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!
For the first time in Russia…
IT'S TIME! #UFCMoscow pic.twitter.com/7uCENVtt3T
— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2018
Sometimes I get anxious about things not moving fast enough, then I see a vet like Mark Hunt out there doing his thing looking spry at 44. #UFCMoscow
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 15, 2018
Hunt is eating up Olenik's lead leg with heavy, heavy kicks. #UFCMoscow
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) September 15, 2018
Mark Hunto stops fighting hands for a sec and gets tapped. 🙁 #UFCMoscow pic.twitter.com/jn0uaDfCgo
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) September 15, 2018
Damnnn mannnng! That was a fast ass tap. I was hoping to see the 2nd RD and a vintage walkoff KO! #UFCMoscow
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 15, 2018
Olynik with the sub. Wow! #UFCMoscow
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) September 15, 2018
Congrats to @oleynikufc on his big main event win today in Russia.
— Tony Martin (@tmartinmma) September 15, 2018
Decent fights but those McGregor dolly bus commercials are gross and kinda ruined it for me. I’d rather watch dom punch a rug. #UFCMoscow
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 15, 2018
Who's next for @OleynikUFC after #UFCMoscow? pic.twitter.com/GknkCDz3hR
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 15, 2018
That was fucking unbelievable. Never in his whole career. Absolutely insane. This man can choke anyone and anything. #UFCMoscow
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) September 15, 2018
Well, we knew on the ground he was in trouble. Great finish by Alexey
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) September 15, 2018
That is Oleynik's 45th career submission. #UFCMoscow
— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) September 15, 2018
