Alexey Oleinik, formerly of the UFC, experienced a harsh introduction to bare-knuckle fighting. He was knocked out in the first round of his fight against Geronimo Dos Santos at BKFC 71 in Dubai on Friday.
Oleinik, known for his grappling skills, found it difficult to utilize his striking against the larger and stronger Dos Santos. Dos Santos had a significant weight advantage of over 30 pounds at the weigh-in.
Following a brief clinch, Dos Santos created space and unleashed a powerful right hand. The punch landed squarely behind Oleinik`s ear, immediately dropping him to the ground.
Oleinik remained on the canvas for several minutes. The 47-year-old Russian eventually recovered and stood with the assistance of medical staff.
The fight concluded quickly at 1:49 of the first round, with Dos Santos securing a spectacular knockout victory.
Dos Santos, who had prior bare-knuckle experience, appears to be a strong contender in the BKFC heavyweight division. Ben Rothwell, another former UFC fighter, currently holds the heavyweight title.
