After putting on stellar shows all over Russia for the past couple years, Fight Nights Global has an expansion in mind for 2018.
With shows planned in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Brazil, Fight Nights Global will travel the world in 2018.
One of a reported two events booked for Brazil, however, appears to have gotten its main event.
On April 14, the promotion will travel to Brazil for Fight Nights Global 86. Fabio Maldonado will defend his title against Nikita Krylov in a light heavyweight championship contest.
Fabio Maldonado defends title against Nikita Krylov in Sao Paulo
Fabio Maldonado (24-11) had a rough start to his Fight Nights Global career after a 5-6 run in the UFC. After signing with Fight Nights, Maldonado lost two-straight at heavyweight. Losing to the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in his debut and then dropping yet another decision to up-and-comer Mikhail Mokhnatkin. In 2017, however, he opened up the year with a first-round TKO win at 220-pounds vs. Abdul-Khamid Davlatov at Fight Nights Global 60 in Tajikistan. The Brazilian was then given a title fight down at light heavyweight, the striker surprisingly won the title via submission in the third round against hard-hitting Kurban Omarov.
Along with becoming the Fight Nights Global LHW Champion at 37-years-old, Maldonado is currently the #1 ranked heavyweight boxer in all of Brazil, with a record of 25-0 w/ 24KO.
Nikita Krylov (23-5) surprisingly walked away from the UFC last year following a loss to Misha Cirkunov in Toronto at UFC 206. Despite the loss, Krylov had won four-straight prior to the defeat, all via finish, and was a highly-ranked light heavyweight at the time of leaving the company.
In this case, the UFC’s loss was absolutely the gain of FNG. The 24-year-old made his promotional debut in June of 2017, submitting Stjepan Bekavac in 53-seconds. Then, this past October, Krylov took on former Bellator titleholder Emanuel Newton in the Fight Nights Global 77 main event. The Ukrainian won by knockout in 43-seconds. Meaning so far, two fights into his Fight Nights Global career, he has been inside the cage for a staggering one minute thirty-six seconds.
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Photo via Fight Nights Global
