Nair Melikyan earns gritty bare-knuckle win in thrilling fight against Vyacheslav Meshcherkin

Armenian fighter Nair Melikyan added another victory to his bare-knuckle career by defeating Vyacheslav “Mad Bull” Meshcherkin at RCC Hard 15. The brutal and spectacular bout went the full distance and ended with a split decision in Melikyan’s favor, despite a final-round knockdown.

From the opening bell, Melikyan took control: pushing forward, cornering his opponent on the ropes, and landing powerful combinations. However, in the second round, Meshcherkin stepped up the aggression and began exchanging blows, turning the fight into a fierce brawl.

The climax came in the third round, with both fighters pushing their limits. Melikyan visibly slowed down toward the end, allowing the Russian to score a knockdown. Still, the judges awarded the victory to the Armenian based on the overall rounds — a well-earned win.

Earlier, Nair Melikyan won the GAMA Grand Prix in Georgia in bare-knuckle fighting, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the post-Soviet region.