Nikita Kulshin improved his undefeated record to 9-0 with a first-round knockout of Junior Melo at an LFA event. The 26-year-old lightweight from North Ossetia now has six consecutive victories in LFA over three years, having joined the promotion after already living in the United States for four years. Prior to this knockout, Kulshin won four straight fights by decision and one by knockout in his LFA debut. After the victory, Kulshin called out the UFC in his post-fight interview, stating he is ready to fight on short notice at any time. He trains at Kill Cliff gym.
Nikita Kulshin kept his undefeated record intact on April 18, stopping Junior Melo in the first round at an LFA event to push his professional mark to 9-0.
The 26-year-old lightweight from North Ossetia, Russia, has now won six consecutive bouts inside the LFA, a run that stretches back three years with the promotion. Kulshin relocated to the United States four years before signing with the LFA, and his development stateside has been steady. His first LFA appearance ended in a knockout victory, after which he strung together four straight decision wins before returning to finishing form with Saturday's stoppage of Melo.
Training out of Kill Cliff gym, Kulshin wasted no time making his intentions clear after the final horn never needed to sound. In his post-fight interview, he called out the UFC directly, stating he is ready to compete on short notice at any point.
Why it matters
- A 9-0 record with six LFA wins in three years marks Kulshin as one of the promotion's more seasoned undefeated lightweights.
- A first-round finish after four straight decisions shows he can end fights early when the opportunity presents itself.
- His public callout of the UFC, combined with an open short-notice availability, puts his name in circulation at a division where roster movement is constant.
Junior Melo's record was not available in confirmed data, but the manner of the finish — a first-round stoppage — adds weight to a résumé that Kulshin and his team are clearly ready to take to the next level.
