Nikita Krylov anticipates seeing the Russian flag beside his name when he enters the octagon to face Dominick Reyes at UFC 314.
The light heavyweight contender is making his return to fighting after more than two years this Saturday. In his last appearance in 2023, his profile lacked a flag, causing some uncertainty about his nationality. Krylov addressed this at the UFC 314 media day on Wednesday, clarifying the situation regarding his national representation for his previous fight.
“Yes, we talked to the UFC about it. Even before the last two events, I requested to have Kislovodsk, Russia, listed as my fighting location,” Krylov stated. “I`ve been living there for several years now, and I believe it’s now my honor to represent them.”
Although he previously resided in Ukraine, Krylov used to represent Donetsk, a region that came under Russian control during the conflict that began in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the annexation of four regions, including Donetsk, but the conflict over the area is still ongoing.
Krylov believes this situation caused the confusion during his last UFC fight. He now lives permanently in Russia and intends to represent the country this Saturday.
“The reason there was no flag next to my name in recent events is because I lived most of my life in Donetsk, Ukraine,” Krylov explained. “Donetsk is a city whose belonging is still under debate, not universally recognized.”
“Currently, I believe having Russia next to my name is appropriate. I am proud to represent Russia.”
Despite his time away, Krylov returns to the UFC riding a three-fight winning streak. His fight against former two-time title challenger Reyes offers a chance to quickly re-enter the top ranks of the light heavyweight division.
A victory against Reyes, which is the opening fight of the pay-per-view main card on Saturday, could position Krylov for a potential title shot.
