AMC Fight Nights explained

AMC Fight Nights
Current Season:2022 in AMC Fight Nights
Founder:Kamil Gadzhiev, Amir Muradov
Headquarters:Moscow
Sport:Mixed martial arts
Owner:Amir Muradov
Website:http://www.fightnights.ru
Country:Russia

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 some of the top-ranking fighters of the sport.

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 mixed martial artists.

History

Founding of Fight Nights Global

The company was founded in 2010 by a 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 high-profile event happened in November 2011 in Moscow and featured the Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis facing Batu Khasikov. Batu won by TKO in the first round and broke his opponent's jaw.

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 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 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 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) in Saint Petersburg featured a fight card headlined by 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 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.

Rename to AMC Fight Nights Global

In 2020 November Fight Nights Global owner Kamil Gadzhiev sold his promotion to AMC Company owner Amir Muradov. After that they renamed the promotion to AMC Fight Nights Global.[9] [10]

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
Events by date
No.Event DateVenueLocation
134AMC Fight Nights 123Live Arena Moscow, Russia
133AMC Fight Nights 122Live Arena Moscow, Russia
132AMC Fight Nights 121Irina Viner-Usmanova Gymnastics Palace Moscow, Russia
131AMC Fight Nights 120Volga Sport Arena Ulyanovsk, Russia
130AMC Fight Nights 119Volga Sport Arena Ulyanovsk, Russia
129AMC Fight Nights 118Red Arena Sochi, Russia
128AMC Fight Nights 117Adrenaline Stadium Moscow, Russia
127AMC Fight Nights 116 Astrakhan, Russia
126AMC Fight Nights 115Red Arena Sochi, Russia
125AMC Fight Nights 114Stadium Dinamo Minsk, Belarus
124AMC Fight Nights 113Basket-Hall Krasnodar Krasnodar, Russia
123AMC Fight Nights 112Irina Viner-Usmanova Gymnastics Palace Moscow, Russia
122AMC Fight Nights 111Fetisov Arena Vladivostok, Russia
121AMC Fight Nights 110SZK Zvozdnyy Astrakhan, Russia
120AMC Fight Nights 109Red Arena Sochi, Russia
119AMC Fight Nights 108Crocus Expo, Aquarium Arena Krasnogorsk, Russia
118AMC Fight Nights: 107Minsk Arena Minsk, Belarus
117AMC Fight Nights: 106Renova Ksts Syktyvkar, Russia
116AMC Fight Nights: 105WOW Arena Sochi, Russia
115AMC Fight Nights: 104WOW Arena Sochi, Russia
114AMC Fight Nights: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Memory TournamentCrocus Expo Arena Moscow, Russia
113AMC Fight Nights 103WOW Arena Sochi, Russia
112AMC Fight Nights 102Ivan Yarygin Sports Palace Krasnoyarsk, Russia
111AMC Fight Nights 101: Primorsky Krai Governor's CupFetisov Arena Vladivostok, Russia
110AMC Fight Nights 100Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
109AMC Fight Nights: Vladimir Voronov Memory TournamentThe world concert hall Moscow, Russia
108WOW Arena Sochi, Russia
107Arena Metallurg Magnitogorsk, Russia
106Basket Hall Moscow, Russia
105Basket Hall Moscow, Russia
104 Moscow, Russia
103 Elista, Russia
102Irina Viner-Usmanova
Gymnastics Palace		 Moscow, Russia
101KSK ExpressRostov on Don, Russia
100DIVS Ekaterinburg, Russia
99Adrenaline Stadium Moscow, Russia
98 Sochi, Russia
97Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
96Mytishchi Arena Mytishchi, Russia
95Luzhniki Palace of SportsMoscow, Russia
94Fight Nights Global 91Cition Hall Moscow, Russia
93Fight Nights Global 90: Mineev vs. IsmailovVTB Ice Palace Moscow, Russia
92Fight Nights Global 89TBA Bozhou, China
91Fight Nights Global 88Alau Arena Astana, Kazakhstan
90TBA Bozhou, China
89KSK Express Rostov-on-Don, Russia
88Almaty Arena Almaty, Kazakhstan
87VTB Ice Palace Moscow, Russia
86Hant Arena Bratislava, Slovakia
85Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
align=center 84Fight Nights Global 82: Minakov vs. Johnson Moscow, Russia
align=center 83Fight Nights Global 81: Matmuratov vs. IgnatievArena Omsk Omsk, Russia
align=center 82Fight Nights Global 80: Khamitov vs. Queally Almaty, Kazakhstan
align=center 81Fight Nights Global 79: Pavlovich vs. SidelnikovDiesel Arena Penza, Russia
align=center 80Fight Nights Global 78: Tsarev vs. GuseinovLada Arena Tolyatti, Russia
align=center 79Fight Nights Global 77: Krylov vs. NewtonSOK Energetik Surgut, Russia
align=center 78Fight Nights Global 76: Bagautinov vs. MartinezOlympus Arena Krasnodar, Russia
77Fight Nights Global 75: Deák vs. ChistyakovYubileyny Sports Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia
align=center 76Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
align=center 75Fight Nights Global 73: Aliev vs. BrandãoAli Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia
align=center 74Ice Cube Sochi, Russia
align=center 73Luzhniki Palace of Sports Moscow, Russia
align=center 72FSK Sports Complex Ulan-Ude, Russia
align=center 71Ice Sports Palace Sibir Novosibirsk, Russia
70Yubileyny Sports Palace Saint Petersburg, Russia
align=center 69DIVS Arena Ekaterinburg, Russia
align=center 68Ali Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia
align=center 67Barys Arena Astana, Kazakhstan
align=center 66VTB Arena Moscow, Russia
align=center 65Fetisov Arena Vladivostok, Russia
align=center 64Krylatskoye Sports Palace Moscow, Russia
align=center 63Fight Nights Global 61: Aleksakhin vs. EnomotoBryansk Ice Palace Bryansk, Russia
align=center 62Fight Nights Global 60: Aryshev vs. KhasanovTax Committee Sports Center Dushanbe, Tajikistan
align=center 61Fight Nights Global 59: Minakov vs. LindermanInnovator Sports Palace Khimki, Russia
align=center 60Fight Nights Global 58: Brandão vs. MachaevAli Aliyev Sports Palace Kaspiysk, Russia

