Australian heavyweight Peter Graham travels to Krasnodar, Russia this week where he is schedule to headline the Tech-Krep Fighting Championships event taking place at the Basket-Hall Arena on April 3. Graham meets 24-year old Russian fighter Denis Goltsov.
After a 1-2 run in Bellator MMA, 39 year-old Graham bounced back with a TKO victory over Marcin Rozalski last October after his opponent suffered an injury in the second round.
Graham is no stranger to competing in Russia having previously traveled their multiple times and defeating Aleksander Emelianenko, Salimgirey Rasulov and Konstantin Gluhov twice.
In an interview on the Tech-Krep Fighting Championships website, the promoter Alexey Yatsenko spoke about not counting Peter Graham out due to his age (via google translate):
It is clear that he was at that age when heavy weight fighters to finish his career. But if you look at his last fights, then Peter’s early to write off. He is very experienced and has devastating punches and legs. When Dennis says that this is his most difficult opponent in his career – this is the case, in the battle with Graham. Goltsov will have to work hard head. As for predictions, it all depends on who is able to impose his technique.”
Goltsov will arguably be Graham’s toughest Russian opponent to date and comes into the fight with a reported eight fight win streak that includes a win over former EliteXC and Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers. A Sambo specialist, Goltsov will no doubt be looking at taking the fight to the ground.
Graham is expected to travel to Moscow first where he will hold an open training session on the 61st floor of Federation Tower in Moscow City, before travelling to the fight city, Krasnodar.
Graham’s Eastern-European adventure will continue in May when he returns to Polish promotion KSW where he faces off against Karol Bedorf.
