Michal Oleksiejczuk started off his middleweight career in spectacular fashion at UFC Vegas 59.
The Polish fighter cemented a first-round knockout with a brutal finish over Sam Alvey to cap off the prelims at the UFC Apex. The end came thanks to a devastating straight left hand delivered by Oleksiejczuk as Alvey went crashing to the canvas and referee Herb Dean waiving off the fight at just 1:56 in the opening round.
” That’s how I feel. I’m here to win,” Oleksiejczuk said. I’m here for the knockout. That the way of the fighting that I want to show in the UFC and the fans.”
As he tried to get a quick finish for his debut at middleweight, Oleksiejczuk was aggressive from the beginning. Almost as if he had no fear of reprisal, Oleksiejczuk was head hunting while walking Alvey down and pushing back towards the cage.
The first huge shot landed with Oleksiejczuk unloaded a massive overhand left hand that blasted Alvey and sent him crashing down to the canvas. Oleksiejczuk tried to finish the job but couldn’t get it done because blood was already flowing from Alvey’s cut.
In survival mode, Alvey managed to get back to his feet but he was still wobbled from the damage done and he never really got a chance to recover with Oleksiejczuk refusing to give him a second to breathe.
With Alvey backing up again, Oleksiejczuk threw a right hand with a left behind it that came down the pipe on a laser as he cracked The Ultimate Fighter veteran with another punch that put him on the canvas.
That was enough for the referee to stop the fight before Alvey absorbed any more punishment.
The victory serves notice that a new threat has arrived at middleweight with Oleksiejczuk’s arrival but the fight was also the last time Alvey will compete in the octagon.
Prior to Saturday night, the UFC allowed Alvey to finish his current contract with just one bout remaining despite going 0-7-1 in his past eight outings. Alvey now officially becomes a free agent after he was knocked out in round one.
