AMC Fight Nights

AMC Fight Nights (or Fight Nights Global before 2021) is a Russian mixed martial arts organization that previously hosted K-1 and other martial arts events. It is one of the largest promotion companies in the world[1] and features the top-ranking fighters of the sport.

AMC Fight Nights
TypePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2010 (2010)
FounderKamil Gadzhiev
Headquarters,
Websitehttp://www.fightnights.ru

Fight Nights Global produces events worldwide, with the first one being held in 2010 in Moscow. As of 2018, Fight Nights Global has held over 80 events in different cities: Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, Rostov-On-Don, Perm, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Sochi, Bryansk, Kostroma, Nizhnevartovsk, Kaspiysk, Astana, Elista, Grozny, Dushanbe, Minsk and more.

In different years the company's shows featured Fedor Emelianenko, Batu Khasikov, Vitaly Minakov, Rasul Mirzaev, Ali Bagautinov, Vladimir Mineev, Andrei Arlovski, Alexander Shlemenko, Shamil Zavurov, Murad Machaev, Gasan Umalatov, Antônio Silva, Viktor Pešta, Fábio Maldonado and many other eminent mixed martial artists.

On June 5, 2017 the company celebrated its seven-year anniversary.

History

Founding of Fight Nights Global

The company was founded in 2010 by a renowned Russian athlete, businessman and sports ambassador Kamil Gadzhiev together with a multiple time world kickboxing champion Batu Khasikov, a television producer Sangadji Tarbaev, the "SHANDESIGN" studio head Sergei Shanovich and the Goldman Sachs Russia CEO Sergey Arsenyev. At that time the company was called FIGHT NIGHTS and later rebranded as Eurasia Fight Nights (EFN).

2010-2015: early years

Initially, Fight Nights Global (at that time called FIGHT NIGHTS) fights were held in a ring under MMA and K-1 rules. The first event featured Lightweight Grand Prix, which was won by Murad Machaev. In the main event Batu Khasikov knocked out Ricardo Fernandes. Rasul Mirzaev defeated Marat Pekov via judges decision and became the first FIGHT NIGHTS champion in the Featherweight category.

The first truly high-profile event happened in November 2011 in Moscow and featured the famous Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis facing Batu Khasikov. Batu won by TKO in the first round and broke his opponent's jaw. That was widely perceived as a lucky punch and talks about a rematch arose.

In 2012, the company held seven major events with the final one being "FIGHT NIGHTS: Battle of Moscow 9" on December 16. The show featured the debut of the UFC ex-champion Andrei Arlovski. The decorated Belarusian fighter defeated Mike Hayes from the United States via a unanimous decision.

Vitaly Minakov, Fight Nights Global promotion's household name, signed a contract with Bellator MMA in 2012.

In 2013, Vitaly won the Bellator heavyweight Grand Prix tournament and then won the Bellator MMA belt by knocking out Alexander Volkov in the first round. In April 2013, Vitaly became the first FIGHT NIGHTS fighter to make his way to the UFC. The next one was Ali Bagautinov who competed in the Flyweight division and signed a contract with the UFC after a convincing victory over the experienced Japanese mixed martial artist Seiji Ozuka.

In June 2013 the company started using an octagonal cage that is popular in the MMA industry. In November 2013, the company hosted the first event outside of Russia, “FIGHT NIGHTS: Battle on the Nyamiha" at Minsk-Arena, Belarus. The main attraction of the night was the long-awaited home performance by Andrei Arlovski.

Batu Khasikov had his last professional fight in March 2014 at “Fight Nights: Battle Of Moscow 15” where he again fought Mike Zambidis. The fight went all five rounds, Khasikov was the victor. Vladimir Mineev debuted in MMA at “Fight Nights: Battle Of Moscow 17”. The final tournament of 2014 featured Alexander Shlemenko vs. Yasubey Enomoto.

2015-2016: rise in popularity, rebranding and Summa acquisition

In 2015 the company hosted four major shows (Fight Nights: Battle Of Moscow 19, Fight Nights: Sochi, Fight Nights: Dagestan, Fight Nights: Petersburg) and eighteen selection tournaments “Fight club FIGHT NIGHTS".

Vitaly Minakov used his interim in Bellator MMA to return to the Fight Nights Global promotion. From July 2015 to June 2016 the four-time Sambo world champion fought in 4 matches, winning early victories over Adam Maciejewski (Poland), Geronimo dos Santos (Brazil), Josh Copeland (USA) and Peter Graham (Australia).

