(Pictured left: Matt Brown’s son reacts as Tarec Saffiedine’s son kicks a corner stool in half off-camera. Photo via Getty.)
On the heels of tough losses to Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald, respectively, it looks like top welterweight contenders Matt Brown and Tarec Saffiedine will meet when the UFC returns to Sweden for a TBA Fight Night event on January 24th. The bout, which has yet to be officially confirmed, was first reported by Swedish outlet Kimura.se this morning and appears to be legitimate.
Saffiedine has fought just twice since making the transition over to the UFC, picking up a unanimous decision win over Hyun Gyu Lim at Fight Night 34 before dropping the aforementioned fight to MacDonald in October. Brown, on the other hand, was riding a 7-fight win streak (6 finishes) prior to the Lawler bout at UFC on FOX 12 in July. As is the case with every Brown fight, expect fireworks for this one, Nation.
In other fight booking news, featherweight scrappers Jimy Hettes and Diego Brandao have been booked to throw down at UFC 183, which also goes down in January. The former has not competed since getting absolutely dominated by Dennis Bermudez en route to a third round TKO at UFC 171 last March, whereas the latter was steamrolled by Conor McGregor hype train at Fight Night Dublin. Our prediction: Brandao via TKO (Ballpoint pen to the jugular).