Nikita Krylov expects to have a Russian flag subsequent to his title when he walks to the octagon for his battle in opposition to Dominick Reyes at UFC 314.
The sunshine heavyweight contender returns to motion for the primary time in over two years when he competes on Saturday however a flag was conspicuously lacking from his profile when he final appeared in 2023. Krylov addressed the state of affairs throughout UFC 314 media day on Wednesday and he defined why there was a lot confusion about his house nation for his earlier battle.
“Sure, we spoke about it with the UFC, even two occasions earlier than I used to be asking about placing Kislovodsk, Russia because the place that I’m combating out of,” Krylov mentioned. “I’ve been dwelling there for a couple of years now and I believe that I now have the glory of representing them.”
Whereas he beforehand lived within the Ukraine, Krylov fought out of Donetsk, which is a area that Russian forces took over throughout an ongoing battle that began again in 2022. Russian president Vladimir Putin truly signed a decree claiming to annex 4 totally different areas, which included Donetsk, however the battle over that area continues raging on.
Krylov believes that’s what led to a lot confusion when he final fought within the UFC however he’s now dwelling and residing solely in Russia and that’s the nation he plans to symbolize on Saturday.
“The explanation why a couple of occasions again there was no flag subsequent to my title is clearly most of my life, I lived in Donetsk [in the Ukraine],” Krylov mentioned. “Donetsk is a metropolis that’s nonetheless type of being [in dispute], not everyone thinks the place Donetsk belongs.
“For the time being I believe now it’s good for me to have Russia subsequent to my title. I’m proud to symbolize Russia.”
Regardless of his absence, Krylov returns to the UFC on a three-fight win streak with an opportunity to leap proper again into the deep finish of the sunshine heavyweight division together with his matchup in opposition to a former two-time title challenger in Reyes.
A win might put Krylov close to a possible title shot of his personal with the battle in opposition to Reyes kicking off the pay-per-view most important card on Saturday.