In 2016 the company was bought by Summa Group, a conglomerate that invested in port logistics, engineering, construction, telecommunications, sports, oil and gas that was founded by Dagestani billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov.[2] Kamil Gadzhiev, who is also the Vice-President of Moscow MMA Federation, became the president of the newly established Fight Nights Global. Backed by substantial investments of Summa Group, 2016 was the year of a massive breakthrough for FNG on the Russian market.

Fight Nights Global 50 (June 17, 2016) became a landmark event in the history of the promotion company. The anniversary show in Saint Petersburg featured a truly enchanting fight card, headlined by the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. 4 years after retirement, "The Last Emperor" decided to come back to professional sports in the Fight Nights Global cage versus one of the most uncompromising strikers of the UFC, Fabio Maldonado. The tough match ended with a split decision win for the Russian athlete. The event was broadcast worldwide via UFC Fight Pass.

2017-present: global growth

In 2017 Fight Nights Global determined champions in all eight weight categories among men and inked plenty of international talent to the roster including Rousimar Palhares, Josh Hill, Tyson Nam and the returning Ali Bagautinov to multi-fight contracts.[3]

The company hosted 25 events, discovering new cities and countries, including Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, Omsk, Penza, Tolyatti, Surgut, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Bryansk and Ulan-Ude in Russia.

Fight Night Global president Kamil Gadzhiev announced that the promotion will introduce the Anti-Doping Control System.[4]

Fight Nights Global 68, which took place during the International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, showcased Vitaly Minakov vs. Antonio Silva.[5] Later, Novosibirsk hosted Fight Nights Global 69, where Ali Bagautinov defeated Pedro Nobre.[6] In September, the notorious Fight Nights Global 73 took place. It featured the Russian-Brazilian confrontations Shamil Amirov vs. Rousimar Palhares, Kurban Omarov vs. Fabio Maldonado and Akhmed Aliev vs. Diego Brandao in the main event, which ended with a scandal.[7]

Other iconic events of the year were Fight Nights Global 77, where newly-signed Nikita Krylov KO’ed Emanuel Newton[8] and Fight Nights Global 82, where the undefeated heavyweight Vitaly Minakov TKO’ed the top fighter from the USA, Tony Johnson.

In 2018 the company announced more international shows, including events in Brazil, USA and EU.

Rules

Fight Nights Global rules are based on the Russian MMA regulations. Elbow strikes on the ground are legal. Referees have the right to raise fighters in a stand up in the absence of activity. If the fight is a draw, additional rounds are not assigned. A typical event lasts five hours and features 11 bouts. Bouts last 3 rounds 5 minutes each and champion bouts or main event bouts are 5 rounds 5 minutes each. The championship features 8 male and 2 female weight categories: 57 kg, 61 kg, 66 kg, 70 kg, 77 kg, 84 kg, 93 kg and over 93 kg.

