Modestas Bukauskas is right where he wants to be.
Since rejoining the UFC roster in 2023, the former Cage Warriors champion has gone 6-1 in the light heavyweight division. Bukauskas (19-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) is on a four-fight winning streak, most recently knocking out Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night 258 in September.
“The Baltic Gladiator” now has been booked against top-15 ranked Nikita Krylov (30-11 MMA, 11-9 UFC) at UFC 324, which is expected to take place Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I was expecting a top-15 matchup,” Bukauskas told MMA Junkie Radio. “I mean, four wins in a row in the light heavyweight division. Usually in the light heavyweight division, you rack up a couple of wins, things start happening very quickly for you. I’ve just sort of been building up, getting slightly more difficult opponents, just working my way up, but I knew at some point a top-15 matchup would come through.
“Actually, Nikita Krylov was one of the names that sort of I was eying up because it could have been Alonzo Menifield, Zhang Mingyang, kind of in the lower half of the top 15, and it’s all worked out. So, realistically I wasn’t surprised. I was like, OK, that was a name I was sort of looking for, and it happened, so I’m very grateful for that.”
Although Krylov is on a two-fight losing skid, he’s fought the who’s who of the division, from former champ Magomed Ankalaev, to Alexander Gustafsson, to Glover Teixeira, and Jan Blachowicz. Bukauskas might be on a different career trajectory, but he’s certainly not underestimating the Russian fighter.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Krylov,” Bukauskas said. “He’s been fighting in the UFC for many years. He’s been a mainstay within the rankings of the division for a very long time, and he always comes out very dangerous. He always presents different problems to people. He’s put on some amazing performances himself.
“So, this is very exciting for me, for me to test my skills against the best in the world, and ultimately that’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to be the best in the world, so this is now getting another step level up, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity.”
