Nikita Krylov

Mixed martial arts career Early career Krylov made his debut on July 27, 2012, at West Fight 4 in Donetsk, Ukraine, defeating Alexander Umrikhin via TKO. He won eleven more fights in the next five months (10 submissions, 1 TKO), before losing via submission to Vladimir Mishchenko on December 29 at Oplot Challenge 22. After two quick wins in a Gladiators Fighting Challenge tournament in Donetsk on January 19, 2013, he rematched Mishchenko on March 8 at Oplot Challenge 40, and again being submitted by an arm-triangle choke. A month later, he defeated Gabriel Tampu by TKO at M-1 Challenge 38 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ultimate Fighting Championship With a record of 15–2, Krylov was signed by the UFC and made his debut on August 31, 2013, at UFC 164 against Soa Palelei. He lost via third-round TKO in a lackluster fight that saw both fighters exhausted after the first round. Krylov blamed his fatigue on nervousness and a long trip from Donetsk to Milwaukee. He scored a 25-second TKO victory via head kick and follow-up punches.

Following the win, Krylov told reporters he was considering dropping down to the light heavyweight division for his next bout.

For his first fight at light heavyweight, Krylov replaced Thiago Silva against Ovince Saint Preux on March 15, 2015, at UFC 171. He was choked unconscious in the first round by a Von Flue choke while attempting a guillotine.

Krylov faced Cody Donovan on July 19, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 46. He won the fight by TKO in the final seconds of the first round.

Next he fought Stanislav Nedkov on January 24, 2015, at UFC on Fox 14. He won the fight by submission due to a standing guillotine choke just over a minute into the first round.

Krylov was briefly linked to a bout with Marcos Rogério de Lima on June 20, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 69. However, the pairing was booked to take place a week later at UFC Fight Night 70. Subsequently, Lima was removed from the card on June 19, after visa issues restricted his entry to the United States. The bout with Lima was scheduled for a third time and took place on August 23, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 74. After surviving two guillotine attempts from Lima, Krylov won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke halfway through the first round.

Krylov was briefly linked to a matchup with Jimi Manuwa on February 27, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 84. However, Manuwa was scratched from the contest with an undisclosed injury in late December and the bout cancelled.

Krylov faced Francimar Barroso on May 8, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 87. Krylov won the fight via submission in the second round.

Krylov faced Ed Herman on July 30, 2016, at UFC 201. After a dominating first round for Krylov, he won the fight by knockout due to a head kick 40 seconds into the second.

Krylov next faced Misha Cirkunov on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

On February 17, 2017, it was reported, surprisingly to some, that Krylov had been released from the UFC. Krylov himself later explained his departure from the organization, saying that he had chosen to not re-sign his contract. He said that he liked to compete elsewhere to better his skills and be able to fight closer to his home in Ukraine.

Eurasia Fight Nights/Fight Nights Global Following his UFC stint, Krylov signed a multi-fight contract with the Eurasia Fight Nights (EFN)/Fight Nights Global promotion.

He was set to make his promotional debut against former Bellator Light heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton on June 2, 2017, at Fight Nights Global 68. However, Newton was later scrapped from the card and replaced by Stjepan Bekavac. Krylov won the fight by submission due to a guillotine choke, 53 seconds into the first round.

Next, he fought outside of his new promotion when he took on Maro Perak on August 26, 2017, for the Donbass Association of Combat Sports promotion. Krylov won the fight by TKO at the beginning of the second round.

Back in Fight Nights Global, Krylov got rescheduled against former Bellator Light heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton on October 13, 2017, at Fight Nights Global 77. He won the fight by knockout from a knee, 43 seconds into the first round.

Krylov challenged for the FNG light heavyweight title against champion and fellow former UFC fighter Fabio Maldonado on May 19, 2018, at Fight Nights Global 87. He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

UFC return In late June 2018, Fight Nights Global president Kamil Gadzhiev announced that the promotion has released Krylov from his contract in order to allow him to negotiate a new contract with the UFC.

Krylov faced Jan Błachowicz on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 136. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Krylov faced Ovince Saint Preux, in a rematch, on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He won the fight via a submission due to a rear-naked choke in round two.

Krylov faced Glover Teixeira on September 14, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 158. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision, the first decision loss in his 32-fight career.

Krylov faced Johnny Walker on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Krylov was expected to face Volkan Oezdemir on October 18, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 180. However, Oezdemir pulled out of the fight in early October citing a knee injury. A replacement could not be found, so Krylov was removed from the card.

Krylov faced Magomed Ankalaev on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Krylov faced Paul Craig on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204. He lost the fight via a triangle choke in round one.

Krylov faced Alexander Gustafsson on July 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 208. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Krylov faced Volkan Oezdemir on October 22, 2022, at UFC 280. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Krylov was scheduled to face Ryan Spann on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. However, the day of the event, Krylov fell ill and the main event was cancelled and the pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night 221 two weeks later. He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the first round.

