Former UFC heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik put down by Oli Thompson right hand

Aleksei Okeinik is a lot of fun, as one of the most well-travelled veterans of heavyweight MMA today. His signature Ezekiel choke submission is one few fighters have ever hit; he pulled it off twice in the UFC alone. But after watching this brief encounter with journeyman and fellow UFC vet Oli Thompson, “The Boa Constrictor,” who calls Florida home, may want to call it a career.

Oli Thompson destroys Alexey Oleynik with a massive right hand in the first round pic.twitter.com/AdWy25dQxR

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 26, 2023

Mark Coleman announces Celebrity Boxing match

Speaking of things we did not want to see: UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman has announced he’s signed on for a celebrity boxing match. No opponent has been named; the bout will take place in October, consisting of three two-minute rounds.

😞 https://t.co/egWNhq72Y2 pic.twitter.com/Q7PBvpLoqk

— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) May 26, 2023

At least we know it’s not Jake Paul. Yes, beating elderly MMA stars is basically his blueprint, but Paul is otherwise occupied with Nate Diaz.

Coleman, for the record, is 58, and has had to overcome serious health issues over the years.

Poirier picks winner in McGregor vs. Chandler

Dustin “The Diamond” Porier has weighed in on who he sees winning when Conor McGregor throws down with Michael Chandler.

Having shared the cage with both men, Poirier is perhaps better suited than anyone to break down the fight. The former interim lightweight champ submitted Chandler in November, and is 2-1 in his career series with McGregor — though the second win came via injury TKO when McGregor broke his leg in the rubber match of their trilogy.

The world has waited nearly two years for “The Notorious” to make his return, which appears to be lined up for later this year. And should McGregor return to form, Poirier believes he can stop Chandler.

“I think that if Conor comes back anything like he was with his timing and rhythm, with the injury that he had and this long of a layoff, and we’re not getting any younger either — if he comes back similar to who he was before he left, I think he stops Michael Chandler,” Poirier recently predicted on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour (h/t MMA Fighting).

“If Conor is who he was before the injury and stuff, I think two rounds — I think the fight’s over in two rounds.”

The Ultimate Fighter 31, featuring McGregor and Chandler as coaches, kicks off on May 30.

Rigged? Latest Aleksander Emelianenko fight looks awfully fishy

Claims of “rigged” fights in MMA are almost always made by fans unhappy with the outcome of a given match-up. Actual bout fixing is incredibly rare, mainly because it’s a) extremely hard to pull off and b) not lucrative enough to risk jail time over.

Of course, things operate a little different in Russia, where things like law, order, and not invading your neighbor do not apply. And so we present (h/t Al Zullino) Emelienenko versus some Russian vlogger, who appears to have a TKO win, then backs off and lets the contest continue. Aleksander goes on to win by submission in a fight that should in no way be counted on his official record.

This is the same card as the Oleinik fight.

So, this just happened in Russia.

A vlogger TKOs Aleksander Emelianenko, the ref steps in and stops the fight. But the vlogger says "Nah, why? Let's keep it on!", then shots and takedown and gets submitted?

Couldn't have been more fixed.

(h/t @pelunaton pic.twitter.com/vZMKtwZkgX

— Al Zullino (@phre) May 26, 2023

Ivan Emelianenko debuts

With Fedor retired and brother Aleksander clearly a living joke, the youngest Emelianenko brother, Ivan, made his pro debut this past week. Fighting on the same card as brother Aleksander, his finish at least looks legit, if sloppy. Judge for yourself.

Ivan Emelianenko def. Alexei Ledenev by unanimous decision. Successful MMA debut for the mysterious third Emelianenko brother. pic.twitter.com/6vimXNRsWw

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) May 26, 2023

Nothing is over!

Nothing is over! Nothing. You just don’t turn it off!

Seems like Alex Pereira will do whatever it takes to continue his rivalry with Israel Adesanya, despite moving up to 205lbs. Including siding with the rival to Israel Adesanya’s rugby team.

Alex Pereira visited Israel Adesanya’s rival rugby team pic.twitter.com/BxeQF6OipR

— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) May 26, 2023

Sam Alvey returns to win column in heavyweight debut

Sam Alvey has a reason to smile again. The former UFC middleweight moved to heavyweight over the weekend, competing at a B2FS event that aired on Fite.tv. “Smile’n” Sam was successful in that debut, finding the TKO finish in the third.

The victory over Cameron Graham was Alvey’s first since 2018. He finished his UFC run on an unheard of 0-8-1 run.

😁 @smilensam is successful in his heavyweight debut getting the 3rd round TKO finish over Cam Graham at #B2FS183.

[ Streaming LIVE on #FITE 🔴 https://t.co/2MEwQun58y ] pic.twitter.com/p88Iql9vvY

— TrillerTV (@Triller_TV) May 28, 2023

Li Kai Wen dazzles as part of Road to UFC 2

ONE Championship tournament winner Li Kai Wen pulled off this stunning elbow strike KO as part of Road to UFC 2 on Saturday. If you missed it, the tournament has returned, with quarterfinal action unfolding over the weekend in Shanghai. Catch up on UFC Fight Pass.

This was one of a number of explosive finishes across the four-episode opening round.

There have been some seriously good finishes on #RoadtoUFC2 so far, but THIS ONE takes the cake.pic.twitter.com/gzxdFOHDN5

— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 27, 2023

The post Sunday MMA Quick Hits: Rigged Russian Fight? Plus Alvey Wins Heavyweight Debut appeared first on Cageside Press.

Just over two years after his retirement from mixed martial arts, Gabriel Gonzaga made his return to the sport that made him famous. The former UFC title challenger took on the other Emelianenko, Aleksander, at a Russian Cagefighting Championship event in Yekaterinburg, Russia on Saturday. It wasn’t a great night in the end for ‘Napao’ as the Brazilian wound up submitted in the second round by Emelianenko.

You can check out the finish below.

https://twitter.com/Jolassanda/status/992821128447102981

Gonzaga had taken a professional boxing match during his hiatus from MMA, which he won several months back. Getting the better of Aleksander Emelianenko was a different story. While Gonzaga would manage to get the Russian to the ground and get in top position, he couldn’t find a submission or get off enough ground and pound to neutralize his foe. And on the feet, Emelianenko was lighting him up along the fence.

Where Gonzaga goes from here is anyone’s guess. He’s 1-5 in his last six fights, with the previous five coming in the UFC, to fighters including Derrick Lewis, Mirko Cro-Cop, and Stipe Miocic. His name still carries value, but whether he chooses to stick around for further paydays remains to be seen.

Aleksander Emelianenko, meanwhile, remains perfect since being released from prison after a rape conviction. He has now won four straight.

Also on the RCC card Saturday, standout Russian heavyweight Ivan Shtyrkov and Brazil’s Geronimo dos Santos fought to a draw in the co-main event.

The post Gabriel Gonzaga Finished in MMA Return by Aleksander Emelianenko appeared first on Cageside Press.