Coming in as a record UFC main-event underdog, short-notice replacement Ilir Latifi entered the Ericsson Globe without an air of concern on his face. Stoically, the Swedish fighter stepped on the scale, and in just a few days time from the moment he got his assignment, made weight for Saturday night’s UFC on FUEL 9 headliner.
Latifi used the one-pound allowance, checking in at 206 pounds, while heavy favorite Gegard Mousasi breezed to the weight at 204.
Going against custom, the UFC elected not to do post weigh-in interviews on stage with either main-event fighter.
The 29-year-old Latifi is 7-2 with 1 no contest in his MMA career, but has a base in wrestling, which is known to be Mousasi’ one area of struggle. Still, Mousasi (33-3-2) was installed as a 20-to-1 favorite, an unprecedented number for a UFC main event. Since then, the number has been bet down by gamblers taking a flyer on Latifi’s wrestling skill.
All 26 fighters made weight for the show, which takes place in Stockholm, Sweden.
In the co-main event, Ross Pearson (155) takes a one-pound advantage in over Ryan Couture.
The weigh-ins weren’t without some fireworks, however, as two shoving matches ensued between undercard combatants. In the first featherweights Marcus Brimage and Conor McGregor had an intense staredown which lingered until Brimage pushed an inching McGregor back away from him. The other took place between lightweights Reza Medadi and Michael Johnson.
Medadi got off the scale and screamed as he approached Johnson, who had already weighed in. That angered Johnson, who drove him backwards as UFC officials stepped in. After a few seconds to restore order, the two faced off again without any further incident.
Main Card
Ilir Latifi (206) vs. Gegard Mousasi (204)
Ryan Couture (154) vs. Ross Pearson (155)
Philip De Fries (248) vs. Matt Mitrione (259)
Mike Easton (135) vs. Brad Pickett (135)
Diego Brandao (145) vs. Pablo Garza (146)
Akira Corassani (145) vs. Robert Peralta (146)
Preliminary Card
Michael Johnson (155) vs. Reza Madadi (155)
Adam Cella (184) vs. Tor Troeng (185)
Adlan Amagov (170) vs. Chris Spang (170)
Marcus Brimage (145) vs. Conor McGregor (145)
Ben Alloway (170) vs. Ryan LaFlare (171)
Michael Kuiper (186) vs. Tom Lawlor (185)
Papy Abedi (170) vs. Besam Yousef (168)