After 80 professional MMA fights, Aleksei Oleinik is stepping into a whole new kind of war—Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). At 47 years old, the former UFC heavyweight isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet. Instead, he’s embracing an even more savage form of combat, making his bare-knuckle debut on April 4 in Dubai, as BKFC hosts its first-ever event in the UAE.
From Submissions to Slugfests
Known as “The Boa Constrictor” for his legendary submission game, Oleinik is leaving his grappling behind and stepping into a world where there’s no cage, no gloves, and no tap-outs—just fists. His first test? Gerônimo dos Santos, a 44-year-old Brazilian brawler with 71 pro fights under his belt. That’s a combined 151 fights of battle-hardened experience between these two warriors.
Despite his reputation as a submission master, Oleinik has already shown he’s more than just a grappler. He won his boxing debut with a 34-second KO and recently scored a submission victory at RCC 17 in December 2023. Now, he’s taking his striking skills to bare-knuckle warfare. His message heading into the fight? “Bone. Blood. Fist.”
Can Aleksei Oleinik ’s Experience Carry Over to BKFC?
Oleinik’s 17-fight UFC run saw him take out some of the best in the business, with seven of his nine wins coming by submission. He’s the only fighter in UFC history to pull off multiple Ezekiel chokes, a move that left even elite heavyweights tapping for their lives. His resume includes battles with Curtis Blaydes, Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Travis Browne, and Fabricio Werdum—all legends of the division.
But bare-knuckle boxing is a different beast. There’s no safety net, no grappling to fall back on, just pure stand-up combat. While Oleinik has the experience, dos Santos has the power and durability to test his chin like never before.
After 80 professional MMA fights, Aleksei Oleinik is stepping into a whole new kind of war—Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). At 47 years old, the former UFC heavyweight isn’t riding off into the sunset just yet. Instead, he’s embracing an even more savage form of combat, making his bare-knuckle debut on April 4 in Dubai, as BKFC hosts its first-ever event in the UAE.
From Submissions to Slugfests
Known as “The Boa Constrictor” for his legendary submission game, Oleinik is leaving his grappling behind and stepping into a world where there’s no cage, no gloves, and no tap-outs—just fists. His first test? Gerônimo dos Santos, a 44-year-old Brazilian brawler with 71 pro fights under his belt. That’s a combined 151 fights of battle-hardened experience between these two warriors.
Despite his reputation as a submission master, Oleinik has already shown he’s more than just a grappler. He won his boxing debut with a 34-second KO and recently scored a submission victory at RCC 17 in December 2023. Now, he’s taking his striking skills to bare-knuckle warfare. His message heading into the fight? “Bone. Blood. Fist.”
Can Oleinik’s Experience Carry Over to BKFC?
Oleinik’s 17-fight UFC run saw him take out some of the best in the business, with seven of his nine wins coming by submission. He’s the only fighter in UFC history to pull off multiple Ezekiel chokes, a move that left even elite heavyweights tapping for their lives. His resume includes battles with Curtis Blaydes, Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Travis Browne, and Fabricio Werdum—all legends of the division.
But bare-knuckle boxing is a different beast. There’s no safety net, no grappling to fall back on, just pure stand-up combat. While Oleinik has the experience, dos Santos has the power and durability to test his chin like never before.
BKFC Dubai is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cards of the year, also featuring Austin Trout defending his welterweight title against Carlos “Snake” Trinidad. The question is—can Oleinik’s decades of fight IQ help him survive the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing? We’ll find out on April 4.
