Aleksei Oleinik
Active 2016–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 80.0
Scouting report
Becoming the only competitor in UFC history to finish opponents with the Ezekiel choke inside the Octagon, doing so twice against Viktor Pesta and Junior Albini, Aleksei "The Boa Constrictor" Oleinik built a reputation across a four-decade combat career. Hailing from Kharkiv, Ukraine, Oleinik's submission repertoire spans more than seventy professional bouts, validated by a 93 BJJ and 85 Strength, driving his 80 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
The Boa Constrictor made UFC history between 2016 and 2017, scoring the first Ezekiel choke submission in UFC history against Viktor Pesta in Phoenix, and submitting Travis Browne with a rear-naked choke at UFC 213 in Las Vegas. His trademark Combat Sambo submission wizardry, Ezekiel choke threat from bottom, and durable looping hooks are reflected in a 92 BJJ and 76 Boxing.
In 2018, Oleinik scored his second UFC Ezekiel choke against Junior Albini in Rio de Janeiro and submitted former title challenger Mark Hunt with a first-round rear-naked choke in Moscow, before dropping bouts to Alistair Overeem and Walt Harris. His technical submission grappling and veteran clinch work anchor his 93 BJJ and 76 Boxing.
Oleinik submitted Maurice Greene with an armbar at UFC 246 in Las Vegas and defeated former champion Fabricio Werdum by split decision at UFC 249 in Jacksonville. His submission threat, choke versatility, and veteran toughness justify his 92 BJJ and 75 Boxing ratings.
Aleksei Oleinik, the sambo veteran who chokes big men
Aleksei Oleinik has fought professionally since 1997, and his grappling comes from combat sambo and traditional Japanese jujutsu. He won the absolute division at an Eddie Alvarez grappling event in 2011 and a black belt no-gi division at Beast of the East that year. He debuted in the big promotion in 2014 with a scarf-hold submission of Anthony Hamilton.
Oleinik, attribute by attribute
Boxing. 76. He dropped Travis Browne with a right hook in 2017 before submitting him.
Kickboxing. His lowest number at 64, 14 points below his wrestling.
Wrestling. 78. His submission wins came from several positions, including a scarf hold, an Ezekiel from mount and a rear-naked choke.
BJJ. 93, the reason for the whole card. He won with an Ezekiel choke over Viktor Pesta in 2017 from full mount and over Junior Albini in 2018.
Strength. 85. He forced Mark Hunt into a rear-naked choke in 2018.
Durability. 82. He has fought professionally since 1997 and won a fight in the big promotion in 2020.
Cardio. 78. Pesta, Albini, Hunt and Vanderaa all ended in the first round.
Fight IQ. 85. He is one of two fighters with a win by Ezekiel choke in the big promotion, and he has done it twice.
BJJ at 93, and the Ezekiel is the calling card
His BJJ is 93 on his best card, the biggest number he has. He won with the Ezekiel choke over Viktor Pesta in 2017 and again over Junior Albini in 2018, and he choked Mark Hunt in 2018 for a Performance of the Night bonus. He also beat Travis Browne by rear-naked choke in 2017.
He does not want to kick: Kickboxing at 64
Kickboxing is 64, by far the lowest on his card. Walt Harris knocked him out in 12 seconds in 2019, and Overeem and Derrick Lewis stopped him on the feet. It is 29 points below his BJJ.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Aleksei Oleinik, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueirabest bjj 94 · weakest kickboxing 70
- Frank Mirbest bjj 94 · weakest kickboxing 74
- Antonio Silvabest strength 90 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Gabriel Gonzagabest bjj 88 · weakest cardio 76
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Aleksei Oleinik's strongest attribute, BJJ.
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Aleksei Oleinik is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Aleksei Oleinik's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.