Nikita Krylov
Nikita Krylov is a Russian light heavyweight mixed martial artist who has fought in the UFC since 2013, known for an explosive mix of knockout power and ground submissions.
Official fight record
Record: 31-12-0 • Finishes: 13 by KO, 16 by submission
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.07.2026 | Robert Whittaker | UFC 329 | ❌ Loss | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:01 |
| 24.01.2026 | Modestas Bukauskas | UFC 324 | ✅ Win | KO (punches) | 3 | 4:57 |
| 26.07.2025 | Bogdan Guskov | UFC on ABC | ❌ Loss | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:18 |
| 12.04.2025 | Dominick Reyes | UFC 314 | ❌ Loss | KO (punches) | 1 | 2:24 |
| 11.03.2023 | Ryan Spann | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:38 |
| 22.10.2022 | Volkan Oezdemir | UFC 280 | ✅ Win | Unanimous decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| 23.07.2022 | Alexander Gustafsson | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:07 |
| 19.03.2022 | Paul Craig | UFC Fight Night | ❌ Loss | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 3:57 |
| 27.02.2021 | Magomed Ankalaev | UFC Fight Night | ❌ Loss | Unanimous decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| 14.03.2020 | Johnny Walker | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | Unanimous decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| 14.09.2019 | Glover Teixeira | UFC Fight Night | ❌ Loss | Split decision | 3 | 5:00 |
| 13.04.2019 | Ovince Preux | UFC 236 | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:31 |
| 15.09.2018 | Jan Błachowicz | UFC Fight Night | ❌ Loss | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 | 2:41 |
| 19.05.2018 | Fabio Maldonado | Fight Nights Global 87 | ✅ Win | KO (punch) | 2 | 3:33 |
| 13.10.2017 | Emanuel Newton | Fight Nights Global 77 | ✅ Win | KO (knee strike) | 1 | 0:43 |
| 26.08.2017 | Maro Perak | Donbass Combat Sports | ✅ Win | TKO (punches) | 3 | 0:06 |
| 02.06.2017 | Stjepan Bekavac | Fight Nights Global 68 | ✅ Win | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 0:53 |
| 10.12.2016 | Misha Cirkunov | UFC 206 | ❌ Loss | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 4:38 |
| 30.07.2016 | Ed Herman | UFC 201 | ✅ Win | KO (head kick) | 2 | 0:40 |
| 08.05.2016 | Francimar Barroso | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 3:11 |
| 23.08.2015 | Marcos Rogerio de Lima | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:29 |
| 24.01.2015 | Stanislav Nedkov | UFC on Fox | ✅ Win | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 1:24 |
| 19.07.2014 | Cody Donovan | UFC Fight Night | ✅ Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:57 |
| 15.03.2014 | Ovince Preux | UFC 171 | ❌ Loss | Technical submission (Von Flue choke) | 1 | 1:29 |
| 25.01.2014 | Walt Harris | UFC on Fox | ✅ Win | TKO (head kick) | 1 | 0:25 |
| 31.08.2013 | Soa Palelei | UFC 164 | ❌ Loss | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:34 |
| 09.04.2013 | Gabriel Tampu | M-1 Challenge 38 | ✅ Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 4:27 |
| 08.03.2013 | Vladimir Mishchenko | Oplot Challenge 40 | ❌ Loss | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 0:58 |
| 19.01.2013 | Kylychbek Sarkorboev | Gladiators FC 2 | ✅ Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:49 |
| 19.01.2013 | Julian Bogdanov | Gladiators FC 2 | ✅ Win | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:17 |
| 29.12.2012 | Vladimir Mishchenko | Oplot Challenge 22 | ❌ Loss | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 1:47 |
| 22.12.2012 | Denis Simkin | Gladiators FC 1 | ✅ Win | Submission (americana) | 1 | 0:35 |
| 09.11.2012 | Valeriy Shcherbakov | Chest Voina | ✅ Win | Submission (achilles lock) | 1 | 1:38 |
| 20.10.2012 | Vladimir Gerasimchuk | Oplot Challenge 7 | ✅ Win | Submission (kimura) | 1 | 1:35 |
| 13.10.2012 | Igor Kukurudziak | ecsf: Kubok Kolomyi | ✅ Win | Submission (kimura) | 1 | 2:47 |
| 02.10.2012 | Viktor Smirnov | ECSF: MMA Lion Cup | ✅ Win | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 0:12 |
