UFC president Dana White announced on Wednesday that “The Mauler” and “Rumble” will headline the first international UFC on FOX card in Sweden on Jan. 24, with the preliminary card airing on Fox Sports 1. The organization also distributed a press release to media to announce the news.
The event takes place at the 30,000-seat Tele2 Arena in Stockholm.
Gustafsson (16-2) returns to his home country of Sweden for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Thiago Silva in 2012. The light heavyweight, who came up short against UFC champion Jon Jones in 2013, enters the bout coming off a second-round win over Jimi Manuwa. He was scheduled to rematch Jones in September, but was forced out of the title fight with an injury.
Johnson (18-4), who was recently cleared to compete after being sidelined due to allegations of domestic abuse, is 2-0 since returning to the UFC with dominant wins over Phil Davis and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the last couple wins of his current eight-fight undefeated streak.
“This is going to be an epic event,” Gustafsson told UFC.com. “I want more than 30,000 fans to come and witness me win on January 24. Then I’m going to go and get the title! My journey back to the top starts now.”
“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!”
UFC president Dana White announced on Wednesday that “The Mauler” and “Rumble” will headline the first international UFC on FOX card in Sweden on Jan. 24, with the preliminary card airing on Fox Sports 1. The organization also distributed a press release to media to announce the news.
The event takes place at the 30,000-seat Tele2 Arena in Stockholm.
Gustafsson (16-2) returns to his home country of Sweden for the first time since a unanimous decision victory over Thiago Silva in 2012. The light heavyweight, who came up short against UFC champion Jon Jones in 2013, enters the bout coming off a second-round win over Jimi Manuwa. He was scheduled to rematch Jones in September, but was forced out of the title fight with an injury.
Johnson (18-4), who was recently cleared to compete after being sidelined due to allegations of domestic abuse, is 2-0 since returning to the UFC with dominant wins over Phil Davis and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the last couple wins of his current eight-fight undefeated streak.
“This is going to be an epic event,” Gustafsson told UFC.com. “I want more than 30,000 fans to come and witness me win on January 24. Then I’m going to go and get the title! My journey back to the top starts now.”
“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!”
