Former UFC fighter Aleksei Oleinik is knocked out by Mondragon in bare-knuckle boxing. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/bareknucklefc
Aleksei Oleinik, a veteran of 80 MMA fights and former UFC heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg), was knocked out in his debut at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) this Friday (4), in Dubai. At 47 years old, the Russian naturalized Ukrainian faced Brazilian Gerônimo dos Santos, 'Mondragon', at the Dubai Tennis Center, but could not resist his opponent's blows and the fight ended in the first round.
Oleinik, who left the UFC in 2022 after 17 fights in the organization, had surprised the sports world in September 2023 by winning his professional boxing debut with a knockout in 34 seconds.
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The transition to BKFC, which promised bare-knuckle fighting and aggressive rules, seemed like a risky gamble for a submission specialist — 48 of his 61 MMA wins have come by submission, including two rare Ezekiel chokes in the Octagon.
Against Mondragon, an opponent with 71 fights under his belt, the Russian was unable to replicate his initial success in boxing. At 44 years of age, the Brazilian took advantage of his experience in high-impact fights to control the pace and finish the fight with precision.
THAT WAS WILD. # BKFC71 | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/yhzluvfMRR
- Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) April 4, 2025
Former UFC fighter Aleksei Oleinik has been struggling financially
The BKFC defeat comes amid a delicate phase in Oleinik's personal life. In an interview with Russian channel Match TV, the fighter revealed that he lost "everything he had" after a messy divorce, including properties, jewelry and even three Rolex watches. The critical financial situation led him to seek new opportunities in violent sports, despite concerns about his health and advanced age.
“She filed for divorce, and I begged for six months to save the family. I transferred all the assets to her, but I never received a ‘thank you’,” he said.
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