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UFC light heavyweight Nikita Krylov is all set to headline the upcoming UFC event on February 25. 'The Miner' will take on Ryan Spann in a five-round bout at UFC Fight Night 220. The event will take place at the UFC Apex facility in Paradise, Nevada.
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Nikita Krylov has won his last two fights against Volkan Oezdemir and Alexander Gustafsson and is currently ranked No.6 in the light heavyweight division. An impressive win over Spann on Saturday could propel 'The Miner' to the upper echelon of the 205-pound rankings. Another win after that and the 30-year-old Krylov could position himself as the next fighter in line for a title shot.
However, it will not be easy for Krylov as his opponent for Saturday has also been tearing through his competition lately. In his last outing at UFC 281, No.8-ranked Spann knocked Dominick Reyes out cold in the first round. Before that, 'Superman' finished Ion Cutelaba with a guillotine choke, also in the first round.
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Both fighters will have a lot at stake come fight night and it will likely make for an exciting main event.
UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith believes Nikita Krylov to be the "dark horse" at light heavyweight
After his victory over Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 280, Nikita Krylov called out Anthony Smith in the post-fight press conference.
'Lionheart' responded to the callout by commending Krylov, who has competed in 17 UFC fights and has been victorious in 10 of them.
Smith praised the Ukrainian fighter for his victory over Alexander Gustafsson and said that he was ready to throw down with 'The Miner' in March 2023:
"I have a lot of respect for Nikita Krylov. I said several times before that he’s kind of the dark horse in the division. He put [Alexander Gustafsson’s] lights out fast. Like, nobody gets rid of Gustafsson like that. I fought him and it took me four rounds to get him out of there. I’ve got a lot of respect for that guy. The answer is and always is to everybody in the division — yes. I’m totally down. Maybe March? I’m in.”
Unfortunately, that matchup could not become a reality.
Watch Krylov's callout and Smith's response below:
