LAS VEGAS \u2013 Michal Oleksiejczuk has to give credit where credit is due.<\/p>\n
Oleksiejczuk (22-9 MMA, 10-7 UFC), one of the most prolific finishers in the UFC middleweight division, threw everything he had and more at Marc-Andre Barriault at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 266, and couldn’t add to his 80 percent finishing rate in MMA. Despite taking tons of big shots, Barriault (17-11 MMA, 6-10 UFC) never wilted and stood toe to toe for all 15 minutes of the fight.<\/p>\n
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The Polish fighter admits he was taken away by Barriault’s resistance in their Fight of the Night war.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s the most tough oppoennt of my career,” Oleksiejczuk told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the uFC Fight Night 266 post-fight press conference. “Yeah, I think that. In my past, many opponents go around the cage, no fight, they go back, and only sometimes punch. But this opponent, he go to war. It’s a real warrior. UFC loves this fight. I know.”<\/p>\n
Oleksiejczuk can’t help but tip his hat to Barriault.<\/p>\n
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“I have big respect for Marc,” Oleksiejczuk said. “I have big respect for fighters who make exciting fight.”<\/p>\n
Oleksiejczuk is now on a three-fight winning streak with two finishes and one Fight of the Night award. He’s expecting something big to come his way next, but he won’t demand anything. He fully trusts the promotion.<\/p>\n
“I think that my 90 percent fights was crazy war and I think that my boss Mick Maynard, my boss Dana White give me big fights next,” Oleksiejczuk said. “I think that I’m sure because I have a lot of fights that I take short notice, no problem, and I make a lot of crazy wars. I’m not a UFC star, but I am a UFC soldier.”<\/p>\n