Khabib Nurmagomedov is going big with his MMA promotion Eagle Fighting Championship as he prepares to bring it to the U.S.A. The event Eagle FC 44 will take on January 28th next year. The event will also see former UFC light heavyweight champion and Hall of Famer Rashad Evans come out of retirement for a match.
Previously, the event was supposed to have a heavyweight clash between Tyrone Spong and Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva as their main event. According to ESPN, officials have revealed that Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva won’t be taking part in the event because of undisclosed reasons. As of now, Russian fighter Sergei Kharitonov will replace Silva to take on Tyrone Spong.
Tyrone Spong is a master Kickboxer, however, the 36-year-old hasn’t taken part in any MMA tournament since 2013. Whereas Sergei Kharitonov of Russia is a seasoned veteran who has fought in big promotions such as Bellator and Pride Fighting Championships. Additionally, the Russian has taken part in 3 bouts in 2021.
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‘The Eagle’ who is also the promoter for the event, will announce the details in a press conference tomorrow in Miami. The event will take place in the FLX arena in Miami, notably, in a bid to promote its viewership outside of Russia.
What is Eagle FC by Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Eagle FC was formerly known as Gorilla FC. Gorilla FC was a Russia-based MMA promotion that was purchased by Khabib Nurmagomedov after his retirement last year in 2020. ‘The Eagle’ is the owner of the promotion and also serves as its promoter.
After the purchase, the Russian rebranded it to Eagle Fighting Championship, to better fit his brand. ‘The Eagle’ aims to make it a feeder league for the UFC, as its mission is to serve as a launchpad for capable fighters to venture to the world stage.
Nurmagomedov has also made a deal with UFC president Dana White regarding the same. This deal serves the purpose of giving fans access to Eagle FC fights through the UFC Fight Pass.
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The Russian claimed the same in an interview. He said, “I had this offer to Dana White,I wanted to make a contract with UFC Fight Pass, to broadcast EFC fights there, kind of like their contract with M-1 but a bit different… It’s no secret everyone wants to get into the UFC. Other promotions want their fighters to stay. I don’t want that. I want EFC to be a launchpad into the world stage.”
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What do you think about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s new venture? Are you excited about Eagle FC events? Tell us in the comments below.