Alexander Gustafsson – image via UFC.com
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced their official return to the Scandinavian country of Sweden this April as home grown fighter Alexander ‘The Mauler’ Gustafsson (15-1) gets set to welcome former Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2) to the Octagon in the headlining bout.
“Sweden is an incredible market for the UFC and we’re excited to once again bring a major UFC card to the Ericsson Globe Arena,” Garry Cook, UFC Executive Vice President and Managing Director EMEA, said. “Alexander Gustafsson is a big star in Sweden and has quickly grown in popularity worldwide thanks to his success in the Octagon. We know the fans in Sweden will make the Ericsson Globe Arena an absolutely electric atmosphere as he takes on the very talented Gegard Mousasi on April 6.”
The event is expected to be labelled UFC on FUEL TV 9, with tickets going on sale February 9, 2013 to the public.
The UFC is expected to return to the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden for the April 6th event. The promotion made it’s debut in April at the same venue, selling out the arena in three hours.
Gustafsson has won six straight inside the Octagon with his most recent victory coming last month in Seattle, Washington. At the UFC on FOX 5 event, ‘The Mauler’ faced down childhood hero Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in the co-main event and picked up a unanimous decision victory. Previous to that, Gustafsson fought Thiago Silva in Sweden at the UFC on FUEL TV 2 event, earning a decision victory in that bout also.
Mousasi fought last weekend at the final Strikeforce event in that promotions history, picking up a first round submission victory over opponent Mike Kyle. The win was Mousasi’s third straight and puts him 5-0-1 in his last six and 20-1-1 in his last twenty-two matches. Wins in that stretch include W’s over Hector Lombard, Dennis Kang, Melvin Manhoef, Mark Hunt, and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza.