Michal Oleksiejczuk (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) looked a bit outsized in the early going against Gian Villante (17-11 MMA, 7-8 UFC) but quickly proved he packed all the power he needed.
The light heavyweight bout was part of the main card of today’s UFC on ESPN+ 3 event at O2 arena in Prague, Czech Republic. It streamed on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2.
Oleksiejczuk came out with rapid movement from the opening bell, working laterally and looking for angles to throw. Villante was more stationary, looking to pick his shots and throw with full power. A few heavy punches found their mark for Villante, who appeared the bigger man, but Oleksiejczuk was willing to stand and engage. The courage paid off, as a vicious left hand drilled the liver underneath his opponent’s attack. Villante’s reaction was briefly delayed, but he eventually crumpled to the canvas, kneeling and covering as Oleksiejczuk moved forward, leaving referee Marc Goddard no choice but wave off the contest at the 1:34 mark of the first.
“This is my first win in a UFC fight,” Oleksiejczuk said after the win. “I’m extremely motivated. I feel very happy, looking forward already to the next fight. I’m ready to accept both upcoming events in Russia and in London. I’m hungry to fight again.
“Gian was a very tough opponent and a very strong fighter. This win was not because he was weak, but the opposite, because I’m so good and ready to prove it in the next fight. It wasn’t easy to prepare for this fight.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 3 results include:
- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Gian Villante via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:34
- Liz Carmouche def. Lucie Pudilova via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Petr Yan def. John Dodson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Klidson Farias via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Dwight Grant def. Carlo Pedersoli Jr. via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:59
- Chris Fishgold def. Daniel Teymur via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:10
- Gillian Robertson def. Veronica Macedo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:27
- Damir Hadzovic def. Marco Polo Reyes via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:03
- Ismail Naurdiev def. Michel Prazeres via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
- Diego Ferreira def. Rustam Khabilov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Damir Ismagulov def. Joel Alvarez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For complete coverage of UFC on ESPN+ 3, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
