15 European Fighters Who Could Sign for The UFC in 2014 (Part 1)

15 European Fighters Who Could Sign for The UFC in 2014 (Part 1)
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

2014 is set to be the busiest year in the UFC's history with between 40 to 50 cards planned for the year. The UFC are looking to expand in a big way this year, and with Garry Cook at the helm as Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Europe, 2014 is set to be a huge year for European MMA.

With a minimum of 6 European cards planned for 2014, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby will need to book around 72 fights just for Europe - that's 144 fighters! With all of these cards expected to take place on the UFCs new online subscription service Fight Pass, its likely Silva and Shelby will be looking to add local talent to these cards, to not only sell tickets but to keep the cost of the cards down.

With so many talented fighters in European, we look at some of the names which the UFC could add over the next year. Starting with our first 5 names, in NO particular order.

Jan Blachowicz - Poland
The first of several Polish fighters on this list, 30 year old Jan Blachowicz has established himself as one of the best light-heavyweights in the world not signed to the UFC. At 17-3, Blachowicz has not lost a fight since 2011. Since then he has defeated four UFC vets in a row - Sokoudjou, Mario Maranda, Houston Alexander and Goran Reljić on route to earning and defending the KSW light-heavyweight title.

Popular in his native Poland, Blachowicz is no doubt on a far better contract than the UFCs standard 6k & 6k, but with the growing trend of light-heavyweights dropping to 185 - Machida, Mousasi, and Te Tuna all in recent months, and a proposed UFC debut in Poland this year, Blachowicz would be an excellent addition to the promotions 205lb division.

Max Nunes - Sweden
Had Max Nunes not lost to Jason Jones at Bamma 13 for the first pro loss of his career, it's likely the Swedish fighter would have already been signed to the UFC.

After suffering a set back against Jones, Nunes bounced back by dropping to middleweight and picking up a unanimous decision victory against Ion Pascu. With several Scandinavian's already booked for UFC London, the UFC may look to add to their roster for their annual return to Sweden. At 12-1 with 11 finishes, Max Nunes would be a worthy addition a UFC card in Sweden particularly if the 24 year old can pick up another win or two before then.

Mamed Khalidov - Poland
Easily the fighter most worthy of a place on the UFC roster on this list, Khalidov is a top 10 middleweight with an outstanding 28-4 record which includes an impressive 27 finishes. What's more 12 of those victories are over former or current UFC fighters.

A huge star in Poland, the KSW champion is Poland's equivalent of Conor McGregor, appearing on various national adverts and TV talkshows, and could easily headline a sold out arena when the UFC make their debut in Poland this year.

A stumbling block however  could be the reported $30,000 Khalidov earns per fight, and the sponsorship deal Khalidov could lose by joining the UFC, these were the reasons sited in 2012 when Khalidov turned down a UFC contract. With a card planned in Poland in 2014 though, it would be worth the UFC matching Khalidov's current contract just for the revenue he would bring to that card alone.

James Brum - UK
James 'Job Done' Brum has been doing just that - getting the job done for 2 years straight. Currently on an 8-fight win streak, Brum has not lost since Bamma 7 in September 2011 when he was defeated by current UFC bantamweight Erik Perez.

Currently Europe's highest ranked bantamweight not signed to the UFC, Brum has fought all of his Cage Warriors fights outside of the UK showing the ability to win and make weight around the world making James Brum a great addition to the UFC's Bantamweight division.

Neil Seery - Ireland
The UFC will make their long awaited return to Ireland this year and will no doubt be in the market for some of the finest local talent, and Neil Seery is one of the finest fighters Ireland have to offer right now.

While Seery may not have the best record in European MMA, Seery is popular, and has put together a 4 fight win streak on route to winning the Cage Warriors flyweight title; a division the UFC certainly could do with adding to.

Seery would be a popular addition amongst local fans to UFC Dublin 2014.

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Jan Blachowicz vs Virgil Zwicker Completes KSW 25

Jan Blachowicz vs Virgil Zwicker Completes KSW 25

KSW25 fight card is now complete with today’s announcement of Jan Błachowicz’s opponent for the December 7th show. KSW light heavyweight champion will face American Virgil Zwicker in the event’s co-headliner.

Zwicker, nicknamed Rezdog is a former Strikeforce and Bellator fighter. He won eleven out his fourteen professional bouts. He is one hundred seventy-seven centimeters tall , weighs ninety-two kilograms and trains in Team Quest Temecula along with such renowned MMA stars as Dan Henderson, Vladimir Matyushenko and Chael Sonnen. The American is thirty-one years old and is represented by the MC Hammer’s Alchemist management group.

The showdown against Zwicker will be Błachowicz’s third defense of his KSW World title. He won the belt back in November 2011. The popular “John” currently trains in Stockholm, Sweden where he prepares for the fight with the former UFC light heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson.

