Nikita Kulshin scores first-round KO over Junior Melo at LFA 231

Lightweight Nikita Kulshin (9-0) knocked out Junior Melo (15-9-1) in the opening round at an LFA tournament. The 26-year-old fighter from North Ossetia has been living in the United States for four years and now trains at Kill Cliff gym. This was Kulshin's sixth fight in LFA over three years, marking his sixth consecutive victory in the promotion. Prior to this knockout, he had won four straight fights by decision and one by KO in his LFA debut. After the fight, Kulshin called out the UFC in his post-fight interview, stating he is ready to step in on short notice at any time.