UFC on ESPN+ 32 results: Derrick Lewis finishes Aleksei Oleinik for heavyweight KO record

Derrick Lewis is the UFC’s new heavyweight knockout king.

“The Black Beast” delivered a ferocious finish of Aleksei Oleinik just 21 seconds into the second round in the UFC on ESPN+ 32 main event Saturday night.

That marks 11 knockouts in UFC competition for Lewis (24-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC), which is the most for a heavyweight. It also ties him at second overall with Anderson Silva, one behind record holder Vitor Belfort.

The bout was an intriguing stylistic matchup between Lewis, well-known for his KO ability, and Oleinik (59-14-1 MMA, 8-5 UFC), one of the greatest mat competitors in heavyweight history.

Oleinik did a better job implementing his game in the opening round, though Lewis had his moments. The Russian worked Lewis into several submission attempts, including a bulldog choke that had Lewis in deep trouble. Lewis eventually managed to escape, but Oleinik transitioned to an armbar, which he couldn’t quite straighten out before the horn sounded.

Lewis has a tendency to fall behind in his fights before making a comeback, and Saturday night was no different. Lewis came out flying at the start of the second round with a running knee which landed on the chest, then followed up with a hellacious right hand which dropped his foe. A series of ground-and-pound strikes continued until referee Herb Dean waved things off.

“It feels good, especially that he had that British bulldog, whatever the hell the head submission was he put on me pretty deep,” Lewis said. “I couldn’t breathe at all.”

Lewis has now won three consecutive fights. Oleinik had a two-fight winning streak snapped.

The heavyweight bout was the UFC on ESPN+ 32 main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It streamed on ESPN+.

Complete UFC on ESPN+ 32 results:

• Derrick Lewis def. Aleksei Olienik via knockout (punches) — Round 2, 0:21
• Chris Weidman def. Omari Akhmedov via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
• Darren Stewart def. Maki Pitolo via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:41
• Yana Kunitskaya def. Julija Stoliarenko via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
• Beneil Dariush def. Scott Holtzman via TKO (spinning back fist) – Round 1, 4:38
• Tim Means def. Laureano Staropoli via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Kevin Holland def. Joaquin Buckley via TKO (punch) – Round 3, 0:32
• Nasrat Haqparast def. Alexander Munoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Andrew Sanchez def. Wellington Turman via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:14
• Gavin Tucker def. Justin Jaynes via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 1:43
• Youssef Zalal def. Peter Barrett via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
• Irwin Rivera def. Ali Alqaisi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)