Photo by Fredrik Persson
The UFC's Swedish debut has been rumored for a long time and now it's official: the promotion will bring the Octagon to Stockholm's Ericsson Globe Arena on April 14th, 2012, for an event that will be televised on Fuel TV in the U.S. The news was tweeted earlier today:
Confirmed: April 14, UFC is going to Sweden!
The only fight that's been reported for this card so far, is a welterweight scrap between Damarques Johnson and British grappler, John Maguire, but as we get closer to April, it's likely that we'll see a lot of European talent added to this event. A prime candidate for a headlining spot on the card would be Sweden's own Alexander Gustafsson, given his rapid rise up the light heavyweight ranks, and a standout performance against Vladimir Matyushenko last weekend. Other Swedish fighters on the UFC roster include: Papy Abedi, and TUF 14 agitator, Akira Corassani.
Norwegian weltweight prospect, Simeon Thoresen, was also signed by the UFC last week, and it's probably that he'll make his debut on this card as well. We'll of course keep you updated as the match-ups are booked, as well as if any new fighters are signed by the UFC.
Given the way that the UFC has run previous events in Europe, it's likely that this card will air via tape delay in the U.S., but we'll confirm the broadcast plans when they're announced.
Rumored card for UFC on Fuel 2:
0 recs | 68 comments
This is the most awesomng since the dalahäst was invented.
Im psyched! Give us Alex – lil Nog as headliner!
blodpalt - January 4, 2012
Alex-Thiago!!
Disco1Stu - January 4, 2012
Hmm
I was thinking Kalles Kaviar, but okay then :-)
Hugin - January 5, 2012 via mobile
Ironic, I just took a break from watching The Girl Who kicked the Hornet's Nest.
Sweden looks like a cool place
Skoobs - January 4, 2012
Is it any good?
I really liked the first one, but watching the sequel wasn’t really on my priority list.
Unabomberman - January 4, 2012
well, I'm retired and bored, so I've watched all 3 and they are really engrossing. If you can deal with subtitles.
Skoobs - January 4, 2012
It's great news
But man, as a Dane I’m gutted that Kampmann is already booked for UFC on FX 2 in Australia. The Sweden card had been heavily rumoured for March/April for some time so why not wait until it was confirmed and book Kampmann for that one?
The event should be a sell-out anyway, but I can’t see that many people making the trip from Denmark. As for myself, I’ll be waiting to see what the ticket prices are like and how the fight card shapes up.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
Is it a hassle to cross national lines or something?
crazybones - January 4, 2012
Not at all, it’s no big deal especially in the European Union. I’m thinking of going aswell!
Vetr - January 4, 2012
No, not at all
Stockholm’s just a 5-6 hour, $100 train trip away from Copenhagen. I just can’t see anyone from Denmark making an extra effort to get tickets if there’s not a single Danish fighter on the card (and besides Kampmann, we got nuthin’ … except Ole Laursen).
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
Kenneth Rosfort-Nees does pretty well on the European circuit doesn’t he?
exzacht - January 4, 2012 via mobile
I guess so
I still think it’s a stretch to call him UFC caliber, even as a Scandinavian. Pretty amusing that he’s fought and lost to current or past UFC fighters on three occasions, Siver in 2004, Njokuani in 2007 and Matt Veach in 2010.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
You don’t even notice the national lines between the Nordic Countries. Even before the EU membership you could cross the borders without showing even ID.
Denmark is like Sweden, they just talk funny. Norway is like Sweden, they just have a bit more money. And Finland is like Sweden, but they talk very funny (so we use English instead).
Sventsh - January 5, 2012
don't forget about the alcoholic-ecosystem
Norweigans come to Sweden for cheap liquor, Swedes goes to Denmark for cheap liquor and.. the Finns rot away in their saunas with their vodka..
the guy with the big nose - January 5, 2012
Bringing back memories…all those liquor buying boat trips to Denmark. In the bad old days when there still were strict limits in quantity. The whole family would go there and back five times in one day to stock alcohol (and cheese) for the next year.
Sventsh - January 5, 2012
MMAFighting announced Papy is fighting James Head at this event.
T.C. Engel - January 4, 2012 via mobile
That's a tough fight....they're giving Head.....
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
feed Forrest to Gusty
Then Forrest can bitch about fighting away from home
Bravefart - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
this will be a fun one!
Bring Gunnar Nelson to the UFC!
T.P. Grant - January 4, 2012
Yup
Him and bunch of Finnish prospects would be nice.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
The Octagon will be sponsored, and built by IKEA
and all I know is that the camera men better pan the crowd often on the broadcast to catch the hot swedish chicks
Ricardo Arguello - January 4, 2012
This card should be headlined by Gustaffson against either Lil Nog or Thiago Silva.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
+1 on Thiago. That would kick extra ass.
T.C. Engel - January 4, 2012 via mobile
But since this is on FUEL
I’m hoping Gustafsson fights Stephan Bonnar instead.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
If I was Bonnar
I’d be campaigning for Tito’s final fight, not fighting a top rising prospect who will maul him.
Tats16 - January 4, 2012
I actually think Tito would beat Stephan Bonnar
And Bonnar is due a mauling once every 4 fights or so.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
If Bonnar can survive the first round
he’ll win. Tito has nothing left in the tank after that.
Tats16 - January 4, 2012
I hope one Swedish fighter comes out to the music of ABBA
There was something in the air tonight, the stars so bright, Fernannnnndooooooo….
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
I’d come out to Ace of Base.
Tats16 - January 4, 2012
I saw the sign, and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign....
