Nikita Krylov to Lock Horns With Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Event on Feb. 27

Per sources, light heavyweight bout between Nikita Krylov and Magomed Ankalaev has been added to UFC Fight Night on Feb. 27. Fun fight. Ankalaev a potential dark horse in the division. Looking to add to a five-fight win streak.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 30, 2020

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The betting line for Fight Doesn’t Go to Decision will be through the roof for this upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight rumble.

ESPN announced on Tuesday that Nikita Krylov (27-7) would be taking on Magomed Ankalaev (14-1) at the UFC Fight Night card on Feb. 27. This light heavyweight bout, and the card itself, does not have an official destination on the books, but it likely will be held either in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or in Las Vegas.

Krylov has alternated wins and losses in each of his last five, including two wins and two defeats in his return to the Las Vegas-based promotion. The Ukrainian won his first career decision against Johnny Walker in March 2020, while he went the distance for the first time in his then 33-fight career by dropping a split decision to Glover Teixeira. Making his organizational debut back in 2013 at heavyweight, the man formerly known as “Al Capone” won six bouts with finishes over Walt Harris and Ed Herman along the way, but left after a single loss to Misha Cirkunov in 2016. He returned to the UFC after four finishes in Russia and the Ukraine.

Ankalaev is riding an impressive five-fight win streak that has seen him finish Ion Cutelaba twice in the span of a year. The first win a controversial one, referee Kevin MacDonald prematurely stopped the contest. The rematch months later left no doubt, as Ankalaev knocked Cutelaba out cold with strikes. The lone loss of the Russian’s career came in his company debut against Paul Craig, when after dominating the fight for the good part of three rounds, Ankalaev fell into a triangle choke and tapped out at the 4:59 mark.

The UFC Fight Night event on Feb. 27 does not yet have an official location, although it will likely take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or Las Vegas. This card will be capped off by a light heavyweight thriller between two-time title challenger Dominick Reyes and rising star Jiri Prochazka. The main card will also feature an all-Brazil bantamweight banger as Raphael Assuncao comes to blows with Raoni Barcelos.