Fighter portrait

Michal Oleksiejczuk

Middleweight
Record Record: 22-10-0
Wins
22
Losses
10
Draws
0
16KO/TKO
1Sub
5Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age
31
Height
6′0″1.83 m
Reach
74″188 cm
Weight class
Middleweight
Nationality
Poland
Team
The Fighting Nerds
Active
2014-present

Record

Tap expandable fights for their breakdowns.

LossRecord after fight: 22-10-0SUB
Opponent: Abus Magomedov, their record after the fight: 29-7-1guillotine chokeR1 3:25

Magomedov hurt Oleksiejczuk on the feet and scored a knockdown. The knockdown created the opening to attack on the mat. Magomedov locked the guillotine and forced the tap at 3:25 of round one.

Key moments

  • Magomedov hurt Oleksiejczuk on the feet and dropped him.
  • The knockdown gave Magomedov the opening to chase the neck on the mat.
  • Magomedov finished with a guillotine choke at 3:25 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 22-9-0DEC
Opponent: Marc-Andre Barriault, their record after the fight: 17-11-0unanimousR3 5:00
UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira
7 Feb 2026

Oleksiejczuk was technical and smooth in the first round, but Barriault answered by forcing close-range exchanges in the second. They exchanged advantages again in the third before Oleksiejczuk's work across the three rounds earned a unanimous decision.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk opened with combinations and body work while looking for an early finish.
  • Barriault answered in the second by crowding the exchanges and bringing the fight level.
  • Both men had successful moments in the third before the bout went to the judges.
  • All three judges scored the fight 29-28 for Oleksiejczuk.
WinRecord after fight: 21-9-0TKO
Opponent: Gerald Meerschaert, their record after the fight: 37-20-0punchesR1 3:03
UFC 319
16 Aug 2025

Oleksiejczuk overwhelmed Meerschaert with a first-round barrage, proving his left hand was still plenty when he can force opponents to trade with him instead of tie him up.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk never allowed Meerschaert to settle into a grappling-based approach.
  • The left hand remained the fight-changing weapon throughout the opening round.
  • He closed the show by TKO at 3:03 of round one.
  • The win made it back-to-back stoppages after the Dumas finish.
WinRecord after fight: 20-9-0TKO
Opponent: Sedriques Dumas, their record after the fight: 10-3-0punches and elbowsR1 2:49
UFC 314
12 Apr 2025

Oleksiejczuk blitzed Dumas from the start and never let the fight stabilize, forcing a first-round TKO at 2:49.

Key moments

  • He forced the fight into Oleksiejczuk's preferred pace immediately.
  • Dumas never got a calm range-finding round to work with.
  • Oleksiejczuk finished with punches and elbows at 2:49 of round one.
LossRecord after fight: 19-9-0DEC
Opponent: Shara Magomedov, their record after the fight: 14-0-0unanimousR3 5:00
UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov
3 Aug 2024

Oleksiejczuk pushed Magomedov in a short-notice Abu Dhabi co-main event, but he still came out on the wrong side of a unanimous decision after fifteen hard minutes. The fight earned Fight of the Night, which fit the performance even if it did not give Oleksiejczuk the reset he needed after the Holland and Pereira losses.

Key moments

  • The fight came together on short notice and still produced a full three-round battle.
  • Oleksiejczuk made it physical enough to earn post-fight bonus recognition.
  • Magomedov's cleaner work over fifteen minutes carried the decision.
LossRecord after fight: 19-8-0SUB
Opponent: Kevin Holland, their record after the fight: 26-11-0armbarR1 1:34
UFC 302
1 Jun 2024

Oleksiejczuk nearly had Holland hurt early, but the fight flipped the moment he followed him to the mat and let the grappling exchange develop. Holland trapped the arm, kept adjusting the position, and forced the technical submission when Oleksiejczuk refused to tap.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk's early pressure nearly produced a dramatic opening-round finish.
  • The fight changed as soon as the scramble hit the mat and Holland isolated the arm.
  • Holland kept turning the angle until the armbar was fully extended.
  • The technical submission came at 1:34 of round one after visible damage to Oleksiejczuk's arm.
LossRecord after fight: 19-7-0SUB
Opponent: Michel Pereira, their record after the fight: 30-11-0rear-naked chokeR1 1:01
UFC 299
9 Mar 2024

Pereira shut the fight down almost immediately with body work, then pounced on the opening once Oleksiejczuk was hurt and scrambling. The finish was fast and ugly, with Pereira taking the back and forcing the choke before Oleksiejczuk could establish any of his usual pressure.

