UFC Fight Night 174: Lewis vs. Oleinik | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 21
- 6 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 174: Lewis vs. Oleinik took place on August 8, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 6, the third consecutive week the promotion ran a card at its purpose-built facility as the pandemic-era schedule pushed on. The event was headlined by a heavyweight collision between Derrick Lewis and Aleksei Oleinik, and Lewis wasted no time: he blitzed the submission specialist in 24 seconds of round two with a devastating TKO, setting up a highlight that swept the internet within hours.
The card also introduced a thrilling new talent to the wider UFC audience: Beneil Dariush, a technically exceptional lightweight, produced one of the most spectacular KOs of the year with a spinning back elbow that put Scott Holtzman to sleep in round one. Kevin Holland, denied his scheduled fight the previous week when Trevin Giles fainted, returned here and delivered. With no Fight of the Night bonus awarded, four Performance of the Night bonuses recognised the evening's best individual performances.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, August 8, 2020
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 6)
👥 Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors — COVID-19 pandemic)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 32)
🏆 Main Event: Derrick Lewis vs. Aleksei Oleinik — Heavyweight
✅ Result: Derrick Lewis def. Aleksei Oleinik via TKO (Punches) (Round 2, 0:24)
🥇 Champion: Title not on the line
The Build-Up
UFC Fight Night 174 was the third consecutive Saturday card at the UFC Apex — a remarkable run of activity as the promotion filled its pandemic-era schedule. The heavyweight main event was originally planned for April 11 as Oleinik aimed for his 60th career win, but was postponed due to COVID-19. The fight was rescheduled here at the Apex with both fighters looking to assert themselves in a division that was building toward a Daniel Cormier vs. Stipe Miocic trilogy fight.
The card had additional story lines: Beneil Dariush and Laureano Staropoli both missed weight, with Dariush coming in at 158 lbs (2 over the limit) and Staropoli at 174.5 lbs (3.5 over). Both were fined 20% of their purses. Kevin Holland, who had seen his bout cancelled when Trevin Giles fainted the previous week, was rebooked here against Joaquin Buckley. Holland was motivated.
Main Event: Lewis vs. Oleinik
Derrick Lewis stopped Aleksei Oleinik with punches in round two, finishing the Russian submission specialist at 0:24 of the second frame. The fight was precisely what Lewis fans wanted: overwhelming power, immediate aggression, and a short night. Lewis absorbed an early takedown attempt from the grappling-first Oleinik but stayed dangerous with his hands throughout, and when he landed a clean shot in round two, the finish came quickly.
Lewis's post-fight interview became one of the most quoted in recent UFC history. Asked what he did differently to prepare, he stated: "Nothing. I just made sure my balls stayed nice and warm." The comment went viral and cemented his status as one of the sport's most genuinely entertaining personalities.
The win pushed Lewis back into contention in the heavyweight division. He had previously challenged for the title at UFC 229, losing to Daniel Cormier, and remained a perennial threat. Oleinik, a submission legend who had been submitting opponents since 1995, was denied his 60th career win.
Co-Main Event: Weidman vs. Akhmedov
Former middleweight champion Chris Weidman defeated Omari Akhmedov by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) in a three-round co-main event. The win snapped a four-fight losing streak for Weidman — his longest since breaking into the sport. Akhmedov was competitive but Weidman's wrestling proved decisive, and the former champion showed he still had the tools to compete at the top level.
Full Results
Main Card
Derrick Lewis def. Aleksei Oleinik — TKO (Punches) (Round 2, 0:24)
Chris Weidman def. Omari Akhmedov — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00)
Darren Stewart def. Maki Pitolo — Submission (Guillotine Choke) (Round 1, 3:40)
Yana Kunitskaya def. Julija Stoliarenko — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00)
Beneil Dariush def. Scott Holtzman — KO (Spinning Back Elbow) (Round 1, 4:39) | Dariush missed weight (158 lbs)
Preliminary Card
Tim Means def. Laureano Staropoli — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00) | Staropoli missed weight (174.5 lbs)
Kevin Holland def. Joaquin Buckley — TKO (Punches) (Round 3, 0:32)
Nasrat Haqparast def. Alexander Munoz — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3, 5:00)
Andrew Sanchez def. Phil Hawes — TKO (Round 1) — Performance of the Night
Gavin Tucker def. Makwan Amirkhani — KO (Round 1) — Performance of the Night
Bonuses & Awards
No Fight of the Night bonus was awarded. Four Performance of the Night bonuses recognised the card's best finishes.
