If you forgot about the existence of time zones and missed the UFC’s debut trip to Sweden, here are Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva fight highlights, courtesy of FUEL TV.
UFC on FUEL 2 took place April 14, 2012 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. Upstart Swedish star Alexander Gustafsson (14-1) welcomed dangerous Brazilian Thiago Silva (14-3, 1 NC) back to the Octagon after a year-long suspension. Check out the video highlights below.
For more on Gustafsson’s impressive victory, check out the play-by-play from MMA Fighting’s own Ben Fowlkes.
Round 1: The crowd is going nuts for Gustafsson all through the introductions, and it carries right into the fight. Chants of ‘Alex!’ are deafening inside The Globe as the first round gets underway. Silva comes charging forward with straight punches. Gustafsson catches him coming in with a right hand that drops Silva to the mat. Gustafsson jumps on him with punches from the top. When he sees Silva is still in it, he backs off rather than wear himself out. Bakc on their feet, Gustafsson batters the Brazilian with a punch combo against the fence. Silva is cut and bleeding around his eye, but still game for the fight. He comes forward swinging hard and Gustafsson gives him a deft little ole maneuver. The crowd breaks into a chant that, I’m told, translates to ‘Hit him in the mouth!’ Gustafsson is dancing around Silva, fighting him from a range that Silva can’t quite figure out. The crowd’s chants drown out the ten-second warning completely, and nearly the horn to end the first. MMA Fighting scores it 10-8 for Gustafsson.
Round 2: Silva again comes out hard, but Gustafsson steps back and counters. A nifty little foot sweep by Gustafsson plants Silva on his back, but he declines to follow the Brazilian to the mat. Gustafsson seems to be picking him apart almost at will on the feet, but everything Silva throws is a power shot. He’s not out of it yet. Uppercuts and body shots by Gustafsson back Silva up, but the Swede seems reluctant to go all in for the finish just yet. A lunging left by Silva misses badly, but he connects with a right seconds later and traps Gustafsson against the fence momentarily. The crowd senses the danger, but Gustafsson spins away and brings it back to the center. Gustasson keeps Silva on the outside with a pawing jab in the final minute of the round. Good front kick by Gustafsson before time rounds out in the second. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Gustafsson.
Round 3: Silva is sporting a good deal of swelling around both eyes to start the third. Gustafsson still looks fresh, bouncing around on the outside and refusing to remain a stationary target. Good looping right hand by Silva. Gustafsson comes back with a right and a knee to the forehead moments later. Gustafsson dances away from Silva’s strikes and comes back with a pitter-pat combo. Silva’s leg kicks are working well, but it might be too late in the fight for them to make a difference. Straight right by Gustafsson finds its way through Silva’s defense. Final minute now, and Silva must know he needs a finish to win. He stalks Gustafsson and eats a knee for his trouble. Silva keeps coming until the final horn, which is practically lost in the cheers and chants. MMA Fighting scores it 10-9 for Gustafsson.
Alexander Gustafsson def. Thiago Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)