UFC on ESPN 40 Prelims: Michal Oleksiejczuk Eviscerates Strugglin’ Sam Alvey

Michal Oleksiejczuk came here for a good time not a long time 👊 #UFCVegas59 pic.twitter.com/4GgcUQNwM1

— UFC (@ufc) August 7, 2022

Sam Alvey might have trouble smiling after this one.

Ankos MMA rep Michal Oleksiejczuk announced his arrival in the Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight division and did so with violent delight, as he battered, bloodied and buried “Smile’n Sam” with punches in the first round of their featured UFC on ESPN 40 prelim on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Now 0-8-1 across his past nine outings, Alvey (33-18-1, 10-13-1 UFC) checked out 1:56 into Round 1.

Oleksiejczuk (17-5, 5-3 UFC) had the former Maximum Fighting Championship titleholder on his heels from the outset. He floored Alvey with a ringing overhand left and moved to the mounted crucifix before unloading with punches and elbows. Oleksiejczuk stepped up the assault with his opponent turtled, then reset on the feet after sprawling on an attempted takedown. Not long after, the Pole floored Alvey with a straight left to the chin and prompted referee Herb Dean to act.

Battle Kick Freezes Sato

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 29 winner Bryan Battle wiped out Takashi Sato with a frightening head kick in the first round of their welterweight affair. Sato (15-6, 2-4 UFC) collapsed to the canvas supine and motionless, absorbing a few follow-up punches before referee Mark Smith could arrive on the scene and dust for prints 44 seconds into Round 1.

Battle (8-1, 3-0 UFC) bided his time and waited for his opening. He fired the head kick behind a straight right hand, as shin met skill with a sickening thud. Sato, 32, remained motionless for several tense moments, having suffered his first knockout loss in nearly seven years.

The 27-year-old Battle will carry a seven-fight winning streak into his next assignment.

Related » UFC on ESPN 40 Round-by-Round Scoring

McKenna Choke Subdues Granger

Team Alpha Male prospect Cory McKenna submitted former Cage Fury Fighting Championships titleholder Miranda Granger with a shoulder choke in the second round of their women’s strawweight tilt. McKenna (7-2, 2-1 UFC) sealed the deal 63 seconds into Round 2, winning for the fifth time in six appearances.

Granger (7-3, 1-3 UFC) failed to exploit her height and reach advantages. McKenna, 23, struck for multiple takedowns in the first round, passed guard with ease and threatened with a late arm-triangle choke. Granger unraveled quickly in the second. She surrendered another takedown and elected to cling to an ill-advised guillotine with McKenna in side control. Soon after, the Von Flue choke brought their confrontation to a close.

Winless since Aug. 3, 2019, Granger has lost three fights in a row.

Silva Armbar Dismisses Egger

Mayra Bueno Silva submitted Buddy Gym export Stephanie Eggar with an armbar in the first round of their women’s bantamweight pairing. Egger (7-3, 2-2 UFC) conceded defeat 1:17 into Round 1, though she did so away from the view of referee Chris Tognoni. After he polled the cageside judges, Tognoni indicated the Swiss judoka did indeed tap.

Silva (9-2-1, 4-2-1 UFC) landed a front kick to the face during one of their initial exchanges but wound up pinned to the canvas after her counterpart executed a head-and-arm throw. Egger scored with a few short hammerfists and elbows, only to leave her left arm exposed. Silva snatched the limb, went belly down with the maneuver and released the Swiss judoka when she felt the tapout.

The 30-year-old Silva has recorded back-to-back wins.