Michal Oleksiejczuk before UFC on ABC 7: Shara Magomedov a great kickboxer, but my boxing better

ABU DHABI – Michal Oleksiejczuk is happy to test his standup against Shara Magomedov’s.

Oleksiejczuk (19-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) takes on Magomedov (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) co-main event at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Both fighters are statistically proven knockout artists, and despite being on a two-fight losing skid, Oleksiejczuk doesn’t plan on backing down from the striking exchanges with Magomedov.

“Shara is a great kickboxer, but I think that my boxing is better than Shara,” Oleksiejczuk told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ABC 7 media day.

Oleksiejczuk will also get an opportunity to bounce highly touted Magomedov out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

“This is a very good fight for me because Shara is a very popular fighter, and this fight will be very exciting for me, for fans, and I am very happy,” Oleksiejczuk said. “I want to fight standing. Standing is my best side, and I like to make pressure, I like hard punches, and I want to knock out my opponent.”

Oleksiejczuk’s past few fights have been fan friendly, coming against the likes of Kevin Holland and Michel Pereira. He is happy to draw another popular name in the division.

“I want to fight with the best fighters in the middleweight division in the UFC,” Oleksiejczuk said. “Shara is an exciting fighter, and he’s very popular and that’s all. I like this fight.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.