The event itself was only announced last week, but the UFC’s first trip to Russia already has its main event.
An intriguing heavyweight clash between Fabricio Werdum and Aleksei Oleinik is set to headline the card on September 15th as confirmed by MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani.
This heavyweight bout is between two of MMA’s most submission-happy grapplers, sharing a combined 55 wins by submission.
Ukrainian-Russian Oleinik is coming fresh off yet another Ezekiel choke victory, this time over Brazil’s Junior Albini at UFC 224.
Meanwhile, former UFC champion Werdum will enter the Octagon coming off a loss to Russian, Alexander Volkov, by TKO at UFC London in March. Werdum is 3-2 in his last five fights.
Given his age and penchant for earning wins in the cage from rare submission holds, Oleinik is somewhat of a surprise package in the UFC, having gone 5-2 in the promotion. Meanwhile, Werdum has plenty of skills and veteran savvy to claw his way back to title contendership.
These different ingredients help create a main event which poses plenty of interesting questions.
The event will take place in Moscow’s 35,000-capacity Olimpiyskiy Arena on September 15.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® MOSCOW go on general sale Friday, June 1, via Kassir.ru.
