Nikita Kulshin (9-0) knocked out Junior Melo (15-9-1) early in the first round at LFA 231. The 26-year-old fighter from North Ossetia has been living in the USA for four years and has now won all six of his LFA bouts over three years. His previous four LFA fights were decision victories, while his debut was also a knockout. After the fight, Kulshin called out the UFC, stating he is ready to compete on short notice at any time. He trains at Kill Cliff gym.
Nikita Kulshin moved to 9-0 as a professional with a first-round knockout of Junior Melo at LFA 231 on April 18, 2026, capping an unbeaten run through the promotion with one of his most emphatic performances yet.
The 26-year-old from North Ossetia, who has been based in the United States for four years and trains out of Kill Cliff gym, has now gone 6-0 inside the LFA over three years. His debut with the promotion was also a finish by knockout, and while his next four outings were settled on the scorecards, he returned to his finishing ways against Melo. The victory improves his professional record to a perfect nine wins from nine bouts.
Melo entered the contest carrying a record of 15-9-1, giving him a significant experience edge on paper, but Kulshin wasted little time in making that advantage irrelevant, putting the fight away early in the opening frame.
Following the win, Kulshin made his ambitions clear, calling out the UFC and stating he is available to compete on short notice at any point.
Why it matters
- A sixth consecutive LFA victory at 9-0 builds a compelling case for Kulshin to attract UFC matchmakers.
- His willingness to step in on short notice signals confidence and could accelerate a potential call-up.
- Finishing a veteran with 15 professional wins demonstrates that Kulshin's knockout power translates against experienced opposition.