Krylov was scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov on November 16, 2024 at UFC 309. However, Murzakanov withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons.

Krylov faced former UFC Light Heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes on April 12, 2025 at UFC 314. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round after being dropped by a left, straight punch.

Krylov faced Bogdan Guskov on July 26, 2025 at UFC on ABC 9. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Krylov faced Modestas Bukauskas on January 24, 2026 at UFC 324. He won the fight via knockout in the round three.

Krylov faced Robert Whittaker on July 11, 2026, at UFC 329. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round.

Krylov is scheduled to face Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev on October 24, 2026 at UFC 333.

Personal life Krylov is enrolled at Donetsk Law Institute, and his heroes are Ilya Mate, Igor Vovchanchyn and Al Capone,

Krylov is an open supporter of Donbass separatism, Whilst training in Kyiv, Krylov wore a uniform bearing the Russian flag, despite the war between the countries.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) Second latest knockout/finish in a three-round Light Heavyweight bout (4:57 in R3) Fight Nights Global FNG Light heavyweight Championship (One time) Gladiators FC GFC 2 Heavyweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Robert Whittaker TKO (jaw injury) UFC 329

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Modestas Bukauskas KO (punches) UFC 324

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Bogdan Guskov KO (punches) UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. de Ridder

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Dominick Reyes KO (punch) UFC 314

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Ryan Spann Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Volkan Oezdemir Decision (unanimous) UFC 280

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Alexander Gustafsson KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall

London, England Loss

Paul Craig Submission (triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall

London, England Loss

Magomed Ankalaev Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Johnny Walker Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira

Brasília, Brazil Loss

Glover Teixeira Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Win

Ovince Saint Preux Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 236

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Jan Błachowicz Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik

Moscow, Russia Win

Fábio Maldonado KO (punch) Fight Nights Global 87

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Emanuel Newton KO (knee) Fight Nights Global 77

Surgut, Russia Win

Maro Perak TKO (punches) United Donbass Cup 2017

Donetsk, Ukraine Win

Stjepan Bekavac Submission (guillotine choke) Fight Nights Global 68

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Misha Cirkunov Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 206

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Ed Herman KO (head kick) UFC 201

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Francimar Barroso Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski

Rotterdam, Netherlands Win

Marcos Rogério de Lima Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Win

Stanislav Nedkov Submission (standing guillotine choke) UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Cody Donovan TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandão

Dublin, Ireland Loss

Ovince Saint Preux Technical Submission (Von Flue choke) UFC 171

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Walt Harris TKO (head kick and punches) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson

Chicago, Illinois, United States Loss

Soa Palelei TKO (punches) UFC 164

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Win

Gabriel Tampu TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 38

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Vladimir Mishchenko Submission (arm-triangle choke) Oplot Challenge 40

Kharkiv, Ukraine Win

Kylychbek Sarkarbaev TKO (punches) Gladiators FC 2

Donetsk, Ukraine Win

Julian Bogdanov KO (punch) Gladiators FC 2

Donetsk, Ukraine Loss

Vladimir Mishchenko Submission (arm-triangle choke) Oplot Challenge 22

Kharkiv, Ukraine Win

Denis Simkin Submission (americana) Gladiators FC 1

Donetsk, Ukraine Win

Valery Scherbakov Submission (Achilles lock) Warrior's Honor: Igor Vovchanchyn Cup 2

Kharkiv, Ukraine Win

Vladimir Gerasimchik Submission (kimura) Oplot Challenge 7

Kharkiv, Ukraine Win

Igor Kukurudziak Submission (kimura) European Combat Sambo Federation: Kolomyi Cup

Kolomyia, Ukraine Win

Viktor Smirnov TKO (doctor stoppage) European Combat Sambo Federation: MMA Lion Cup

Lviv, Ukraine Win

Anatoliy Didenko Submission (Achilles lock) Oplot Challenge 4

Kharkiv, Ukraine Win

Alexey Stepanov Submission (rear-naked choke) European Combat Sambo Federation: MMA Ukraine Cup 7

Donetsk, Ukraine Win

Svyatoslav Scherbakov Submission (armbar) European Combat Sambo Federation: MMA Ukraine Cup 6

Pervomaisk, Ukraine Win

Anatoliy Didenko Submission (rear-naked choke) European Combat Sambo Federation: MMA Ukraine Cup 5

Cherkassy, Ukraine Win

Alexey Artemenko Submission (guillotine choke) Big Boys Fights 1

Donetsk, Ukraine Win

Denis Bogdanov Submission (rear-naked choke) European Combat Sambo Federation: Cup of West Ukraine 2012

Truskavets, Ukraine Win

Alexander Umrikhin TKO (punches) Real Fight Promotion 6

Donetsk, Ukraine

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