As Aleksei Oleinik‘s bare-knuckle boxing debut went horribly wrong, Conor McGregor had only one request for fans—and it wasn’t to buy whiskey or tune into a fight. ‘The Boa Constrictor,’ a longtime UFC grappling specialist, entered BKFC 71 hoping to put his skills to the test but instead was dealt a terrifying knockout. After watching the veteran’s catastrophic loss in Dubai, McGregor, clearly upset by what he witnessed, let his emotions speak for themselves as he asked his fans for a favor.

“Frightening KO! Prayers for recovery,” McGregor wrote in his Instagram story with a video of Oleinik’s brutal fall. The post was not one with sarcasm or ego; instead, it was a genuine expression of compassion from one fighter to another. 47-year-old Aleksei Oleinik, who once shocked UFC fans with neck cranks and Ezekiel chokes, was welcomed to bare-knuckle fighting by a thunderous overhand right from Gerônimo dos Santos.

The blow hit clean behind Oleinik’s ear, and he fell on the mat. He remained down for several minutes, barely moving, as emergency personnel ran in to check on him. Dos Santos, who outweighed Aleksei Oleinik by more than 30 pounds, looked like a wrecking ball from the start. The fight was officially called at 1:49 in the first round, but the damage was already done.

What’s more, Oleinik was not the only UFC vet to come up short at the sold-out Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai on Friday. The unbeaten Sabah “The Sleek Sheik” Homasi took on the debutant Jonny “El Toro” Tello in a five-round middleweight slugfest. Homasi started strong but Tello came from behind with a pair of knockdowns to take home the win with a unanimous decision (48-45 x2, and 47-46). But this one was not as painful to watch as Oleinik’s loss.

‘The Boa Constrictor,’ a veteran of Octagon conflicts, is now being asked if he should ever return to the ring. And, as fans discussed his future, Conor McGregor cut through the clamor with a simple but effective reminder: respect the fight, and say a prayer when it gets too intense. However, it is also worth noting that one of the primary reasons why the Irishman might’ve been asking fans to pray can also be because of the 47-year-old’s mental health and personal battle. While fans question whether he should still continue fighting, many would be surprised to know that Aleksei Oleinik never wanted to fight this battle in the first place. So, why did he?

Aleksei Oleinik reveals the reason behind fighting in the Conor McGregor-led promotion

It turns out that Conor McGregor’s prayer wasn’t just for the knockout; it may have been for everything around it. Because, as savage as the blow was, the truth of Aleksei Oleinik’s life off-camera is far more devastating. This wasn’t the kind of fight you take because you want to, but because you have to. While fans debate whether the 47-year-old should finally retire, Oleinik is already aware of the answer. He just doesn’t have the luxury to act on it.

Before walking into the BKFC ring, Oleinik told Sport24 that he no longer wanted to fight. “My psychological resources are depleted,” he admitted. “I don’t want to, and I can’t.” But, following a divorce he didn’t choose and financial difficulties he didn’t anticipate, the man known for squeezing out giants is now choked by life. His health is deteriorating, and his motivation has faded, but the bills continue to arrive. So, in his own words, he’s selling his body for survival, piece by painful piece.

Following the loss, Oleinik rushed to Instagram to thank fans for their words of kindness. He remained modest, even humorous, stating, “Well, today you [haters] have the opportunity to celebrate—until next time.” But there’s grief between the lines, a quiet scream from a man who once owned a Florida estate and now fears becoming homeless. He’s no longer seeking belts; he’s after something much simpler: a roof over his head. And perhaps that’s what Conor McGregor saw behind the knockout and the story. Perhaps it is why he invited us to pray through his Instagram. So, what do you think? Will the Irishman also offer some help to his fellow fighter in need? Let us know in the comments.