UFC on ESPN+ 18 results: Ovince Saint Preux does it again, taps Michal Oleksiejczuk with Von Flue choke

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Ovince Saint Preux did it again. He earned the sixth Von Flue choke in UFC history against Michal Oleksiejczuk on Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 18, four of which he’s executed, himself.

After enduring a heavy onslaught of offense, Saint Preux (24-13 MMA, 12-8 UFC) found a way to get Oleksiejczuk (14-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) to the ground in the second round and lock in what he’s made his signature technique to finish the fight.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 18, which took place at Royal Arena and streamed on ESPN+.

Oleksiejczuk came out of the gate searching for the chin of Saint Preux, and found great early success doing so. He clipped Saint Preux with multiple clean shots, including one that dropped the man who once fought for an interim UFC belt. Saint Preux’s durability kept him in it, though, and he managed to absorb everything Oleksiejczuk threw his way.

Going into the second round, it seemed Saint Preux may have had something up his sleeve. He discretely whispered something into the ear of his coach, which he later revealed was the feeling he could get the fight to the ground and work his way. Oleksiejczuk’s pace was clearly slowed after a high-output first round, and that’s when Saint Preux waited for his moment to get on top. It didn’t take long for him to advance position, and that’s when he began to set up the choke.

Saint Preux sunk the technique in, and after a brief struggle from Oleksiejczuk, forced the tap at the 2:14 mark of the second round.

“I took him down, passed his guard and he just put his hands where they needed to be,” Saint Preux said after the win. “He gave me what I needed.”

The loss snapped a two-fight skid for Saint Preux, who also tied records for most finishes and submissions in UFC light heavyweight history with his victory.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN+ 18 results include:

Ovince Saint Preux def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via submission (Von Preux choke) – Round 2, 2:14 Nicolas Dalby def. Alex Oliveira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) John Phillips def. Alen Amedovski via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:14 Makhmud Muradov def. Alessio Di Chirico via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Ismail Naurdiev def. Siyar Bahadurzada via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26) Giga Chikadze def. Brandon Davis via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Lina Lansberg def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) Marc Diakiese def. Lando Vannata via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) Jack Shore def. Nohelin Hernandez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:51