For the first time ever, two fighters making their Octagon debuts headlined a UFC card.
A battle in the light-heavyweight division served as the main event at UFC on FUEL TV 9 in Sweden. However, it wasn’t the one Swedish fans were hoping for, as hometown favourite Alexander Gustafsson was forced to withdraw due to injury. Stepping in for him was his teammate Ilir Latifi who took on the former DREAM and Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi.
The range was a difference maker in the fight, as Mousasi kept Latifi at bay. The jab landed almost any time Mousasi used it, and by the end of the second round Latifi’s right eye was a bloody mess.
For almost the entire fight Mousasi used his speed and tricky punches to keep Latifi back-pedaling. With about thirty seconds left, Latifi landed his first takedown, but was unable to do any damage.
Mousasi ended up winning his UFC debut by unanimous decision.
