Alexey Oleinik, a former UFC competitor, had a rough initiation into the world of bare-knuckle fighting when he was brutally knocked out in the first round of his bout with Geronimo Dos Santos at BKFC 71 in Dubai on Friday.
Known for his grappling expertise, Oleinik found it challenging to utilize his striking against Dos Santos, a larger and more powerful opponent who outweighed him by over 30 pounds at the weigh-in.
Following some initial grappling exchanges, Dos Santos created space and unleashed a thunderous right hand that connected with Oleinik behind the ear, sending him crashing to the canvas.
Oleinik remained on the ground for several minutes before the 47-year-old Russian was eventually able to sit up and get back to his feet with the assistance of medical personnel.
The fight was stopped at just 1:49 of the first round, with Dos Santos securing a highlight-reel knockout victory.
Dos Santos, who had previously competed in bare-knuckle fighting, made a significant statement in the BKFC heavyweight division and could become a contender for the title currently held by another former UFC fighter, Ben Rothwell.