The Russia based Fight Nights Global promotion has a big main event for it’s June show as former Bellator MMA Heavyweight Champion Vitaly Minakov will be fighting UFC veteran Antonio Silva.
Minakov (19-0-0) has won five fights under the Fight Nights Global banner, with one of those wins coming over a UFC veteran in Josh Copeland. Minakov won the Bellator MMA Heavyweight Title by defeating Alexander Volkov at Bellator 108, he would defend it once before getting stripped of the belt after a contract dispute. Minakov has also headlined four of the five Fight Nights Global cards he has competed on, with none of his fights in the promotion going the distance.
Silva (19-11-1) has only won just one of his last nine fights and he enters this fight on a four fight losing streak. Silva only did win three of his twelve fights during his UFC tenure, his last win came over Soa Palelei at UFC 190 in August 2015. Silva is also a former Elite XC Heavyweight Champion, defeating the late Justin Eilers to win the gold in 2008.
Silva is best known for his upset victory over Fedor Emelinenko, and a barnburner fight with Mark Hunt in 2013.
Fight Nights Global: Minakov vs. Big Foot takes place on Friday, June 2 from a location to be announced in St. Petersburg, Russia with Vitaly Minakov and Antonio Silva headlining.
