Ferocious Featherweights
The main event of the evening sees Zabit Magomedsharipov and Calvin Kattar face off in a bout in the featherweight division. Originally booked for UFC® FIGHT NIGHT BOSTON, Magomedsharipov enters this one on an impressive 13 fight win streak, currently boasting a near-perfect 17-1 record.
His opponent, Kattar however is in equally impressive form, having won 12 of his last 13 and holding a 20-3 professional MMA record. While Kattar will be looking to hand his opponent his first UFC loss, Magomedsharipov will look to neutralise his knockout power and will have the added advantage of fighting in front of a home crowd.
Rising Russian Stars
Magomedsharipov is joined by a number of other Russian athletes fighting on home soil at CSKA Arena on this card. This includes Alexander Volkov, who is taking on Greg Hardy in the co-main event, having replaced Junior Dos Santos. Hardy will look to cause an upset against the more experienced and heavily favoured “Drago.”
Also in action is UFC debutant Abubakar Nurmagomedov, who faces German native David Zawada in a welterweight bout. Cousin of current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abubakar will be hoping to follow in Khabib’s footsteps with a successful UFC career starting on Saturday night.
Electric Englishmen
Englishmen Danny Roberts and Davey Grant also make their return to the Octagon® on this card. Roberts, who has not fought since May, will face Zelim Imadaev in a welterweight bout. “Hot Chocolate” has won 10 of his last 14 bouts, but faces a dangerous opponent in Imadaev who has won 8 of his 9 professional bouts (with all 8 wins coming via knockout.) Fellow British fighter Davey Grant faces Grigorii Popov in the prelims. Both men will be hoping a win can reignite their UFC careers and facilitate their ascent through the bantamweight division.
Main Card
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar
Alexander “Drago” Volkov vs. Greg “Prince of War” Hardy
Zelim Imadaev vs. Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Ed “Short Fuse” Herman
Ramazan “Gorets” Emeev vs. Anthony Rocco Martin
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson “White Bear” Abreu
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov vs. Sergey “Honda” Khandozkho
Roman Kopylov vs. Karl “Baby K” Roberson
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David “Sagat” Zawada
Alexander “Russian Thunder” Yakolev vs. Roosevelt “The Predator” Roberts
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie “Banzai” Kianzad
Grigorii Popov vs. Davey “Dangerous” Grant