Key moments

  • Pereira mixed stance switches with early kicks and punches to the body.
  • A hard shot to the midsection visibly hurt Oleksiejczuk and led to follow-up knees.
  • Pereira jumped on the back as the fight hit the floor.
  • The rear-naked choke ended the bout at 1:01 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 19-6-0TKO
Opponent: Chidi Njokuani, their record after the fight: 22-10-0punchesR1 4:16
UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie
26 Aug 2023

Oleksiejczuk had to survive a brutal early scare, but once the fight turned chaotic he was far more comfortable in the brawl than Njokuani.

Key moments

  • Njokuani rocked him early with a head kick that could have ended a lesser fighter's night.
  • Oleksiejczuk fired back instead of retreating and dragged the fight into a slugfest.
  • Oleksiejczuk closed with rapid ground-and-pound at 4:16 of round one.
LossRecord after fight: 18-6-0SUB
Opponent: Caio Borralho, their record after the fight: 14-1-0rear-naked chokeR2 2:49
UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón
29 Apr 2023

Oleksiejczuk started well on the feet, but Borralho's counters and grappling pressure changed the fight as it stretched on. Once Borralho got the fight down in round two, he advanced quickly, took the back, and finished the choke cleanly.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk landed sharp body shots and left hands in the opening round.
  • Borralho answered with knees, uppercuts, and late grappling control.
  • A well-timed takedown in round two shifted the fight decisively.
  • Borralho secured back control and ended it by rear-naked choke at 2:49 of round two.
WinRecord after fight: 18-5-0KO
Opponent: Cody BrundagepunchesR1 3:16
UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland
17 Dec 2022

Brundage had real early success wrestling, but Oleksiejczuk only needed one reversal to make the fight his. From top position he unloaded so hard that the control battle turned into a sudden stoppage within seconds.

Key moments

  • Brundage scored multiple early takedowns and tried to keep Oleksiejczuk grounded.
  • Oleksiejczuk had to defend through fence-grab warnings before the position changed.
  • He reversed from bottom to top and immediately opened up with punches and elbows.
  • The stoppage came at 3:16 of round one once Brundage stopped responding consistently.
WinRecord after fight: 17-5-0TKO
Opponent: Sam AlveypunchesR1 1:56
UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill
6 Aug 2022

Oleksiejczuk's move to middleweight started exactly the way he wanted, with immediate pressure and a violent first-round finish. He hurt Alvey early, reset when the first swarm did not end it, then went back to the body and detonated the left hand that closed the show.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk opened aggressively and knocked Alvey down with a heavy left hand.
  • Alvey briefly survived the first rush and even tried to wrestle his way back in.
  • Oleksiejczuk returned to the body to reopen the damage.
  • The final left hand finished the bout at 1:56 of round one.
LossRecord after fight: 16-5-0DEC
Opponent: Dustin Jacoby, their record after the fight: 17-5-1unanimousR3 5:00
UFC 272
5 Mar 2022

Oleksiejczuk had a strong opening round built on pressure and body punching, but Jacoby settled in and won the last ten minutes with cleaner damage and better control. By the end it was one of those fights where Oleksiejczuk's fast start was not enough once the opponent adjusted.