🏆 Performance of the Night: Darren Stewart ($50,000) — Guillotine choke of Maki Pitolo, Round 1, 3:40
🏆 Performance of the Night: Kevin Holland ($50,000) — TKO of Joaquin Buckley, Round 3, 0:32
🏆 Performance of the Night: Andrew Sanchez ($50,000)
🏆 Performance of the Night: Gavin Tucker ($50,000)
Records & Milestones
🥊 Aleksei Oleinik was denied his 60th career professional win — a milestone that had made him the most prolific submission fighter in MMA history.
🥊 Beneil Dariush's spinning back elbow KO of Holtzman was one of the most technically spectacular finishes of 2020, cementing his reputation as one of the most complete fighters at lightweight.
🥊 Kevin Holland's TKO win was the beginning of one of the most prolific finishing streaks in recent UFC middleweight history — he would win five consecutive fights by finish before the end of 2020.
🥊 Chris Weidman's victory snapped a four-fight losing streak, the longest of his career, briefly reviving his title ambitions.
Legacy & Impact
UFC Fight Night 174 is remembered primarily for two things: Derrick Lewis's post-fight interview — which went viral within hours — and the sheer quality of Beneil Dariush's spinning back elbow KO of Holtzman, which became one of the most shared highlights of the pandemic year. As a card, it was a solid mid-tier Apex event during a period when the UFC was essentially producing a show every week.
Longer-term, the event helped establish Kevin Holland as a breakout star at middleweight. His TKO of Buckley here was step one of an extraordinary five-fight, five-finish run through the rest of 2020 that would see him emerge as one of the most entertaining fighters in the division. The pandemic era, for all its strangeness, produced several career-defining performances — and FN 174 had its share.
FAQ
What did Derrick Lewis say in his post-fight interview at UFC Fight Night 174?
When asked what he did differently to prepare for the fight, Lewis replied that he made sure his balls stayed nice and warm. The comment went viral across social media within hours and became one of the most quoted post-fight interview moments of the pandemic era, cementing Lewis's status as one of the UFC's most genuinely entertaining characters.
Why was Dariush's finish at UFC Fight Night 174 so unusual?
Dariush knocked out Scott Holtzman with a spinning back elbow at 4:39 of round one — a technique rarely seen as a finishing strike at the highest level. The KO was visually spectacular and technically flawless, instantly becoming one of the most replayed highlights of 2020.
What significance did Aleksei Oleinik's record have at UFC Fight Night 174?
Oleinik entered the fight looking for his 60th career win. He was already the most prolific submission finisher in professional MMA history and a legend of the grappling world. The loss denied him that milestone and also halted a two-fight UFC winning streak.
How did Kevin Holland end up fighting at both FN 173 and FN 174?
Holland was originally scheduled to fight Trevin Giles at FN 173, but Giles fainted moments before his walkout and the fight was cancelled. Holland was rebooked for the following week's card against Joaquin Buckley, where he delivered a third-round TKO. It was the start of a remarkable five-finish run through the rest of 2020.
Why did Beneil Dariush and Laureano Staropoli miss weight at UFC Fight Night 174?
Both fighters missed weight at the official weigh-ins for undisclosed reasons. Dariush came in at 158 lbs, two over the lightweight limit; Staropoli came in at 174.5 lbs, 3.5 over the welterweight limit. Both were fined 20% of their respective purses, which were transferred to their opponents Holtzman and Means.
References
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