List of AMC Fight Nights events

By year
Scheduled events
ACA
No. Event Date Venue Location
1 Fight Nights Global: Steel Heart XI January 22, 2021 Arena Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Russia
Events by date
No. Event Date Venue Location
106 AMC Fight Nights Global 99 December 25, 2020 Basket Hall Moscow, Russia
105 AMC Fight Nights Global: Winter Cup December 24, 2020 Basket Hall Moscow, Russia
104 Fight Nights Global 98: Amirov vs Bikrev September 25, 2020 Moscow, Russia
103 Fight Nights Global 97 September 19, 2020 Elista, Russia
102 Fight Nights Global & GFC: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Memory Tournament September 9, 2020 Irina Viner-Usmanova Gymnastics Palace Moscow, Russia
101 MMA Festival: 75th Anniversary of the Great Victory August 28, 2020 KSK Express Rostov on Don, Russia
100 Festival Stepping into Immortality March 1, 2020 DIVS Ekaterinburg, Russia
99 Fight Nights Global 96 December 28, 2019 Adrenaline Stadium Moscow, Russia
98 Fight Nights Global 95 October 19, 2019 Sochi, Russia
97 Fight Nights Global 94 October 12, 2019 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
96 Fight Nights Global 93: Mytyshchi Cup April 26, 2019 Mytishchi Arena Mytishchi, Russia
95 Fight Nights Global 92: Bagautinov vs. Asatryan April 6, 2019 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
94 Fight Nights Global 91 December 27, 2018 Cition Hall Moscow, Russia
93 Fight Nights Global 90: Mineev vs. Ismailov October 19, 2018 VTB Ice Palace Moscow, Russia
92 Fight Nights Global 89 September 8, 2018 TBA Bozhou, China
91 Fight Nights Global 88 August 31, 2018 Alau Arena Astana, Kazakhstan
90 Fight Nights Global: Summer Cup 2018 June 30, 2018 TBA Bozhou, China
89 Fight Nights Global 87: Khachatryan vs. Queally May 19, 2018 KSK Express Rostov-on-Don, Russia
88 Fight Nights Global 86: Nam vs. Zhumagulov April 1, 2018 Almaty Arena Almaty, Kazakhstan
87 Fight Nights Global 85: Alikhanov vs. Kopylov March 30, 2018 VTB Ice Palace Moscow, Russia
86 Fight Nights Global 84: Deák vs. Chupanov March 2, 2018 Hant Arena Bratislava, Slovakia
85 Fight Nights Global 83: Alibekov vs. Aliev February 22, 2018 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
84 Fight Nights Global 82: Minakov vs. Johnson December 16, 2017 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
83 Fight Nights Global 81: Matmuratov vs. Ignatiev December 15, 2017 Arena Omsk Omsk, Russia
82 Fight Nights Global 80: Khamitov vs. Queally November 26, 2017 Almaty Arena Almaty, Kazakhstan
81 Fight Nights Global 79: Pavlovich vs. Sidelnikov November 19, 2017 Diesel Arena Penza, Russia
80 Fight Nights Global 78: Tsarev vs. Guseinov November 4, 2017 Lada Arena Tolyatti, Russia
79 Fight Nights Global 77: Krylov vs. Newton October 13, 2017 SOK Energetik Surgut, Russia
78 Fight Nights Global 76: Bagautinov vs. Martinez October 8, 2017 Olympus Arena Krasnodar, Russia
77 Fight Nights Global 75: Deák vs. Chistyakov October 6, 2017 Yubileyny Sports Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia
76 Fight Nights Global 74: Aleksakhin vs. Graves September 29, 2017 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
75 Fight Nights Global 73: Aliev vs. Brandão September 4, 2017 Ali Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia
74 Fight Nights Global 72: Hill vs. Engibaryan August 24, 2017 Ice Cube Sochi, Russia
73 Fight Nights Global 71: Mineev vs. Michailidis July 29, 2017 Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
72 Fight Nights Global 70: Palhares vs. Ivanov July 7, 2017 FSK Sports Complex Ulan-Ude, Russia
71 Fight Nights Global 69: Bagautinov vs. Nobre June 30, 2017 Ice Sports Palace Sibir Novosibirsk, Russia
70 Fight Nights Global 68: Pavlovich vs. Mokhnatkin June 2, 2017 Yubileyny Sports Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia
69 Fight Nights Global 67: Brandão vs. Galiev May 25, 2017 DIVS Arena Ekaterinburg, Russia
68 Fight Nights Global 66: Alikhanov vs. Murtazaliev May 21, 2017 Ali Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia
67 Fight Nights Global 65: Asatryan vs. Zhumagulov May 19, 2017 Barys Arena Astana, Kazakhstan
66 Fight Nights Global 64: Nam vs. Bagautinov April 27, 2017 VTB Arena Moscow, Russia
65 Fight Nights Global 63: Alibekov vs. Khamitov April 21, 2017 Fetisov Arena Vladivostok, Russia
64 Fight Nights Global 62: Matmuratov vs.Kurzanov March 31, 2017 Krylatskoye Sports Palace Moscow, Russia
63 Fight Nights Global 61: Aleksakhin vs. Enomoto March 11, 2017 Bryansk Ice Palace Bryansk, Russia
62 Fight Nights Global 60: Aryshev vs. Khasanov March 4, 2017 Tax Committee Sports Center Dushanbe, Tajikistan
61 Fight Nights Global 59: Minakov vs. Linderman February 23, 2017 Innovator Sports Palace Khimki, Russia
60 Fight Nights Global 58: Brandão vs. Machaev January 28, 2017 Ali Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia

Current champions

Mixed martial arts

DivisionChampionSinceDefenses
Heavyweight Vacant N/A N/A
Light Heavyweight Armen Petrosyan August 28, 2020 1
Middleweight Vladimir Mineev September 9, 2020 0
Welterweight Dmitry Bikrev April 6, 2019 1
Lightweight Nariman Abbasov April 26, 2019 1
Featherweight Mukhamed Eminov March 1, 2020 2
Bantamweight Vacant February 23, 2021 0
Flyweight Moris Boleyan January 22, 2021 0

