UFC heads back to Sweden in April, Gustafsson-Mousasi set to headline UFC On Fuel 9

[Ash]

I think that's a good card, actually. The only fights I'm not interested in are the co-main and Papi's fight, and quite a few of the fights have potential to be entertaining brawls. Especially Akira/Peralta, Reza/Johnson, Spang/Amagov, and Alloway/LaFlare. Pickett and Brandao always bring it as well.

[BulldogWrestler]

Ash, I see your point, but you can't deny that this card has 0 name value for the vast majority of people. I criticize other orgs for doing this and the UFC is no different.

The matchups are more competitive and not squash matches but its not a card filled with A level fighters.

[Ash]

Well, no, the card is light on mainstream name value, no question there. I would think any smaller market show is going to be in a similar position. But consider this: is the UFC even big enough in Sweden for it to be worth the trouble of having name guys on the card? I don't know for sure but I doubt it. They've done a good job of loading the card with Swedes which the crowd is obviously going to be into more than, say, Rashad Evans if he were randomly on the card. I think all things considered, this is an interesting card that will produce an entertaining show.

[BulldogWrestler]

I can agree with that. I think the UFC would pull the same numbers on this show with the card they have now than if they put one of their "mid/upper tier" guys on it.

This is a show that the UFC will sell via it just being a "UFC show" and nothing much else really.

[spasgur]

Well, no, the card is light on mainstream name value, no question there. I would think any smaller market show is going to be in a similar position. But consider this: is the UFC even big enough in Sweden for it to be worth the trouble of having name guys on the card? I don't know for sure but I doubt it. They've done a good job of loading the card with Swedes which the crowd is obviously going to be into more than, say, Rashad Evans if he were randomly on the card. I think all things considered, this is an interesting card that will produce an entertaining show.

For both events there so far they've sold out within a few hours. MMA is really growing in Scandinavia. I think the card is decent, I'm happy that it'll air at a reasonable time of the day and I get to watch Mousasi fight again. If there were any bigger indoor arenas in Denmark I'm sure they could sell out very quickly here as well.

[BulldogWrestler]

Dude, this event is in SWEDEN - not Scandinavia. SHeesh

[HugeMMAFan]

These kind of cards tend to be feast or famines-we either get tons of finishes, or tons of decisions. I don't understand the UFC's tendency to attempt to equally match people on the undercard-it forces no names to have boring fights, and they can't build anyone with name recgonition if they do that.

[Vanno]

Seems a smart card to me. It has enough Swedes to draw a crowd, and it can be a lower-carder exhibition for the people that do tune in. You have to build future main-eventers somehow; might as well showcase them in throwaway cards every now and then.