Last September, the UFC made its first trip to Russia, bringing a 12-fight card to the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, with heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik garnering his first main event assignment since signing with the company.
A veteran of more than 60 professional bouts, “The Boa Constrictor” had headlined events in Russia in the past, but getting the opportunity to do so on the biggest stage in the sport, on a historic card in Moscow, against a legend like Mark Hunt, meant a great deal to the 41-year-old fighter.
And Oleinik delivered on fight night.
After joking with reporters about being unable to use his signature Ezekiel choke on “The Super Samoan” because, as Oleinik put it, “(Hunt) has no neck,” the Russian grappling ace found an alternate submission that worked against Hunt, as he took his back and forced him to tap out to a rear naked choke in the waning moments of the opening round.