UFC light heavyweight fighter Nikita Krylov has officially announced his decision to compete under the Russian flag, abandoning his previous neutral status. The fighter will represent Russia at the upcoming UFC 314 event.
Krylov, who previously represented Ukraine in his fighting career, explained his decision in a recent statement: "Yes, we discussed this with UFC even two shows ago. I requested to be listed as representing Kislovodsk, Russia. I've been living there for several years now and believe I should have the honor of representing them."
He elaborated on his previous neutral status: "The reason why there was no flag next to my name in previous shows is obviously because I spent most of my life in Donetsk. Donetsk is a city with disputed status that not everyone recognizes."
Krylov added: "Now I believe it's good for me to have Russia next to my name. I'm proud to represent Russia."
According to fight analysis from Statbet, Krylov's recent performances in the light heavyweight division have shown mixed results, making his upcoming fight under the new flag particularly significant for his career trajectory.
The fighter was born in Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch) in Ukraine's Luhansk region and competed under the Ukrainian flag until 2022. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he initially switched to a "neutral" status before making this latest change.
Krylov has previously made pro-Russian statements and has referred to Ukrainians and Russians as "one people." His decision comes amid continued tensions between the two countries and represents another high-profile change in the sporting world resulting from the ongoing conflict.
