Gunnar Nelson vs. Rick Story To Headline UFC Fight Night 53 In Sweden
UFC welterweights Rick Story and Gunnar Nelson have been paired to square off in Sweden at Fight Night 53, amongst a host of other top European talent. Undefeated at 13-0-1, ‘Gunni’ was last seen in action taking out Zak Cummings at the blockbuster UFC Fight Night 46, with a slick second round submission. The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu/SBG Ireland product has long been touted as a red-hot prospect.
Opposite him will stand a five-year UFC veteran, who’s most notable win was over current welterweight champion Johny Hendricks. ‘The Horror’ steamrolled Leonardo Mafra at UFC Fight Night 45 recently, and should provide a good test for Nelson, as the Icelandic national looks to continue his meteoric rise through the ranks. Check out what both men had to say of the news:
“I am honored to fight in Sweden and to headline this card,” Said Nelson “I expect the Swedish crowd to be pretty loud. I believe I have a big fan base in Sweden. They love my kind of style of fighting and I am of course Scandinavian so we have a good connection. I plan to go to Las Vegas to train with Conor McGregor and to help him prepare for his fight, and then I will most likely go to Sweden from there.” “”
“I have fought in Germany before but it will be my first time in Stockholm, so I am looking forward to seeing the city,” said Story. “My schedule now will be to pack up and head down to Arizona to the MMA Lab to start training. I’m really excited for this fight.”
‘Gunni’, a training partner of featherweight prospect Conor McGregor, will enjoy his first spot as headliner with the event in Sweden, which will stream live and entirely on Fight Pass. Dennis Siver will also return from his steroid suspension to face Robert Whiteford, and a host of other great names will appear on the October 4 card at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. Check out how the card is shaping up thus far:
Gunnar Nelson vs. Rick Story
Nico Musoke vs. Amir Sadollah
Niklas Backstrom vs. Mike Wilkinson
Ernest Chavez vs. Zubaira Tukhugov
Dennis Siver vs. Robert Whiteford
Jan Blachowicz vs. Ilir Latifi
Marcin Bandel vs. Mairbek Taisumov
Scott Askham vs. Magnus Cedenbla
