Papy Abedi – image via UFC.com
A pair of Swedish welterweights are set to square off this April as fighters Papy Abedi (8-2) and Besam Yousef (6-1) get set to meet as part of the upcoming UFC on FUEL TV 9 event.
The matchup was first announced by Kimura.se who received the news from Abedi himself and was later confirmed by MMAjunkie.com as well.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship marks it’s return to Sweden with the April 6, 2013 television event. The Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm will serve as host again. UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs. Mousasi already has it’s headliner in light heavyweights Alexander Gustafsson and Gegard Mousasi.
Abedi is still searching for his first Octagon win having dropped two straight since debuting with the promotion in November 2011. The losses are the first of Abedi’s career having most recent lost via submission to James Head at the first UFC Sweden event in April of last year. Abedi debuted against Thiago Alves at UFC 138 and was submitted in the first round.
Yousef is in a similar boat as Abedi, going undefeated in his career until stepping inside the Octagon for the first time. As well, both fighters were in action at last year’s UFC on Fuel TV 2 show in Sweden. The bout marked Yousef’s debut, ending in first round submission to Simeon Thoresen in the second round. Previous to the loss, Yousef had won six straight, five of which came via stoppages.