Key moments

  • Jacoby was warned after poking the same eye twice during the fight.
  • Oleksiejczuk did some of his best work in round one by forcing Jacoby backward.
  • Jacoby badly hurt him in round two with a heavy punching-and-knee sequence.
  • Round three leaned Jacoby's way as he used clinch work and cage control to close out the decision.
WinRecord after fight: 16-4-0TKO
Opponent: Shamil GamzatovpunchesR1 3:31
UFC 267
30 Oct 2021

Once the uppercut landed cleanly, the fight was effectively over and the follow-up swarm finished the job.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk kept forcing Gamzatov backward and stuffing early takedown looks.
  • The left hand to the body was a major part of his pressure game all round.
  • A sharp uppercut broke Gamzatov's stance late in the round.
  • Oleksiejczuk finished with punches at 3:31 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 15-4-0DEC
Opponent: Modestas Bukauskas, their record after the fight: 11-4-0splitR3 5:00
UFC 260
27 Mar 2021

Bukauskas did a lot of the cleaner outside work early, but Oleksiejczuk kept chasing and made the final round ugly enough to steal the fight on the cards. His body attack mattered most late, especially once Bukauskas started to slow under the pressure.

Key moments

  • Bukauskas had success at range with jabs, counters, and front kicks to the body.
  • Both men had moments landing cleanly in the first round.
  • Oleksiejczuk's left hand and body work improved as the fight wore on.
  • A late liver shot in round three helped him surge to the split decision.
LossRecord after fight: 14-4-0SUB
Opponent: Jimmy CrutekimuraR1 3:29
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker
23 Feb 2020

Crute's wrestling dictated the entire fight and never gave Oleksiejczuk enough space to build a striking rhythm. After a series of takedowns and mat returns, Crute isolated the arm from top control and finished the kimura in the opening round.

Key moments

  • Crute landed takedowns almost immediately and kept forcing Oleksiejczuk back to the mat.
  • Oleksiejczuk stood up more than once but could not stay free for long.
  • Another slam and top-position reset put Crute back in control.
  • The kimura finish came from side control at 3:29 of round one.
LossRecord after fight: 14-3-0SUB
Opponent: Ovince Saint PreuxVon Flue chokeR2 2:14
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier
28 Sep 2019

Oleksiejczuk had a very good first round on the feet, but the entire fight turned when he chased a guillotine during Saint Preux's takedown in round two. OSP used that mistake to lock up his trademark Von Flue choke and steal the finish.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk did strong body work in round one and had Saint Preux backing up.
  • Saint Preux was warned for extended fingers during the fight.
  • Oleksiejczuk tried to attack a guillotine instead of abandoning the position.
  • Saint Preux countered directly into the Von Flue choke and finished at 2:14 of round two.
WinRecord after fight: 14-2-0KO
Opponent: Gadzhimurad AntigulovpunchR1 0:44
UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik
20 Apr 2019

This was one of Oleksiejczuk's fastest UFC wins, lasting only forty-four seconds before Antigulov was finished. He landed clean almost immediately, swarmed when Antigulov dropped, and never gave the referee a reason to wait.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk found the target within the opening exchanges.
  • A right hook was the turning shot that started the collapse.
  • A follow-up uppercut connected as Antigulov fell.
  • Ground punches ended the fight at 0:44 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 13-2-0TKO
Opponent: Gian VillantepunchesR1 1:34
UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos
23 Feb 2019

Oleksiejczuk's speed advantage showed right away against Villante, who struggled to keep him in front of him for clean exchanges. The finish came when a brutal body punch forced Villante to a knee and the follow-up punches closed the fight quickly.

Key moments

  • Oleksiejczuk was beating Villante to the spot with footwork and quick angles.
  • Villante had trouble matching the pace of the early exchanges.
  • The decisive body shot folded Villante before he could recover.
  • Oleksiejczuk finished the sequence at 1:34 of round one.
NCRecord after fight: 12-2-0NC
Opponent: Khalil Rountree Jr.overturnedR3 5:00
UFC 219
30 Dec 2017

Oleksiejczuk originally left the cage with a unanimous decision win after weathering Rountree's early offense and doing some of his best work late, especially with third-round top control.

