Brandao, Maldonado, Palhares cleared for Monday's Fight Nights Global 73 event in Dagestan

Russia’s Fight Nights Global promotion returns to action on Monday with a card heavy on Brazilian talent.

“FNG 73: Aliev vs. Brandao” takes place at Ali Aliev Sports Palace in Kaspiysk, Dagestan, Russia. Today, the fighters hit the scale to make the 12-fight card official.

The night’s main event featured a lightweight contest between Russia’s Akhmed Aliev (15-4) and 10-time UFC veteran and “The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner Diego Brandao (22-11). The winner is expected to challenge for a title in his next outing.

In the co-feature, undefeated Russian Kurban Omarov (8-0) faces iron-chinned Brazilian slugger Fabio Maldonado (23-11) with the promotion’s vacant light heavyweight title on the line.

And in a featured matchup, Dagestan’s Shamil Amirov (3-0) takes on leglock specialist Rousimar Palhares (19-8).

Monday’s event kicks off at 5 p.m. MDK local time (10 a.m. ET). While the card does not stream (legally) outside of Russia, Fight Nights Global will upload the full card to the promotion’s YouTube page shortly after the conclusion of the event.

The FNG 73 lineup includes:

• Akhmed Aliev (70.8 kg/156.1 lbs.) vs. Diego Brandao (70.3 kg/155 lbs.)
• Kurban Omarov (93.4 kg/205.9 lbs.) vs. Fabio Maldonado (92.8 kg/204.6 lbs.) – for vacant light heavyweight title
• Shamil Amirov (77.6 kg/171.1 lbs.) vs. Rousimar Palhares (77.5 kg/170.9 lbs.)
• Artur Aliskerov (93.1 kg) vs. Sergey Pogodaev (93 kg)
• Vladimir Dayneko (108.2 kg) vs. Sultan Murtazaliev (103 kg)
• Alexander Panov (90.5 kg) vs. Yusup Suleymanov (93.4 kg)
• Magomed Abdulvagabov (83.9 kg) vs. Nursultan Ruziboev (84.4 kg)
• Martiros Grigoryan (66.3 kg) vs. Timur Khizriev (66.2 kg)
• Solekh Khasanov (93 kg) vs. Ivan Lukin (93.4 kg)
• Miguel Filipe (57.1 kg) vs. Magomedgadzhi Gadzhiyev (57.5 kg)
• Abdulkhakim Medjidov (57.1 kg) vs. Magomedgadzhi Sirazhudinov (57.2 kg)
• Anton Lebedev vs. Ubaydula Ibragimov*

* – Weights not provided by Fight Nights Global officials

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.