Current champions

Mixed martial arts

Division Champion Since Defenses
HeavyweightVacant
Light Heavyweight Vagab VagabovOctober 16, 20211
MiddleweightSeptember 9, 20201
Welterweight Dmitry BikrevApril 6, 20194
Lightweight Alexander SarnavskiyFebruary 23, 20240
FeatherweightVacant
Bantamweight Sabit ZhusupovOctober 14, 20221
FlyweightVacant

Championship history

Heavyweight Championship

over 93 kg (over 205 lb)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Ponomarev vacated the title when he signed for ACA. [11]
3align=left align=center
align=center October 14, 2022align=left
2align=left Yusup Shuaev
align=center AMC Fight Nights 110
align=center March 25, 2022align=left
Sergei Pavlovich vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
1align=left Sergei Pavlovich
align=center FNG 68
align=center June 2, 2017align=left

Light Heavyweight Championship

93 kg (205 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Currentalign=left Vagab Vagabov align=center
align=center October 16, 2021align=left
4align=left Hasan Yousefi align=center AMC Fight Nights 102
align=center June 18, 2021align=left
3align=left Armen Petrosyan
align=center MMA Festival
align=center August 28, 2020align=left
Nikita Krylov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
2align=left Nikita Krylovalign=center FNG 87
align=center May 19, 2018align=left
1align=left
align=center FNG 73
align=center September 4, 2017align=left

Middleweight Championship

84 kg (185 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Interimalign=left Dmitriy Aryshev
[12] 		align=center AMC Fight Nights 122
align=center November 10, 2023align=left
Currentalign=left Vladimir Mineev
align=center FNG / GFC
align=center September 9, 2020align=left
Roman Kopylov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
2align=left Roman Kopylovalign=center FNG 85
align=center March 30, 2018align=left
1align=left
align=center FNG 66
align=center May 21, 2017align=left

Welterweight Championship

77 kg (170 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Currentalign=left Dmitry Bikrev
align=center FNG 92
align=center April 6, 2019align=left


Georgiy Kichigin vacated the title when he signed for ONE.
1align=left Georgiy Kichigin
align=center FNG 65
align=center May 19, 2017align=left

Lightweight Championship

70 kg (155 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Currentalign=left
align=center AMC Fight Nights 123
align=center February 23, 2024align=left
4align=left
align=center AMC Fight Nights 121
align=center July 14, 2023align=left
Nariman Abbasov vacated the title when he tested free agency.
3align=left Nariman Abbasov
align=center FNG 93
align=center April 26, 2019align=left



Akhmed Aliev vacated the title when he signed for PFL.
2align=left Akhmed Alievalign=center FNG 83
align=center February 22, 2018align=left
1align=left
align=center FNG 56
align=center December 9, 2016align=left