Key moments

  • Rountree started fast with kicks and looping punches in the first round.
  • Oleksiejczuk settled the fight down and made the second round much more attritional.
  • A third-round takedown and top work helped him win the in-cage decision.
  • The result was later changed from a win to a no contest by commission ruling.
WinRecord after fight: 12-2-0KO
Opponent: Riccardo NosigliapunchesR1 1:40
Fight Exclusive Night 17
12 May 2017
WinRecord after fight: 11-2-0KO
Opponent: Charles AndradepunchR1 1:58
Thunderstrike Fight League 11
1 Apr 2017

Oleksiejczuk defended the TFL light heavyweight title with another first-round knockout, stopping Andrade before the fight reached the two-minute mark. It was one more short, violent finish in the regional title stretch that set up his UFC move.

Key moments

  • The bout was a TFL light heavyweight title defense.
  • Oleksiejczuk finished the fight by punch at 1:58 of round one.
  • The matchup carried main-event billing on the card.
WinRecord after fight: 10-2-0TKO
Opponent: Łukasz KlingerpunchesR1
Thunderstrike Fight League 10
19 Nov 2016

Oleksiejczuk made another successful TFL light heavyweight title defense by stopping Klinger in the first round.

Key moments

  • This was another defense of his TFL light heavyweight belt.
  • Oleksiejczuk got the stoppage before the fight reached round two.
  • The finish is consistently recorded as a first-round TKO by punches.
  • The event took place on the TFL 10 card in Lublin.
WinRecord after fight: 9-2-0DEC
Opponent: Wojciech JanuszunanimousR3 5:00
Fight Exclusive Night 12
20 May 2016

The decision win matters mostly because it showed he could still bank rounds when the knockout did not come early.

Key moments

  • The fight went the full three-round distance.
  • Oleksiejczuk won a unanimous decision after fifteen minutes.
  • The bout took place at FEN 12 in Wrocław.
WinRecord after fight: 8-2-0SUB
Opponent: Łukasz Borowskirear-naked chokeR2 3:39
Thunderstrike Fight League 8
16 Jan 2016
WinRecord after fight: 7-2-0KO
Opponent: Michal Dobiaškick to the bodyR2
Wenglorz Fight Cup 6
26 Sep 2015
WinRecord after fight: 6-2-0KO
Opponent: Andrejs ZozuljapunchesR1
Wenglorz Fight Cup 6
26 Sep 2015
WinRecord after fight: 5-2-0TKO
Opponent: Tomasz JaniszewskistrikesR2 4:38
Thunderstrike Fight League 7
2 May 2015
WinRecord after fight: 4-2-0TKO
Opponent: Seweryn Kirschhiebelcorner stoppageR2 2:25
Thunderstrike Fight League 6
24 Jan 2015

Oleksiejczuk wore Kirschhiebel down over two rounds and forced the stoppage from the corner rather than from the referee in open action.

Key moments

  • The bout reached the second round before the finish materialized.
  • The official method is a corner stoppage at 2:25 of round two.
  • Oleksiejczuk's pressure built steadily rather than ending the fight in one exchange.
  • The win came on another TFL regional card in Poland.
LossRecord after fight: 3-2-0TKO
Opponent: Marcin WójcikpunchesR1 2:12
PLMMA 44
21 Nov 2014
WinRecord after fight: 3-1-0TKO
Opponent: Norbert Piskorskileg injuryR1
Thunderstrike Fight League 5
20 Jun 2014
LossRecord after fight: 2-1-0SUB
Opponent: Jan Kwiatońtriangle chokeR1 1:53
Thunderstrike Fight League 4
17 May 2014
WinRecord after fight: 2-0-0DEC
Opponent: Mateusz GolaunanimousR3 5:00
Tymex Fight Night
8 Feb 2014
WinRecord after fight: 1-0-0DEC
Opponent: Rajmund FlejmerunanimousR2 5:00
Vale Tudo Cup 1
11 Jan 2014

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Michal Oleksiejczuk began directly in MMA, drawn by a passion for the sport. Oleksiejczuk won all 18 amateur fights and held the Thunderstrike Fighting League light heavyweight championship. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, Oleksiejczuk also enjoys fishing, historical books and helping parents on the family farm.