A pair of former UFC light heavyweights top the FNG 87 card in May.
Fight Nights Global has been putting together some solid cards as of late. It appears the promotion’s debut in Brazil will be no exception. In advance of today’s FNG 85 (featuring controversial ex-UFC submission specialist Rousimar Phalares), the promotion has announced that FNG 87 will feature current light heavyweight champion Fabio Maldonado taking on Nikita Krylov. That card takes place May 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
🔥🇧🇷FIGHT NIGHTS GL0BAL 87
🗓May 5. ⏰5:00 p.m.
📌 Sao Paulo. "Corinthians". pic.twitter.com/uWsO1hUNQi
— FIGHT NIGHTS GLOBAL (@fngmma) March 28, 2018
Maldonado (24–11), also a professional boxer, is a native of Sao Paulo who was popular with UFC fans for his unrelenting style. Moving up in weight to fight future champion Stipe Miocic, and essentially taking on all comers, Maldonado spent five years in the promotion before his eventual release. Overall, the undefeated boxer went 5-6 in the company. Post-UFC, he signed on with FNG, and immediately faced heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko. The controversial fight was seen by many as being won by Maldonado; questionable reffing and an even more questionable result was eventually appealed by the fighter. The world mixed martial arts association later ruled the fight a draw, a decision not recognized by the Russian MMA union, who oversaw the bout.
The Brazilian has won his last two fights, capturing the vacant FNG light heavyweight title against Kurban Omarov in September. Now, he’ll face Nikita Krylov, one of the best light heavyweights not currently signed by a major promotion.
Krylov’s exit from the UFC was one of the bigger defections in recent years. After starting his career in the promotion at heavyweight, he dropped down to 205lbs and immediately made an impact. Moving into the top ten in the division, Krylov went on a five fight win streak between 2015 and 2016. He’d eventually suffer a loss to Misha Cirkunov, then depart the company in early 2017. The move shocked many; Krylov, for his part, stated a desire to compete closer to his home in the Ukraine.
That saw him fighting under the FNG banner. The former UFC star won all three of his bouts in 2017, including a KO (via knee) finish of former Bellator MMA 205lb champ Emanuel Newton. Now, he’s got a shot at a title against Maldonado, albeit in enemy territory in Maldonado’s native Brazil.
FNG 87 takes place at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 5.
