The undercard of the UFC’s latest trip to Phoenix, Arizona produced a little bit of UFC history. This bit of Octagon history occurred in an exciting heavyweight bout between Russia’s Alexey Oleynik and the Czech Republic’s Viktor Pesta.
In the early moments of the first round, things were looking pretty good for Pesta, who was quickly able to secure full mount. Suddenly however, the Czech fighter was tapping, as his crafty opponent had locked him up in a rare Ezekiel choke – an extremely difficult submission to apply without a gi. It’s the first submission of its kind to occur inside the Octagon.
It is not, however, the first Ezekiel choke on Oleynik’s sprawling 62-fight record. The experienced Russian heavyweight has locked up a ridiculous ten of his 51 wins with this choke.
With this win, Oleynik rebounds from a majority decision loss to Poland’s Daniel Omielanczuk. Prior to that loss, he went 2-0 in his first two UFC bouts, taking out Anthony Hamilton with a neck crank, and Jared Rosholt with a blistering series of first-round punches. With his win in Phoenix, Alexey Oleynik extends his overall record to 51-10-1.
Pesta, on the other hand, falls onto a tough, three-fight streak, having recently come up short to Derrick Lewis, Marcin Tybura and now Oleynik. Now 10-4 overall, and a worrying 1-4 in the UFC, it’s possible that the Czech talent has fought his last fight in the Octagon. Time will tell.
Who do you want to see Alexey Oleynik fight next after this history making Ezekiel choke win? Make your voice heard in the comments section! Sound off, PENN Nation!
In the main event of UFC Vegas 6 top-10 heavyweights collide as Derrick Lewis is set to battle Alexey Oleynik. Heading into the fight, Lewis is a -200 favorite while the Russian is a +160 underdog.
A dinner order intended for UFC heavyweight contender Alexey Oleynik somehow ended up in the hands of the man he’ll fight this Saturday night, Derrick Lewis.
