There has already been a change to the main event for Eagle
Fighting Championship’s United States debut.
According to an initial report from
ESPN, Sergei
Kharitonov will step in for Antonio
Silva and face Tyrone
Spong in the three-round heavyweight headliner. Eagle FC 44
takes place on Jan. 28 at FLX Arena in Miami and is also expected
to include the return of former UFC champion Rashad
Evans.
A veteran of Pride Fighting Championships, Strikeforce, Bellator,
K-1 and Dream, Kharitonov went 1-1 in mixed martial arts bouts in
2021. After suffering a second-round submission loss to Cheick Kongo
at Bellator 265, the 41-year-old Russian defeated Fabio
Maldonado via first-round TKO at Parus Fight Championship on
Nov. 6. Kharitonov also defeated Osborn Machimana in a boxing match
at M1 Fight Night this past June.
Spong, meanwhile, has not competed in MMA since going 2-0 under the
World Series of Fighting banner from 2012 to 2013. The 36-year-old
Suriname native is an accomplished combat sports athlete who won
multiple titles in kickboxing and is currently the WBC Latino
heavyweight champion and WBO Latino heavyweight champion in
boxing.