Championship history

Heavyweight Championship

+120 kg (265 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Vacant N/A N/A N/A
Sergei Pavlovich vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
1 Sergei Pavlovich
def. Mikhail Mokhnatkin
FNG 68
Saint Petersburg, Russia
June 2, 2017 1. def. Kirill Sidelnikov at FNG 79 on Nov 19, 2017

Light Heavyweight Championship

93 kg (205 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Armen Petrosyan
def. Artur Aliskerov
MMA Festival
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
August 28, 2020 1. def. Anatoly Kondratiev at FNG Steel Heart XI on Jan 22, 2021
Nikita Krylov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
2 Nikita Krylov FNG 87
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
May 19, 2018
1 Fábio Maldonado
def. Kurban Omarov
FNG 73
Kaspiysk, Russia
September 4, 2017

Middleweight Championship

84 kg (185 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Vladimir Mineev
def. Dauren Ermekov
FNG / GFC
Moscow, Russia
September 9, 2020
Roman Kopylov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
2 Roman Kopylov FNG 85
Moscow, Russia
March 30, 2018 1. def. Yasubey Enomoto at FNG 91 on Dec 27, 2018
1 Abusupyan Alikhanov
def. Khalid Murtazaliev
FNG 66
Kaspiysk, Russia
May 21, 2017

Welterweight Championship

77 kg (170 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Dmitry Bikrev
def. Maxim Butorin
FNG 92
Moscow, Russia
April 6, 2019 1. NC vs. Shamil Amirov at FNG 98 on September 25, 2020
Georgiy Kichigin vacated the title when he signed for ONE.
1 Georgiy Kichigin
def. Gadzhimurad Khiramagomedov
FNG 65
Astana, Kazakhstan
May 19, 2017 1. def. Magomed Nurov at FNG 80 on Nov 26, 2017

Lightweight Championship

70 kg (155 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Nariman Abbasov
def. Kuat Khamitov
FNG 93
Mytishchi, Russia
April 26, 2019 1. def. Mikhail Gogitidze at FNG 98 on September 25, 2020
Akhmed Aliev vacated the title when he signed for PFL.
2 Akhmed Aliev FNG 83
Moscow, Russia
February 22, 2018
1 Magomedsaygid Alibekov
def. Nariman Abbasov
FNG 56
Vladivostok, Russia
December 9, 2016 1. def. Kuat Khamitov at FNG 63 on April 21, 2017

Featherweight Championship

66 kg (145 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Mukhamed Eminov
def. Aleksandr Grozin
Festival Stepping into Immortality
Ekaterinburg, Russia
March 1, 2020

1. def. Muratbek Kasymbay at FNG / GFC on Sept 9, 2020
2. def. Akhmed Balkizov at FNG 99 on Dec 25, 2020

Alexander Matmuratov vacated the title when he signed for ACA.
1 Alexander Matmuratov
def. Ilya Kurzanov
FNG 62
Moscow, Russia
March 31, 2017 1. def. Evgeniy Ignatiev at FNG 81 on Dec 15, 2017

Bantamweight Championship

61 kg (135 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Evgeniy Ignatiev vacated the title when he signed for RCC Boxing Promotions
2 Evgeniy Ignatiev
def. Nikita Boltabaev
FNG 94
Moscow, Russia
October 12, 2019
Tomáš Deák vacated the title when he signed for Oktagon MMA.
1 Tomáš Deák
def. Nikita Chistyakov
FNG 75
Moscow, Russia
October 6, 2017 1. def. Sharamazan Chupanov at FNG 84 on March 2, 2018

Flyweight Championship

57 kg (125 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Moris Boleyan
def. Anatoly Kondratyev
FNG Steel Heart XI
Magnitogorsk, Russia
January 22, 2021
Zhalgas Zhumagulov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
3 Zhalgas Zhumagulov FNG 88
Astana, Kazakhstan
August 31, 2018 1. def. Ali Bagautinov at FNG 95 on October 19, 2019
2 Tagir Ulanbekov FNG 76
Moscow, Russia
October 8, 2017
1 Vartan Asatryan
def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov
FNG 65
Astana, Kazakhstan
May 19, 2017

Women's Bantamweight Championship

61 kg (135 lbs)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
Current Vacant N/A N/A N/A
Liana Jojua vacated the title when she signed for UFC.
1 Liana Jojua
def. Marina Mokhnatkina
FNG 83
Moscow, Russia
February 22, 2018

Notable fighters

This is a list of fighters who currently compete and have competed in the past for Fight Nights Global:

Mixed Martial Arts

Kickboxing

References

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