Gegard Mousasi
With just three days left before the official weigh-ins for this weekends UFC on FUEL TV 9 event, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has found a replacement fighter for injured Swede Alexander Gustafsson.
Stepping in for ‘The Mauler’ will be his training partner Illir ‘The Sledgehammer’ Latifi (7-2) who will now face fellow Octagon newcomer, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2).
UFC president Dana White Tweeted the news on Tuesday night (@danawhite), defending his promotions decision to book the bout with upset fans.
– Mousasi will face Iliir Latifa this Saturday live on @FUELTV Latifa is from Sweden and training partner of Gustafsson.
– really? It’s my fucking fault that Gustafsson is cut!!!!?
– what’s BS!? We got someone to step up and fight on 3 days notice. What fucking BS about that!?
UFC on FUEL TV 9 is scheduled to take place this Saturday on April 6, 2013 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The main card will air live on Fuel TV while the prelim card is set to stream live on Facebook.
Latifi has won three in a row, all victories in 2012. His last bout took place in October with a unanimouos decision at a Superior Challenge 8 event in Sweden. The Swede has earned two finishes by (T)KO and three by submission, with two decision victories over his nine fight career.
Latifi is reportedly a national Swedish wrestling champ and one of ‘The Mauler’s’ main training partners. Taking a fight like this on short notice may prove beneficial for Latifi as Mousasi has experienced trouble with wrestler’s in the past.
Mousasi will make his Octagon debut and enters the cage on a six-fight undefeated streak. He fought at the final Strikeforce event this past January, picking up a first round submission over Mike Kyle in Oklahoma. His previous two victories include wins over Ovince St. Preux and Hiroshi Izumi