In a highly anticipated REN TV event, longtime UFC veteran Aleksei Oleinik faced off against Oli Thompson. Oleinik was hoping to regain his momentum after parting ways with the UFC.
However, the bout took an unexpected turn, resulting in a memorable knockout loss for the 45-year-old veteran.
Inside the Dynamo Volleyball Arena in Moscow, Russia, Thompson wasted no time in asserting his dominance. With just 37 seconds remaining in the first round, he caught Oleinik off guard with a powerful right hand that left him knocked out.
The sight of ‘The Boa Constrictor’ falling back and his head bouncing off the ground sent a chilling ripple through the crowd.
The knockout defeat against Thompson dealt a significant blow to Oleinik’s career. Once a formidable UFC heavyweight contender, he had achieved an impressive record of six wins in his first eight Octagon appearances.
However, his fortunes took a downturn, with six losses in his subsequent eight, culminating in a unanimous decision loss to Ilir Latifi in October 2022, leading to his departure from the promotion.
This recent loss against Thompson raises questions about Oleinik’s future and suggests that his MMA days may be nearing their end.
Meanwhile, Thompson’s victory over Oleinik marked a triumphant comeback after a string of four losses. The English star, who made his UFC debut in 2012, faced setbacks against Shawn Jordan and Phil De Fries before parting ways with the promotion. Since then, he has competed in various organizations worldwide, claiming the heavyweight title in FEN, Road FC, Ultimate Challenge MMA, and Inoki Genome Federation throughout his impressive 37 bout long career.
However, the past two and a half years have been challenging for Thompson, as he struggled to secure a win, experiencing four consecutive losses, three of which ended inside the distance.
Fortunately, his recent victory over Oleinik, highlighted by a knockout, has rejuvenated his career and reignited hopes for future success.
As both continue on their respective paths, only time will reveal whether Thompson can once again ascend to the heights of securing a heavyweight title in one of the world’s prominent MMA organizations.
For Oleinik, it remains uncertain whether he will choose to retire or strive for redemption in his journey. Oleinik was known as a submission specialist so he can always use that to his advantage and parttake in grappling matches.
Oleinik even competed against ADCC winner Gordon Ryan at one point and received more respect than most when it comes to his specialty finish.