Fight Nights Global features a double header this weekend with back-to-back events. First is Fight Nights Global 81 which takes place Friday Dec. 15 at Arena, Omsk in Omsk, Russia. Then on Saturday Dec. 16 at SCC Russia in Moscow is Fight Nights Global 82.
The main event of Fight Nights Global 81 features featherweight champion Alexander Matmuratov defending his title against Evgeniy Ignatiev. Matmuratov (8-3) is 4-2 in his last six fights with three of his four wins coming by knockout. The 28-year-old looks for his first three-fight win streak since 2014. Ignatiev (11-1-1) is currently riding a 10 fight win streak and hasn’t lost a fight since March 2015.
In the co-main event, undefeated women’s bantamweight Marina Mokhnatkina faces Brazil’s Karnie Silva. Mokhnatkina (3-0) has won all of her fights by submission and has yet to leave the first round in her career. Silva (9-2) heads into her Fight Nights Global debut on a four-fight win streak and hasn’t lost a matchup since a 2014 submission setback to UFC strawweight Maryna Moroz.
Headlining Fight Nights Global 82 is undefeated Russian heavyweight Vitaly Minakov facing fellow Bellator veteran Tony Johnson Jr. Minakov (20-0) was the last heavyweight champion for Bellator and is coming off a second-round TKO victory over former UFC title challenger Antonio Silva at Fight Nights Global 68. The 32-year-old has finished his last six opponents. Johnson Jr (11-3) has won four of his last five fights including a first-round TKO win over Baga Agaev at Fight Nights Global 68. The 31-year-old hasn’t been finished in a fight since a 2010 submission loss to UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
38-fight veteran Vener Galiev faces fellow Russian fighter Nikolay Gaponov in the evenings co-main event. Galiev (28-10) is coming off a TKO loss to UFC veteran Diego Brandao at Fight Nights Global 67 and he’ll look to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 2009. Gaponov (5-1) has won two-straight fight by knockout and has finished five of his six career opponents
MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas opened the betting odds for the following bouts on the Fight Nights Global 81 and 82 card today at Several Bookmakers.
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Fight Nights Global 81: Omsk
Arena Omsk, Russia
Friday 12-15-17 at 12PM ET
Main Event – Featherweight – 145 lbs
Evgeniy Ignatiev +190
Alexander Matmuratov -270
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Bantamweight – 135 lbs
Karine Silva +180
Marina Mokhnatkina -260
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Fight Nights Global 82: Minakov vs Johnson
Scc Russia, Moscow
Saturday 12-16-17 at 12PM ET
Main Event – Heavyweight – 265 lbs
Tony Johnson Jr. +265
Vitaly Minakov -385
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Lightweight – 155 lbs
Vener Galiev +110
Nikolay Gaponov -150
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