Pros React to Aleksei Oleinik’s Shocking Defeat of Mark Hunt at UFC Moscow

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Oleksiy Oliynyk (Aleksei Oleinik) UFC
Aleksei Oleinik Credit: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

Mark Hunt was the favorite heading into the UFC Moscow main event against Aleksei Oleinik. If Oleinik was to win, a submission was expected — but few saw him rocking Hunt, then taking him down and securing a rear-naked choke before the end of the first round.

Mark Hunt returned to the octagon at UFC Moscow, looking to bounce back from a loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 221 earlier this year. Hunt was filling in for Fabricio Werdum, a former opponent who the Kiwi fighter ripped into during Fight Week after Werdum was handed a two year suspension for doping.

His opponent Aleksei Oleinik, meanwhile, was actually the younger fighter Saturday, a relatively youthful 41 years old to Hunt’s 44. Yet Oleinik’s experience, with over 50 fights, and prowess on the ground, could not be denied. ‘The Boa Constrictor’ had proven able to choke just about anyone out. And Saturday night in Moscow, the UFC’s debut in Russia, it was no different. A veteran himself, Hunt found himself caught by a punch. Still in it, but Oleinik quickly took him down, took the back, and tapped him out. A rear-naked choke secured under Hunt’s ample neck.

“I got caught. That’s this business, you win, you lose,” Hunt said after the fight. Oleinik, meanwhile, was open to fighting anyone moving forward, as long as they were ahead of him in the standings.

Check below to see the pros react to the UFC Moscow main event!

 

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