Fighters Only

Issue 124

January 2015

All the head-turning information every MMA fan needs to know.

GUSTAFSSON HEADLINES UFC’S FIRST EURO STADIUM SHOW

Alexander Gustafsson will face Anthony Johnson in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first European stadium event on January 24th. The two leading light heavies will do battle in front of 30,000 fans at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, to decide who will be next in line for a title shot after Jon Jones defends against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 earlier in the month.

‘The Mauler’ was set to rematch Jones for the belt at UFC 178 in September, but had to pull out of the fight due to a knee injury. Despite his title hopes being put on hiatus, he is just as excited to fight in front of his countrymen for the first time since the UFC debuted there in 2012.

“This is going to be an epic event. I want more than 30,000 fans to come and witness me win on January 24th,” said Gustafsson. Then I’m going to go and get the title. My journey back to the top starts now.”

Former welterweight turned 205lb knockout artist ‘Rumble’ Johnson will look to cap a remarkable year inside the Octagon with an upset in Sweden. Despite only ever fighting outside of the US once in his career – a loss to now fellow Blackzilians teammate Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 – Johnson is supremely confident in his chances of silencing the Swedish fanbase.

“This fight might be on his home turf, but I’m ready to go over to Sweden and prove that I’m the next in the line for the UFC light heavyweight title,” Johnson said. “I’m not intimidated by fighting in front of Alex’s hometown fans. I’m going to go in there and look for the knockout like I do in all of my fights. I can’t wait for this.”

31,704

A soccer match between Hammarby IF and Ljungskile SK at the Tele2 Arena was witnessed by 31,704 fans – the current record for a sporting event at the Stockholm stadium.

2,694 days

UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney, Australia was the first UFC event in more than seven years where every fight ended early. The last time it happened was The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale in June 2007.

BELLATOR BRINGs BRITISH INVASION TO US

Bellator MMA will have a UK vs. USA theme for its upcoming Bellator 133 card, including two title fights. The event, which will take on February 27th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, will be headlined by weltwerweight champion Douglas Lima and British slugger Paul Daley, who will return to the promotion after fighting at Bellator 72 in July 2012, when he knocked out Rudy Bears.

The co-headline fight will see 205lb champion Emanuel Newton defend his belt against undefeated tournament winner Liam McGeary. Also on the card, former light heavyweight title challenger Linton Vassell is set to take on California-based Cameroonian Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and, to super-size proceedings, Bobby Lashley will face James Thompson in a heavyweight rematch.