With Błachowicz being a submission expert and Zwicker sporting heavy hands in his striking arsenal, this fight might not see the final bell. The three-five-minute-rounds contest with a possible five-minute overtime will decide who is the superior fighter.

Former UFC Fighters Simeon Thoresen and Peter Sobotta meet at MMA Attack 4

Former UFC Fighters Simeon Thoresen and Peter Sobotta meet at MMA Attack 4
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Former UFC fighters Simeon Thoresen (17-4-1) and Peter Sobotta (13-4-1) meet at MMA Attack 4 at the Ergo Arena in Poland, on October 26th.

One of the finest fighter to come from Scandinavia, Thoresen who holds a victory over John Maguire enters the bout against Sobotta having take 17 win in his pro career, 15 which have come by way of submission.

Part of a mass culling which saw the UFC release 16 fighters earlier this year, Thoresen fight first the first time since he was cut from The UFC following back-to-back losses to Seth Baczynski and David Mitchell. His one UFC victory came in his debut at UFC on Fuel 2 in Sweden, where he submitted Besam Yousef.

“I Can’t wait for the fight against Peter Sobotta." Thoresen Said.  "He’s a good fighter and an interesting challenge for me. MMA Attack is a large European gala and I am honored that I can participate in it. Last year was a little difficult for me, but now everything will be made ​​into a coherent whole, and I am optimistic about the future.” 

His Opponent Sobotta, a Polish native who now fights out of Germany fought for the UFC 3 time between 2009 and 2010, losing to Paul Taylor, James Wilks, and Amir Sadollah. Since his release he has has fought 6 times, going 5-0-1 with 5 submission victories, 3 of which saw Sobotta win the R2F Casino Fight Night 3 one night tournament. Sobotta only blemish since his release is a controversial draw which many had him winning.

Speaking on the upcoming bout with Thoresen, Sobotta said:

“Simeon is a good competitor with a similar to my skill set [to mine]. This is not the type of grappler who just wants to maintain its position, but also trying many tricks and looking for submissions, which heralds a great fight. But I am convinced that at the end of this my hand is raised, because I’m a better grappler, and the battle will be decided on the ground. After I went off the last MMA attack, I can not wait to come back and fight again before the Polish fans” Sobotta said.

Stay tuned to Kingdom MMA for all the latest on European MMA as it happens

UFC Parts Ways with Cheick Kongo

Cheick Kongo Not Offered a New Contract
by Chris Houten - @houts4thewin

The UFC have decided against offering Cheick Kongo a new contract following his first round loss to Roy Nelson, which was the last fight on his contract.

Speaking to MMAfighting.com earlier today, Kongo's manager Anthony McGann said prior to the Nelson fight Kongo was offered a four-fight deal, however he turned it down when the parties couldn't agree on terms. He was not offered a different deal after the fight.

Since making his cctagon debut at UFC 61 in 2006 against Gilbert Aldana, 37 year old, French native, Kongo has racked up 18 fights in the UFC amassing an impressive record of 11-6-1, including notable victories over Antoni Hardonk, Mirko Cro Cop, and Pat Barry, the later being one of the most impressive comebacks to date.

McGann said Kongo will definitely continue fighting outside the UFC.

Waachiim SpiritWolf Headlines European MMA 5 in Denmark

Bellator Vet Waachiim SpiritWolf will headline European MMA 5 in Denmark against Morten Djursaa.

Spiritwolf ( 9–11–1) a Native American, who has also fought for Strikeforce will be fighting for the first outside of the US against Danish Djursaa who will be defending his Welterweight title at EMMA 5 at The Falconer Salen in Copenhagen on April 19th.

Djursaa(11-4) defends his Welterweight belt for the first time having earned the title defeating Aslambek Saidov by TKO in the first round.

Also on the card are British fighters Harry Mcleman and Jamie Reynolds.

European MMA 5  Fight Card
Maria Djursaa Vs. Jorina Baars
Søren Bak Vs. Jamie Reynolds
Iwo Belak Vs. Harry Mcleman
Emil W. Meek Vs. Manu Garcia Nieto
Christian Colombo Vs. Bjorn Schmiedeberg
Mikkel Guldbæk Vs. Nicholas Musoke
Mark Madsen Vs. Amir Sheikh
Morten Hougaard Djursaa Vs. Waachiim SpiritWolf

For more on European MMA 5, stay tuned to the Calendar section on our site


 

KSW 22: Pride Time (Fight Card)

KSW 22: Pride Time 
Date: March 16th, 2013
Torwar Hall, Warsaw, Poland  

Fightcard
Jan Blachowicz vs Goran Reljic - For the KSW Light-Heavyweight Title
Pawel Nastula vs Kevin Asplund
Karol Bedorf vs Oli Thompson
Anzor Azhiev vs Mariusz Pioskowik
Piotr Strus vs Abu Azaitar
Rafal Moks vs Marcin Naruszczka
Kamil Walus vs Christos Piliafas