO, the referee stopped the fight at 0:45 of the opening round.
9.
In November 2013 Aleksei Oleinik announced that he signed a contract with the UFC, and was expected to face Jared Rosholt on January 25,2014, at UFC on Fox 10.
10.
However, Aleksei Oleinik was forced out of the bout with an injury and Rosholt was pulled from the card altogether.
11.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight via scarf hold headlock submission early in the first round.
12.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight via knockout in the first round.
13.
Aleksei Oleinik said he has no intention of retiring and expects a possible return sometime in the middle of 2016.
14.
Aleksei Oleinik next faced Daniel Omielanczuk on July 13,2016, at UFC Fight Night 91.
15.
Aleksei Oleinik next faced Viktor Pesta on January 15,2017, at UFC Fight Night 103.
16.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight in the first round via Ezekiel choke, the first in UFC history and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
17.
However, the Ezekiel choke technique was not new to Aleksei Oleinik, who had already won 12 fights by the same submission earlier in his career.
18.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Travis Browne on July 8,2017, at UFC 213.
19.
Aleksei Oleinik dropped Browne with a right hook in the first round and showed his superior grappling when he won the fight via submission, due to a rear-naked choke in the second round.
20.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Curtis Blaydes on November 4,2017, at UFC 217.
21.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Junior Albini on May 12,2018, at UFC 224.
22.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight in the first round via Ezekiel choke, marking his second win via this rare choke in the UFC.
23.
Aleksei Oleinik was briefly linked to a bout with Fabricio Werdum on September 15,2018, at UFC Fight Night 136.
24.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
25.
Aleksei Oleinik was expected to face Walt Harris on May 4,2019, at UFC Fight Night 150.
26.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Alistair Overeem on 20 April 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149, replacing Alexander Volkov.
27.
Aleksei Oleinik lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
28.
Aleksei Oleinik lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
29.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Maurice Greene on January 18,2020, at UFC 246.
30.
Aleksei Oleinik won the fight via a submission in the second round.
31.
Aleksei Oleinik was scheduled to face Fabricio Werdum on May 9,2020, at UFC 250.
32.
Aleksei Oleinik stated that he wanted a manager that would focus on all fighters, not just the top two or three fighters in their stable.
33.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Derrick Lewis on August 8,2020, at UFC Fight Night 174.
34.
Aleksei Oleinik lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
35.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Chris Daukaus on February 20,2021, at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Lewis.
36.
Aleksei Oleinik lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
37.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Serghei Spivac on June 19,2021, at UFC on ESPN 25.
38.
Aleksei Oleinik was scheduled to face Greg Hardy on January 22,2022, at UFC 270.
39.
However, Aleksei Oleinik withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Sergey Spivak.
40.
Aleksei Oleinik was scheduled to face Ilir Latifi on March 26,2022, at UFC Fight Night 205.
41.
Aleksei Oleinik won the bout via scarf hold submission in the first round.
42.
On October 10,2022, it was announced that Aleksei Oleinik was a free agent after completing his UFC contract.
43.
Aleksei Oleinik faced Oli Thompson at REN TV Fight Club: Aleksei Oleinik vs Thompson on May 26,2023, and lost via knock out in the first round.
44.
Aleksei Oleinik made his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut against Geronimo dos Santos on April 4,2025 at BKFC 71 Dubai: Day 1.
45.
Aleksei Oleinik lost the fight by knockout late into the first round.
46.
Aleksei Oleinik is a naturalised Russian citizen, and expressed support towards Russia following its 2014 military intervention in Ukraine.
47.
Aleksei Oleinik wore a shirt with Putin's face and as a result was denied entry into Ukraine.