Rivaly Discussion by Olejnik on RCC 17
Fightin' Words from Oleinik Ahead of RCC 17
Veteran Russian MMA heavyweight, Alexei "Udaloy" Oleinik, gearing up for his co-main event showdown at RCC 17 (December 15, Yekaterinburg), shares his thoughts on his replacement opponent, Fernando Rodriguez. Originally scheduled to face off with British fighter Oliver Thompson, Thompson had to bow out due to injury, and Brazilian Rodriguez (12-9) stepped in to take his place. Oleinik lost to Thompson via first-round knockout back in May at the "Boevoy Klub REN TV" tournament and was hoping for a rematch.
Oleinik, 60-17-1, offers a jovial appreciation for Rodriguez, having trained alongside him at a US gym while competing in the UFC:
"I've got nothing but love for this big, inked-up hunk of a man (Rodriguez is 36). I've got no beef with him except for the fact that we've trained together at American Top Team. I ain't a fan of fighters I've shared the mat with there. Nearly every one of 'em came asking me for help defending against jiu-jitsu. I've always spilled the beans, no holds barred. Everything else is just peachy. I'm in prime shape and rarin' to throw down."
The marquee event of RCC 17 will see a much-anticipated rematch between popular Russian middleweight Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko (62-15-1) and Serbian "Joker" Alexander Illiche (15-5). The two fought at RCC 12 (February 26, 2022), with Illiche delivering a surprise first-round technical knockout to Shlemenko.
Background Check:- Alexei Oleinik has carved out a legacy in MMA's heavyweight division, earning acclaim for his submissions, particularly the Ezekiel choke. Throughout his career, he has competed in various organizations, including the UFC, where he amassed numerous accolades like "Performance of the Night" awards and Ezekiel choke records[1].
- American Top Team (ATT) is a well-known fight gym with an impressive roster of fighters. There is no specific information to confirm Oleinik's training at ATT, but it is common for fighters to train at different gyms over the course of their careers.
- Fighters like Oleinik generally recognize the challenges of facing well-trained opponents from reputable gyms like American Top Team. His concise thoughts on this matter, however, are not detailed in the available data.
- Fernando Rodriguez is a mystery at this time, with no specific information linking him to Oleinik or his training at American Top Team.
- Alexei Oleinik, despite his friendly feelings towards Fernando Rodriguez, admitted that he doesn't appreciate competing against fighters he's trained with at American Top Team.
- Oleinik and Rodriguez have crossed paths at American Top Team, a noteworthy fight gym where they have both trained, although there's no official confirmation on Oleinik's tenure there.
- In contrast to his positive outlook towards Rodriguez, Oleinik seems to harbor some reservations about facing opponents he's trained with at American Top Team.
