Michael Oleksiejczuk has made quite a wave in the UFC. In his stint so far, ‘Hussar’ has fought in two weight classes being impressive in both, win or lose. This is because he is one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion, who goes for the knockout from the moment the first bell is rung.

However, this fighting style has also seen him be more vulnerable, which has led to some tough losses for him. But, the Pole is a true warrior who has never let that stop him from going all out every time. In this article, we take a look at Michal Oleksiejczuk’s martial arts background and training situation.

Michal Oleksiejczuk’s gym in Poland: Who are his teammates?

Michal Oleksiejczuk started his sporting journey playing handball as a teenager. By the time he was 22, the Leczna native had found, fallen in love with, and made the transition to MMA, turning pro in 2014. Since then, he has been a veritable knockout artist, with an over seventy percent knockout rate!

And to help him be the best version of himself has been his gym and coaches. The UFC star trains in his native country of Poland, and was previously affiliated with the Akademia Sportow Walki Wilanow in the capital city of Warsaw, he now has a new stomping ground.

In 2022, ‘Hussar’ changed gyms and has been with Andrzej Koscielski-led Ankos MMA in Poznan’s picturesque Western Polish town. While Koscielski is the head coach at the Lubon gym, Lukasz Rajewski shoulders the responsibility of striking coach, with BJJ coach Maciej Glabus sharpening the fighters’ ground game.

There, he trains with the likes of ex-UFC fighter Makhmud Muradov, and Polish MMA stars like Piotr Kuberski, Bartosz Szewczyk, and Krystian Głażewski. However, ‘Hussar’ is one of a kind, a true warrior, as he proved even in a loss to Kevin Holland.

Michal Oleksiejczuk’s coach talks about his UFC 302 injury

Because of his exciting, bar-brawler, throw-everything-at-the-sink fighting style, it is no wonder the UFC matched ‘Hussar’ up with some top contenders in the middleweight division. Since 2023, Michal Oleksiejczuk has fought two ranked opponents: Brazilian dynamo Michel Periera, and striking maestro Kevin Holland (who is ranked at welterweight but has moved to middleweight for now). However, the Leczna native lost both fights and is currently on a two-fight skid because of it.

Pereira, a fellow showman, putting his BJJ black belt to full use, submitted ‘Hussar’ with a rear naked choke hold in the first minute of the first round of their UFC 299 clash in March 2024. At UFC 302 three months later, Oleksiejczuk lost to Kevin Holland, who put him in a solid armbar in the first round. The referee, Herb Dean, worried his arm might snap, called off the bout, handing the Pole his second consecutive loss of 2024.

After the loss, however, the Pole was visibly distraught and has protested the stoppage ever since, claiming that he was willing to really get his arm broken rather than tap! “I feel good. My mental health is OK. My arm is not broken… I didn’t tap. My arm is not broken. I felt great in this fight. This stoppage is not good. It’s not correct, in my opinion,” ‘Hussar’ said in an interview following the Holland loss.

‘Hussar’ was even mulling appealing the decision to the Athletic Commission to have his loss overturned at one point! However, he chose not to do so but feels he was hard done by the referee’s decision nonetheless. What are your thoughts on Oleksijczuk’s technical submission loss to Holland?