Lightweight Nikita Kulshin improved his record to 9-0 by knocking out Junior Melo in the first round at LFA. The 26-year-old from North Ossetia has been living in the United States for four years and now holds a perfect 6-0 record in LFA over three years, training at Kill Cliff gym. After winning four consecutive decisions, Kulshin returned to his knockout form, having also won his LFA debut by KO. Following the victory, he called out the UFC on the microphone, declaring he is ready to step in on short notice at any time.
Nikita Kulshin made a statement at LFA on April 18, 2026, stopping Junior Melo in the first round to run his professional record to a perfect nine wins and zero losses.
The 26-year-old lightweight from North Ossetia, Russia, has been based in the United States for four years and trains out of Kill Cliff gym. The finish extended his run in LFA to six consecutive victories over three years, a stretch that began with a first-round knockout in his promotional debut before he rattled off four straight decisions. Friday's stoppage marked a return to his finishing ways, capping an unblemished 6-0 slate inside the organization.
Following the bout, Kulshin took the microphone and made his ambitions clear, declaring himself ready to step into the UFC on short notice at any time.
Why it matters
- A 9-0 record with a renewed finishing finish gives Kulshin a compelling case for a UFC lightweight contract.
- His willingness to accept short-notice bookings removes a common obstacle organizations cite when passing on prospects.
- Kill Cliff FC has a track record of supplying UFC-caliber talent, raising the profile of the callout.
