UFC on FUEL TV 2: Stockholm Syndrome

The UFC is back for the first time since March 3rd. Six weeks off seems like forever. It’s the longest break in UFC programming since 2007. Has absence made the heart grow fonder? Well? For the Swedes it has. The UFC’s first Swedish event sold out in like 3 hours. For fans stateside, this is the appetizer to next week’s Jones vs. Evans card. For now, enjoy what we have.

WARNING: TODAY’S CARD STARTS AT 12:30 EASTERN ON FACEBOOK

WARNING: TODAY’S MAIN CARD AIRS LIVE ON FUEL TV AT 3PM EASTERN

I say that because until 10am, I had no idea this was being broadcast live in the afternoon. I thought this was going to be shown at 9pm. I even looked at the UFC website, read “12:30 Eastern” and “3pm Eastern” and thought the fight was being shown tonight. Somehow live. I don’t know

The headliner of the card is Sweden’s own Alexander Gustafsson. Gustafsson has finished 12 of his 14 opponents in less than 2 rounds. Could this Thiago Silva’s punishment? Silva knocked out Keith Jardine in August 2009. In January 2010, he lost to Rashad Evans. An injury kept Silva out until he beat Brandon Vera just over a year later. That decision was overturned when Silva turned in a urine sample that wasn’t human. More than a year later, Silva finally returns and it’s in Sweden against a guy’s whose nickname might as well be The Swedish Fuck-You-Up Machine. Gustafsson’s only loss came two years ago to Phil Davis.

Real American Hero, Brian Stann versus an Italian overseas!? This aggression will not stand, man. We know that Stann has a bright future with the organization no matter how he’s fighting. This fight doesn’t have championship or top-contender implications. Just a fun fight between two veterans. U-S-A!

The rest of the main card (6 fights total) is the usual mix of veterans, WEC guys and an exciting newcomer. That newcomer is 27-year-old Siyar Bahadurzada. Bahadurzada is an Afgahn fighter making his UFC debut coming off 6 consecutive victories. 16 of Bahadurzada’s 20 career wins have been finishes. He’s taking on a tough UFC veteran with serious submission skills.

Fuel TV – 3pm Eastern
Alexander Gustafsson (13-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Thiago Silva (14-2, 1nc, 5-2, 1nc UFC)
Alessio Sakara (15-8, 1nc, 6-5, 1nc UFC) vs. Brian Stann (11-4, 5-3 UFC)
Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4-1, UFC Debut) vs. Paulo Thiago (14-3, 4-3 UFC)
Diego Nunes (17-2, 2-1) vs. Dennis Siver (19-8, 8-5 UFC)
DaMarques Johnson (16-9, 4-3 UFC) vs. John Maguire (17-3, 1-0 UFC)
Damacio Page (12-6, 0-1 UFC) vs. Brad Pickett (20-6, 0-1 UFC)

Facebook Prelim Card – 12:30pm Eastern
Papy Abedi vs. James Head
Tom DeBlass vs. Cyrille Diabate
Francis Carmont vs. Magnus Cedenblad
Yoislandy Izquierdo vs. Reza Madadi
Simeon Thoresen vs. Besam Yousef
Jason Young vs. Eric Wisely