UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Brandao Prelim Breakout Star: Nikita Krylov

(David Banks-USA TODAY Sports)

The Prelim Breakout Star is a once per event article that helps fans get to know those who will be entertaining them from the undercard. The intention of the article is not to bring attention to the most talented guy on the preliminary card, but rather one that the common fan may have overlooked or underestimated.

After a tough outing by the Prelim Breakout Star earlier this week, this segment looks to get back to it’s winning ways. In order to do so, we tip our caps this week to a warrior from overseas. And while he hasn’t had the best luck in the promotion thus far, he’s showed plenty of promise that bright days are ahead.

Nikita Krylov

Nickname – Al Capone
Affiliation – YK Promotion
From – Donetsk, Ukraine
Height – 6’3”
Weight – 205 lbs (Light Heavyweight)
Record – 16-4 (1-2 UFC)

What makes him impressive

In his recent fight history, there has been absolutely no surprises in Krylov’s skill set. Everyone who’s seen one of his recent fights knows exactly what you get when the Ukrainian steps into the cage: a man with heavy hands who isn’t afraid to let them fly. Five of his last seven fights have ended in a knockout one way or another as a result of this. However, what people fail to remember is how Krylov’s career started. After a TKO victory in his debut, he rattled off eleven additional wins, including ten by first round submission. Additionally, these submission ranged from arm triangles to Achilles locks. So, although he hasn’t shocked anyone yet, there’s always the chance that he returns to his roots.

Why he has been overlooked

While it cannot be questioned that he has fight stopping power, it also cannot be questioned that he can be finished. In his career he has never gone the distance and has been caught on more than one occasion in submissions that seemed avoidable. For instance, Ovince St. Preux’s Von Flue choke. After it seemed he’d let go of his condemning guillotine choke, he reached for it again and got finished. And while this do or die method may make for exciting fights, it’s killed some of his hype.

What makes this a good matchup

Cody Donovan holds a black belt in jiu jitsu. However, so far in his UFC career he’s only secured one of his attempted takedowns. Because of this, he’s been forced to box with his opponents and the results have not been pretty, getting knocked out in each of his last two bouts. If he’s forced to stand and exchange with Krylov, one of them is going down.

Prelim Breakout Star History

Record: 38 Wins, 19 Losses, 2 Did Not Fight (DNF)

1. Francisco Trinaldo – UFC on FX: Belfort vs Bisping (W)

2. Simeon Thoresen – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Dodson (L)

3. Tyron Woodley – UFC 156 (W)

4. Vaughan Lee – UFC on Fuel: Barao vs McDonald (W)

5. Dennis Bermudez – UFC 157 (W)

6. Cristiano Marcello – UFC on Fuel: Stann vs Silva (L)

7. Daron Cruickshank – UFC 158 (L)

8. Ryan LaFlare – UFC on Fuel: Mousasi vs Latifi (W)

9. Bart Palaszewski – TUF Finale (L)

10. Yoel Romero – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Melendez (W)

11. Rustam Khabilov – UFC 159 (W)

12. Fabio Maldonado – UFC on FX: Belfort vs Rockhold (W)

13. Khabib Nurmagomedov – UFC 160 (W)

14. Antonio Braga Neto – UFC on Fuel: Nogueira vs Werdum (W)

15. Roland Delorme – UFC 161 (W)

16. Seth Baczynski – UFC 162 (L)

17. Jorge Masvidal – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Moraga (W)

18. Ednaldo Oliveira – UFC 163 (L)

19. Mike Brown – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Sonnen (L)

20. Dylan Andrews – UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Kampmann (W)

21. Soa Palelei – UFC 164 (W)

22. Elias Silverio – UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs Bader (W)

23. John Makdessi – UFC 165 (W)

24. Alan Patrick – UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Shields (W)

25. Andre Fili – UFC 166 (W)

26. Jimy Hettes – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Munoz (W)

27. Germaine de Randamie – UFC Fight for the Troops 3 (L)

28. Omari Akhmedov – UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs Henderson (W)

29. Sergio Pettis – UFC 167 (W)

30. Roxanne Modafferi – TUF Finale (L)

31. Takeya Mizugaki – UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs Bigfoot (W)

32. Alptekin Ozkilic – UFC on Fox: Johnson vs Benavidez (W)

33. Siyar Bahadurzada – UFC 168 (L)

34. Mairbek Taisumov – UFC Fight Night: Saffiedine vs Lim (W)

35. Charlie Brenneman – UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs Philippou (L)

36. Walt Harris – UFC on Fox: Henderson vs Thompson (L)

37. Clint Hester – UFC 169 (W)

38. Joe Proctor – UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Mousasi (W)

39. Aljamain Sterling – UFC 170 (W)

40. Zak Cummings – TUF China Finale (DNF)

41. Cyrille Diabate – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa (L)

42. Mats Nilsson – UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs Manuwa (L)

43. Alex Garcia – UFC 171 (W)

44. Hans Stringer – UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Henderson (W)

45. Jim Alers – UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs Nelson (W)

46. Ryan Jimmo – TUF Finale (W)

47. Caio Magalhaes – UFC on Fox: Werdum vs Browne (W)

48. Joe Ellenberger – UFC 172 (DNF)

49. Kyoji Horiguchi – UFC Fight Night: Brown vs Silva (W)

50. Francisco Trinaldo – UFC 173 (L)

51. Iuri Alcantara – UFC FIght Night: Mousasi vs Munoz (W)

52. Paulo Thiago – TUF Brazil Finale (L)

53. Jon Tuck – UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Khabilov (W)

54. Mike Easton – UFC 174 (L)

55. Ian Entwistle – UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs Te Huna (L)

56. Ray Borg – UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Stevens (W)

57. Rob Font – UFC 175 (W)

58. Derrick Lewis – TUF Finale (W)

59. Jessamyn Duke – UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs Miller (L)