Hell yeah.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
To The Sign, right?
I mean…they recorded no other songs, did they?
Wait, don’t get mad…
Unabomberman - January 4, 2012
Look up "All That She Wants"
It’s kinda like some sort of EuroPop-Reggae fusion.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
hey
they have lots of good ones.
Tats16 - January 4, 2012
It’s a Beautiful Life
Horselover Fat - January 5, 2012
Keeping my fingers crossed for Nationalteatern. Do it Alex.
Disco1Stu - January 4, 2012
I also would approve of this version
Disco1Stu - January 4, 2012
And this. I’m on a roll
Disco1Stu - January 4, 2012
NICE!
The Hellacopters are great!
Atomic Salmon - January 4, 2012
If Alex
enters Globen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBdN8MGHosQ
I will die as a happy man.
blodpalt - January 5, 2012
Nationalteatern would be awesome
So would this. Or this if you really wanted to fuck your opponent (and the crowd) up.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
Somebody needs to come out to some good ol Swedish Metal!
Soilwork, In Flames, The Haunted, Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquility, or At The Gates.
soilworker - January 4, 2012
Dismember, dissection, entombed, bathory…everybody needs to walk out twice to fit the music in :P
Disco1Stu - January 4, 2012
No shit...
Scandi-metal is a vast, vast landscape of death & doom. :)
Atomic Salmon - January 4, 2012
Has anybody had luck getting Fuel added into their packages? I’ve been meaning to call mine provider (Charter) and wanted to know what your guys experiences have been.
KarateKyle - January 4, 2012
I had no problems.
Chris Hall - January 4, 2012 via Android app
Sakara vs Stann
Has been added.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
Hahahahahaha
That is a gigantic mismatch.
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
But ...
Sakara has top level boxing!! Right? Right??!
It’s a pretty strange matchup and not just because Sakara is awful. You’d think they’d be better off booking Stann for an event on US soil what with the whole war hero thing.
Oh well, should be a fun and violent scrap.
wonderfulspam - January 4, 2012
Sakara competed in pro baxing - Goldberg
SSreporters - January 4, 2012
Perhaps they are talking about his time at UPS?
Rundownloser - January 4, 2012
he's probably gonna get boo'ed for the war hero thing in the land of the neutrals
the guy with the big nose - January 4, 2012
itd be more suiting
If they sat and watched him disinterestedly
OneFitchTwoFitchRedFitchBlueFitch - January 4, 2012 via mobile
I see it as being an exciting fight, two guys who like to use nothing but fists.
Oh and my mind is blown seeing a Partick Thistle badge on BE! lol Used to go to all the matches when I lived in Glasgow(was born there).
Mustardfinger - January 5, 2012
MONTHEJAGS!!
Man, I miss being at Firhill. I’ve gone on two pilgrimages and may just be the only person on earth to watch two games at Firhill without seeing Thistle concede (a 2-0 cup win over Brechin and a 3-0 league defeat of Morton).
wonderfulspam - January 5, 2012
What are the chances of Stann actually fight Sakara?
Sakara will most likely get sick or injured.
Tats16 - January 4, 2012
WAR GUSTAV MAHLER!
it’s kinda close to Mauler Gustaffson.
some schmuck in texas - January 5, 2012
Gustaffson vs Shogun would make a nice headliner. Let’s see if Gustaffson is ready for prime time.
Shnak - January 5, 2012
Not on a UFC Fuel card I belive
After that Hando fight, he can still headline a PPW.
blodpalt - January 5, 2012
*Hendo
blodpalt - January 5, 2012
I suppose. Gustaffson vs Franklin, then? Maybe he’d take that fight now that he’s a bit more established and not an unknown anymore…
Shnak - January 5, 2012
As per Roth's interview
Franklin didn’t turn down that fight, in fact he begrudgingly accepted it after watching some tape on The Mauler but by then the UFC had already withdrawn the offer.
Gustafsson vs Thiago Silva would be bitchin’, especially since I can legitimately root against Silva as opposed to a fight against Lil Nog. Shogun/Hendo/Machida most likely won’t fight on a European Fuel TV card so it’s gotta be Franklin, Lil Nog or Silva – or someone ranked lower if they want to give Gustafsson a squash match in front of the home crowd.
wonderfulspam - January 5, 2012
Franklin told the UFC he had no idea who Gustaffson was and needed to take some time to decide… the UFC needed an answer right away. But anyways.
Good call, Franklinn, Lil Nog or Thiago Silva… All fine fights for The Mauler, especially the first two. Thiago Silva would have been too much for Gustafsson last year, but coming off a lenghty suspension, it might make it an interesting fight.
Shnak - January 5, 2012
It’s gotta be Nog or Silva unless they bring someone over from Strikeforce. I just remembered Franklin had surgery recently and won’t be back till May/June.
Gustafsson vs King Mo/Larkin would be awesome, though. A Feijao fight would be interesting as well.
wonderfulspam - January 5, 2012
Card so far:
DaMarques Johnson vs John Maguire
Alexander Gustafsson vs
Papi Abedi vs John Head
Alessio Sakkara vs Brian Stann
Magnus "Jycken" Cedenblad vs Francis Carmont.
yonsson - January 5, 2012
Besam Yousef vs Simeon Thoresen added to the card
yonsson - January 5, 2012
Who’s Be Yourself?
Shnak - January 5, 2012
NICE!
It’ll be interesting if the UFC picks up any local talent to fill out the undercard.
squaresphere - January 5, 2012
Jörgen Kruth vs Cyrille Diabaté added
Great matchup.
wonderfulspam - January 5, 2012
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