Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s MMA promotion Eagle FC will host its first-ever U.S. event on Jan. 28, and there has been a change to the main event.
The event, Eagle FC 44, was originally supposed to feature Tyrone Spong (2-0) against Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva (19-13) in a three-round heavyweight main event. Eagle FC officials confirmed Monday that Silva will no longer compete at the event, and has been replaced by Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov.
Nurmagomedov, who retired from the sport of MMA as an undefeated UFC champion, is expected to talk about the switch during a press conference on Wednesday in Miami. He has owned Eagle FC, formerly known as Gorilla Fighting Championship, since 2020. Most of Eagle FC’s events have taken place in Russia. The U.S. debut will be held at FLX Arena in Miami.
Spong, of Suriname, is an accomplished fighter in multiple combat sports. Next month will mark his first MMA event since 2013. The 36-year-old is a former kickboxing champion.
Kharitonov is an MMA veteran, with appearances in Pride Fighting Championships, DREAM, Strikeforce, M-1 and Bellator. In 2021, he fought twice in MMA and once in a boxing bout.
UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans is also expected to come out of retirement for a fight at Eagle FC 44.