Featherweight Championship

66 kg (145 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Khabibulin vacated the title when he signed for ACA. [13]
3align=left Gleb Khabibulin
align=center AMC FN 115
align=center October 14, 2022align=left
Mukhamed Eminov vacated the title when he tested free agency.
2align=left Mukhamed Eminov
align=center
align=center March 1, 2020align=left


Alexander Matmuratov vacated the title when he signed for ACA.
1align=left
align=center FNG 62
align=center March 31, 2017align=left

Bantamweight Championship

61 kg (135 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Currentalign=left Sabit Zhusupovalign=center AMC FN 115
align=center October 14, 2022align=left [14]
3align=left
align=center
align=center February 23, 2021align=left
Evgeniy Ignatiev vacated the title when he signed for RCC Boxing Promotions
2align=left Evgeniy Ignatiev
align=center FNG 94
align=center October 12, 2019align=left
Tomáš Deák vacated the title when he signed for Oktagon MMA.
1align=left Tomáš Deák
align=center FNG 75
align=center October 6, 2017align=left

Flyweight Championship

57 kg (125 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Vartan Asatryan vacated the title when he signed for ACA. [15]
5align=left Vartan Asatryan
align=center
align=center February 23, 2022align=left
Moris Boleyan vacated the title when he tested free agency.
4align=left Moris Boleyan
align=center FNG Steel Heart XI
align=center January 22, 2021align=left
Zhalgas Zhumagulov vacated the title when he signed for UFC.
3align=left align=center FNG 88
align=center August 31, 2018align=left
2align=left Tagir Ulanbekovalign=center FNG 76
align=center October 8, 2017align=left
1align=left Vartan Asatryan
align=center FNG 65
align=center May 19, 2017align=left

Women's Bantamweight Championship

61 kg (135 lbs)

style= width:1%;"No.style= width:21%;"Namestyle= width:15%;"Eventstyle=width:15%;"Datestyle= width:48%;"Defenses
Currentalign=center Vacantalign=center N/Aalign=center N/Aalign=center N/A
Liana Jojua vacated the title when she signed for UFC.
1align=left Liana Jojua
align=center FNG 83
align=center February 22, 2018align=left

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Cyrus Fees joins Fight Nights Global. The Underground. 2018-02-02.
  2. News: Banned hockey enforcer gets offer from Russian MMA promotion. Bloody Elbow. 2018-02-02.
  3. News: Fight Nights Global signs Rousimar Palhares, Ali Bagautinov. MMA Fighting. 2018-02-02.
  4. Web site: Kamil Gadzhiyev: "FIGHT NIGHTS introduces the system of doping control". greatest.info. 2017-03-21.
  5. Web site: Former Bellator MMA Champion Facing Bigfoot Silva At Fight Nights Global Event Fightful MMA. www.fightful.com. en. 2018-02-02.
  6. Web site: Uitslagen : Fight Nights Global 69 : Bagautinov vs. Nobre. DNA. MMA. mmadna.nl. en-US. 2018-02-02.
  7. News: Diego Brandao leaps over cage in anger at Fight Nights Global 73. 2017-09-04. FanSided. 2018-02-02. en-US.
  8. News: Nikta Krylov meets Emanuel Newton at Fight Nights Global 68, promotion's fourth event in 2-week stretch. 2017-05-07. MMAjunkie. 2018-02-02. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2022-01-15 . The owner of AMC Fight Nights advised Shlemenko not to move to the UFC: “This is a step back” - WMMAA . 2022-11-15 . en-US.
  10. Web site: Компания AMC купила организатора боев ММА Fight Nights Global - ТАСС . 2022-11-15 . TACC.
  11. Web site: Чемпион AMC Fight Nights в тяжелом весе Пономарев подписал контракт с АСА . mma.metaratings.ru . ru . March 28, 2023.
  12. Web site: Арышев победил Мачадо и стал временным чемпионом AMC Fight Nights в среднем весе . fight.ru . ru . November 10, 2023.
  13. Web site: Чемпион AMC Fight Nights Хабибуллин подписал контракт с ACA . mma.metaratings.ru . ru . May 17, 2023.
  14. Web site: Сабит Жусупов нокаутировал Вандерлея Джуниора и сохранил чемпионский пояс AMC Fight Nights . fight.ru . ru . November 10, 2023.
  15. Web site: Экс-чемпион AMC Fight Nights Асатрян подписал контракт с ACA . mma.metaratings.ru . ru . February 8, 2023.

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