Former UFC fighter Alexey Oleinik had a rough introduction to bare-knuckle fighting, suffering a first-round knockout loss to Geronimo Dos Santos at BKFC 71 in Dubai.
Known for his grappling skills, Oleinik struggled to utilize his striking against the larger Dos Santos, who had a significant weight advantage of over 30 pounds.
After a brief exchange in the clinch, Dos Santos created distance and landed a powerful right hand that struck Oleinik behind the ear, sending him crashing to the canvas.
Oleinik remained down for several minutes before eventually being helped to his feet by medical personnel.
The fight concluded at 1:49 of the first round, with Dos Santos securing a highlight-reel knockout victory.
Dos Santos, who had prior bare-knuckle experience, appears to be a strong addition to the BKFC heavyweight division, which is currently championed by another former UFC fighter, Ben Rothwell.
