Former Bellator MMA middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko got back into the win column whilst competing at an event in Omsk, Russia on Friday.
Shlemenko has competed for a plethora of promotions during his 20-year run in combat sports, but most fight fans will likely remember him from his tenure in Bellator. Debuting for the promotion in 2010, Shlemenko regularly fought inside the Bellator cage until 2018 when he exited the promotion amid a three-fight losing streak. He has since been fighting in his native Russia.
On Friday, Shlemenko stepped inside the cage once again for a scrap with former UFC standout Alex Oliveira at Shlemenko Fighting Championship 8. ‘Storm’ made quick work of ‘Cowboy,’ scoring a submission victory via guillotine choke just under the two-minute mark of the opening round.
STORM SHLEMENKO FIRST ROUND GUILLOTINE. Wow. Always had a nasty front choke. Made easy work of Brazilian Cowboy #SFC8 pic.twitter.com/RPijWfJStB
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 21, 2023
Alexander Shlemenko moved to 63-15-1 in his nearly two-decade-long career. The victory also snapped a three-fight winless skid that began in 2022.
Under the Bellator banner, Shlemenko competed against the likes of Tito Ortiz, Melvin Manhoef, and Gegard Mousasi.
His opponent, Alex Oliveira, moved to 25-15-1 in a career that began all the way back in 2011. ‘Cowboy’ debuted for the UFC in 2015 and had multiple winning streaks, but was never able to see his hand raised against some of his biggest opponents. During his tenure, Oliveira shared the Octagon with Gilbert Burns, Donald Cerrone, Carlos Condit, Gunnar Nelson, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Kevin Holland.
Oliveira exited the promotion last year after dropping four in a row with three of those losses coming by way of finish.
