In 2022, the Boa Constrictor bid the UFC world a final adieu as he held on to a 9-8 record. However, with his personal life taking an ugly turn with a divorce and financial stress from losing funds, Aleksei Oleinik now stands at a juncture where he had to confess, “I need that money for housing. I don’t have a place to live. I’m sorry but if my leg breaks now and can’t be fixed anymore, I won’t be able to earn anything at all… I have left everything to my wife and family.” And so, at the age of 47, he entered the Conor McGregor co-owned bear knuckle FC.

The 61-18-1 MMA record holder featured in the Day 1 of BKFC71 against the Brazilian powerhouse Geronimo Dos Santos. Making his BKFC debut, the Russian entered the squared circle at Dubai Tennis Stadium. But with Dos Santos outweighing him by 30lbs, the former UFC fighter was quickly in a losing position.

In the dying seconds of the first round, Oleynik attempted a lazy parry-backhand combination. To return, Dos Santos delivered a thunderous right hand that rendered Aleksei Oleinik unconscious. With the knockout blow to Oleinik’s ear after which he knocked to the ground and could not get up for several minutes, the fight was called at 1:49 mark. And with that, McGregor, who was present in the stadium, reached out with a helping hand.

Even McGregor, usually animated and vocal ringside, was speechless—his expression frozen as medical staff rushed to the ring. At the time of writing, officials have not released an official medical update on Aleksei Oleinik’s condition. The Irishman quickly posted on his Instagram story after the bout, he wrote: “Frightening KO! Prayers for recovery.”

The former UFC fighter took it to his Instagram and posted a story where he thanked his fans in Russian. Translated message was, “Hello, everyone. Well, the fight ended a couple of hours ago. I want to say thank you very much to everyone who gave me freedom, who supported me, really felt so directly excited by the energy that helped me very, very, very, very [much]. Thank you very much for this.

“I received a lot of warm messages, wishes, and everything else. For this, I’m very grateful to you. Well, let the ill-wishers rejoice. I think I should forget the holiday on their street. Well, today you have the opportunity to sell yourself until next time. Thank you all so much. In principle, as I said, 50/50, there was a chance for two huge men of 125kg.”

Aleksei Oleinik, who was part of the UFC roster from 2014 to 2022, was attempting to rebuild his life and career through BKFC. With no official word on his fight purse, it’s unclear how financially beneficial the bout was but it can be predicted it being in Dubai might have some hefty amount. However, the question that would remain is– Was it worth it? What is clear for now is that recovery—physically and emotionally—will take time.

Still, this might not be the final chapter in the Russian’s storied career. In fact, he also signed with the new MMA league, the Global Fight League, launching next month. The Team New York City drafted him but with Friday’s bout and injuries, it will be worth noting if he returns.

With any luck, BKFC—and perhaps McGregor himself—will offer some support to the seasoned Russian veteran during this difficult period. As for ‘The Notorious‘, it appears his attention is also shifting toward the next generation, with a promising 26-year-old PFL talent quickly catching his eye.

Conor McGregor brands PFL rising superstar as the next “big thing”

Last month, even with two fights remaining on his UFC contract, Conor McGregor hinted at stepping away from MMA to pursue a future in Irish politics. Yet, regardless of whether he steps into the Octagon again, one thing remains certain—no fighter in MMA history has matched McGregor’s global influence.

Though sidelined from competition since 2021, the Irishman continues to make waves outside the cage. In 2023, he secured a game-changing equity deal in BKFC, where he’s taken on a new role as a high-profile promoter—and by all accounts, he’s thriving in it.

After recently making headlines by calling out retired MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko to join BKFC, Conor McGregor appears to have turned his attention to another potential star—26-year-old PFL knockout artist Dakota Ditcheva. The British phenom made headlines last year after capturing the PFL Women’s Flyweight Tournament title and pocketing $1 million. Since then, fans and pundits have urged the UFC to keep her on their radar. But McGregor may have other plans.

The two recently crossed paths at BKFC 71 in Dubai, marking their first-ever meeting. Cameras caught the moment McGregor approached her warmly, saying: “Dakota, a superstar, what’s up sweetheart?” After an embrace, he added: “You’re the next big thing, baby. Great to see you. You’re a strong woman, good girl. F—— awesome, great to see you, great to finally meet you. What’s the crack? What do you have up next?” To which Ditcheva replied: “I don’t know. PFL are working on something for me.”

Now shifting gears—what did you make of BKFC 71 Day 1? Is bare-knuckle the right stage for a battle-tested veteran like Aleksei Oleinik? Or would a promotion like GFL offer a better stage to honor his legacy in the heavyweight division? Let us know what you think in the comments.