Aleksei Oleinik

Aleksei Oleinik is a Russian heavyweight and Combat Sambo master who has been one of MMA's most durable and technically proficient submission specialists for nearly three decades. Born in 1977 and turning professional in 1997, Oleinik spent much of his career compiling wins via neck cranks, chokes, and armbars across M-1 Global, Bellator, KSW, and other organizations before joining the UFC in 2014 at age 36. Despite entering the promotion late in his career, he earned the nickname "The Boa Constrictor" for his relentless grappling, accumulating 47 submission victories - the third most in MMA history.

In the UFC octagon, Oleinik became known for landing the Ezekiel choke - a rare and technically demanding submission that he executed twice in the promotion, more than any other fighter. His signature wins came against Mark Hunt (whom he submitted with a rear-naked choke), Junior Albini and Viktor Pesta (both via Ezekiel choke), and Maurice Greene (via armbar). Each of these finishes earned Performance of the Night bonuses, and his 2020 split-decision victory over Fabricio Werdum, a former heavyweight title contender, proved Oleinik could compete with elite company even in his 40s. He also became the first fighter in history to compete and secure victory in MMA bouts across four separate decades.

Oleinik's UFC tenure from 2014 to 2022 saw him face increasingly tough competition, with losses to Derrick Lewis, Chris Daukaus, Serghei Spivac, and Ilir Latifi marking a decline in results after 2020. Nonetheless, he remained active and dangerous throughout, fighting fearlessly and earning widespread respect for his technical grappling and refusal to retire despite his age. His 60-17-1 record and willingness to accept fights against anyone made him a fan favorite - a true old-school grappler who proved that submission mastery and work ethic could keep a fighter competitive well into his 40s.