| 15.09.2012 | Anatoliy Didenko | Oplot Challenge 4 | ✅ Win | Submission (achilles lock) | 1 | 0:29 |
| 14.09.2012 | Alexey Stepanov | ECSF: MMA Ukraine Cup 7 | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 0:29 |
| 26.08.2012 | Svyatoslav Shcherbakov | ECSF: MMA Ukraine Cup 6 | ✅ Win | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:44 |
| 18.08.2012 | Anatoliy Didenko | ECSF: MMA Ukraine Cup 5 | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 2:08 |
| 16.08.2012 | Alexey Artemenko | Big Boys Fights | ✅ Win | Submission (guillotine choke) | 1 | 2:20 |
| 10.08.2012 | Denis Bogdanov | ecsf: Kubok Zapadnoy Ukrainy | ✅ Win | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:31 |
| 27.07.2012 | Alexander Umrikhin | West Fight 4 | ✅ Win | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:56 |
Record updated: 24.07.2026
Biography and career
Nikita Krylov is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC’s light heavyweight division: he debuted in the organization back in 2013 as a 21-year-old with a 14-2 record and has since fought in the Octagon more times than almost any other Russian fighter. Born in Krasny Luch, Luhansk region, he has lived in Kislovodsk for many years — in April 2025 he completed the process of switching his citizenship from Ukrainian to Russian, explaining that he had long been living in Russia and wanted to represent that country.
Krylov came up through kyokushin karate and hand-to-hand combat, earning a black belt and the rank of Master of Sport, and made his professional debut in 2012 in Ukrainian regional promotions. Krylov’s style is an explosive mix: he’s equally dangerous on the feet (13 knockout wins) and on the ground, where he has 16 submission victories to his name — everything from kimuras and rear-naked chokes to spectacular leg locks. That versatility has long made him an awkward matchup for anyone in the light heavyweight top 15.
Over his UFC career, Krylov has faced a long list of former and future champions and title contenders — Glover Teixeira, Jan Blachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev, Alexander Gustafsson, and Dominick Reyes. The peak of his career came with a three-fight win streak in 2022-2023 — a knockout of Gustafsson, a unanimous decision over Volkan Oezdemir, and a submission (triangle choke) over Ryan Spann — after which Krylov climbed to the doorstep of the division’s top 5. He wasn’t able to hold that position, though: losses to Reyes and Bogdan Guskov pushed him back down the rankings.
Krylov’s 2026 has been a rollercoaster: in January he scored a confident knockout of Modestas Bukauskas at UFC 324, but by July, at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, he was stopped by former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who was making his light heavyweight debut — the Australian finished the fight by TKO in the third round. No opponent has yet been announced for the 34-year-old Russian’s next fight.
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Frequently asked questions
How many fights has Nikita Krylov had in the UFC?
Since his 2013 debut, Krylov has fought 21 times in the UFC, making him one of the most experienced fighters in the organization's light heavyweight division.
Why did Nikita Krylov change his citizenship?
In April 2025, Krylov completed the process of obtaining Russian citizenship, explaining that he had lived and trained in Kislovodsk for many years and wanted to represent Russia at the professional level.
What is Nikita Krylov's record?
The fighter has 31 wins (13 by knockout, 16 by submission, 2 by decision) and 12 losses.
Who was Nikita Krylov's most recent opponent?
On July 12, 2026, at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, Krylov was stopped by former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker via TKO in the third round.
What team does Nikita Krylov train with?
Krylov represents Industrials Team and trains under coach V.N. Andreev.