The UFC planned an intriguing fight between Brazilian submission expert Fabricio Werdum and Russian submission expert Aleksei Oleinik. Unfortunately, Werdum is currently temporarily suspended pending a full investigation after an anti-doping test was flagged.
However, the league has replaced the compelling grappler vs. grappler fight with an equally compelling striker vs. grappler bout – Oleinik vs. Mark Hunt is in the works for the main event of UFC Fight Night 136, on September 15, 2018, and Olympic Stadium, in Moscow, Russia.
The news was broken by MMA Team Dagestan, and then confirmed by the extremely well connected Ariel Helwani.
https://twitter.com/MMATeamDagestan/status/999021147143528449
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Mark Hunt is in the works for the UFC’s debut event in Moscow, I’m told. UFC forced to move on after Fabricio Werdum was provisionally suspended by USADA this week. The heavyweight fight, which is scheduled to be the main event, is close to being finalized.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 24, 2018
Hunt, 44 and currently ranked #6 in the world, is 4-5-1 (1 NC) his last 10. He is coming off a decision loss to Curtis Blaydes. In the fight prior he TKOed Derrick Lewis in the Fight of the Night. He possesses some of the heaviest hands in any division, and inarguably has the most graceful walk-off KOs in the sport’s history.
Oleinik, 40 and currently ranked #9, is 5-2 in the UFC. Coming off a submission win via Ezekiel choke over Junior Albini at UFC 224, in his previous fight, he too lost to Blaydes.
