Nikita Krylov didn’t just win at UFC 324; with just a few seconds left in the fight, Krylov detonated a left hand that erased Modestas Bukauskas and sent Joe Rogan into disbelief. Coming off a two-fight losing streak, both stoppage losses, Krylov needed more than just a win; he needed to make a statement. And at the final buzzer, he delivered it in the loudest way possible.

The finish didn’t just save his night; it reignited a career that many had quietly written off. And when Krylov followed it up by calling out Jan Błachowicz, fans immediately leaned forward.

Krylov now holds eight finishes in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, tying him with Shogun Rua and placing him behind only Glover Teixeira, Ovince St. Preux, Chuck Liddell, and Jon Jones. That’s rare company. And at 31–11 overall, Krylov has never been short on danger, but the same cannot be said of consistency.

The opening round wasn’t flashy, but cautious. Bukauskas landed early, pressing forward and throwing combinations. Krylov responded by changing levels, pushing the fight to the fence, and forcing Bukauskas to defend rather than dictate proceedings. It wasn’t crowd-pleasing, as the boos suggested, but it was smart.

Round two looked similar, but the confidence shift was visible. Krylov’s footwork sharpened. His defense tightened. Bukauskas swung harder, but less accurately.

By the third, the math was clear. Bukauskas needed a finish, and Krylov knew it. Then, with just seconds left, Krylov planted his feet and uncorked a left hook that landed clean. Bukauskas dropped.

The horn sounded almost immediately at 4:57 of round 3 for the fourth straight finish of the night, and Rogan exclaimed, “This is the night of buzzer beaters.” Rogan was referencing the opening bouts, where Ty Miller and then Josh Hokit secured the win at 4:59 of the first round.

As for Krylov, he was calling his shot with his eyes set on a rematch with Jan Błachowicz, and that’s when the fan reactions poured in!

Fans rally behind Nikita Krylov as he delivers an emphatic buzzer-beater finish at UFC 324

One viewer laid it out perfectly with, “Fantastic to see Nikita Krylov break the defeat streak. He doesn’t appear to be terribly chinny, he was just reckless in his last fights. Made the necessary adjustments and baited Bukauskas for the finish, who was a resilient opponent but couldn’t find his range.” Against Bogdan Guskov and Dominick Reyes, he rushed exchanges and paid for it. Here, he baited Bukauskas, waited for mistakes, and chose timing over chaos.

Another pointed out, “Nikita Krylov is a bad man on his day. He and Poatan are the two most natural born finishers at 205.” Hyperbolic? Maybe. But the numbers back the sentiment. Eight UFC finishes at light heavyweight don’t happen by accident. Krylov’s instincts near the finish line are real, and when he’s measured, they’re terrifying.

Someone else wrote, “Great Finish from Nikita Krylov, really hope he has a career comeback.” That hope feels justified now. At 33, Krylov isn’t ancient by 205 standards. Light heavyweight rewards experience and timing, and Krylov finally looked like someone fighting with his experience instead of against it.

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Another fan took aim at Modestas Bukauskas with, “Getting put out cold by 2026 Nikita Krylov should get you cut from the UFC.” This one went too far, but it speaks to how shocking the finish felt. Bukauskas is durable and game. He wasn’t reckless. Krylov simply executed perfectly at the worst possible moment. That’s not an indictment of Bukauskas. It’s a reminder of Nikita Krylov’s danger.

And finally, the excitement for his callout also ignited buzz as one fan wrote, “Nikita Krylov calls out Jan Blachowicz for a rematch. I’m down for that.” So are a lot of people. Stylistically, it makes sense. Narratively, it makes even more sense as the Polish powerhouse holds a win over Krylov from back in 2018.

Now, with momentum restored and history on his side, the Jan Błachowicz rematch feels less like wishful thinking and more like a logical next step. At light heavyweight, where experience still counts and finishes still define legacies, Nikita Krylov reminded everyone at UFC 324 that he doesn’t need dominance to be dangerous; he just needs a moment to shut off the lights!