Aleksei Oleinik, a veteran of 80 professional MMA fights, is transitioning to a new combat sports arena: Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
At 47, Oleinik is not retiring. Instead, he’s embracing a fresh challenge.
Oleinik’s career has been a global odyssey, with appearances in prominent promotions like the UFC, KSW, and Bellator. Now, he’s set to make his BKFC debut on April 4 in Dubai, marking the promotion’s inaugural event in the United Arab Emirates.
His opponent will be Gerônimo dos Santos, a 44-year-old Brazilian heavyweight with a wealth of experience, boasting 71 professional fights. Oleinik’s message of “Bone. Blood. Fist.” reflects his anticipation for the bare-knuckle challenge.
This move follows Oleinik’s submission victory at RCC 17 in December 2023. Notably, he also showcased his striking prowess with a 34-second knockout in his boxing debut, demonstrating his versatility beyond his renowned submission skills.
During his 17-fight UFC tenure, Oleinik secured seven of his nine wins via submission. This earned him the moniker “The Boa Constrictor” for his grappling expertise.
Interestingly, while he’s signed to compete for BKFC, Oleinik has also put pen to paper on a deal with the new MMA promotion, Global Fight League. He was drafted by Team New York City.
His UFC record includes unique submission victories, such as Ezekiel chokes and neck cranks. He faced a who’s who of heavyweight talent, including Curtis Blaydes, Mark Hunt, Travis Browne, Alistair Overeem, and former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum.
This event marks BKFC’s first-ever event into the Middle East, specifically in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event will be held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium. The main event features Austin Trout, the current BKFC welterweight champion, defending his title against Carlos “Snake” Trinidad.
