LAS VEGAS – Nikita Krylov needs a break.
After his UFC Fight Night 221 win Saturday at The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Krylov (30-9 MMA, 11-7 UFC) exhaled as he explained why he plans on taking a few months off.
Krylov defeated Ryan Spann (21-8 MMA, 7-3 UFC) by first-round submission to bump his winning streak to three and further build his momentum. Rest and relaxation, however, are paramount after a grueling year.
“I must do some rest and rest my body because 12 months and four fights and no rest,” Krylov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “One camp, I came back with two weeks’ rest. Then, it’s next camp, next camp. … I expended a lot of energy and I’d like to recover. … I think in autumn (a return) would be good.”
Krylov, 30, made his UFC debut in 2013 and has fought a who’s who of the light heavyweight division. With limited fresh matchups available, Krylov liked the idea of a fight vs. former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz, an opponent he was submitted by in September 2018.
“It can be any (of the) bunch (of contenders),” Krylov said. “But about me, a fight with Blachowicz (is) better than a fight with (Magomed) Ankalaev. … I know Ankalaev. It’s not like we’re necessarily friends, but we just know each other and we’re pals. So for me, it’d be more favorable to fight Blachowicz, especially where their last fight was quite even. So for me, I’d like to take Jan over Ankalaev, if I could.”
Blachowicz, 40, does not currently have a fight on the books. He most recently fought to a controversial split draw against Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 282 main event in December.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 221.