UFC 112: Phil Davis vs Alexander Gustafsson on tap for April 10
by Jesse Holland on Feb 15, 2010 2:38 PM EST
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There's an exciting light heavyweight match up brewing between undefeated prospects Phil Davis (5-0) and Alexander Gustaffson (9-0) for the upcoming UFC 110 trip to Abu Dhabi on April 10.
Gustafsson confirmed the pending match-up via his official blog earlier today.
Davis is coming off a "Wonderful" performance against Brian Stann at UFC 109: "Relentless" earlier this month, giving the "All American" all he could handle for three rounds en route to a lopsided unanimous decision win.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt is an absolute beast on the mat, winning the NCAA Division I at 197 pounds in 2008. He made the transition to mixed martial arts shortly after graduation, winning his first four bouts in impressive fashion before getting the invitation to join the deep UFC 205-pound roster.
Standing in his way is a fellow UFC sophomore with a knack for putting people to sleep.
Gustafsson cleaned the proverbial clock of Jared Hamman in his Octagon debut at last November's UFC 105: "Couture vs Vera" event in Manchester, winning by knockout just 41 seconds into the first frame.
"The Mauler" is a towering 6'5" Swede with a perfect record in nine pro fights (with only one decision) despite being just 23-years-old. A win over the equally talented Davis would be a major statement in a very crowded 205-pound division.
UFC 112 is expected to feature two world title fights, including middleweight champion Anderson Silva taking on Demian Maia and lightweight kingpin BJ Penn putting his belt on the line against Frankie Edgar.
For the latest UFC 112 fight card and rumors click here.
(Thanks to MMA maniac "Peppe P" for the assist)
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Two brilliant prospects with lots of upside in a ...
retarded match. This fight is easily going to be Phil due to the lack of wrestling. If they wanted to test Alex’s wrestling why not against someone without phil’s credentials. Conversely why pit Phil against a striker leagues above him. They’re not going to develop their skills. These guys are the future and should be groomed until they are truly well rounded before being matched against each other.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Feb 15, 2010 2:51 PM EST reply actions
Excited to see it
but I’ll take Davis all day
by PHISH NATION on Feb 15, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
Anybody can be the future of the sport/division...
Why pamper people?
No not anyone can be the future of the sport, just like not everyone gets to be an astronaut
Look at Jon Jones, they handled his career by well. You can see actual tangible progress in his game and he got to test it against people with certain skills to test him but nothing insurmountable. We he gets catapulted to the top 10 by mid year then he won’t be playing catchup against them in every other department. Same for these guys, they’re good enough to beat up most of hte division with their current skill set and make the leap to the big boys but then when they get there they’ll have nothing to offer.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Feb 15, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
I am the future of the sport
"Wanderlei Silva; hallowed be thy name." - Genesis 50:27
by O damn he got caught on Feb 16, 2010 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
NNR, you are acting like Gustafson is a Top 10 opponent
He’s going to get taken down and pounded on till he quits or he loses a 3 round mauling to Phil Davis. There is zero chance a 6’5" Swede is going to stop a Phil Davis takedown. Also, Phil isn’t dumb. He is going to use his wrestling.
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
I mean, he beat Jared Haman who was headlining ShoXC events!!!!!!!
NOT even EliteXC. ShoXC!!!!
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
I also just happen to be an astronaut as well
"Wanderlei Silva; hallowed be thy name." - Genesis 50:27
by O damn he got caught on Feb 16, 2010 10:37 AM EST up reply actions
I think you guys are underestimating his groundgame
I train at the same gym (one of them, he trains in both Gothenburg and Stockholm) and he may not be as athletic as Davis and certainly not the wrestling credentials, but he has a really good and offensive guard with does long limbs and he’s also really good at getting back to his feet if he needs to. We got some big ass heavyweights with “OK” wrestling/BJJ and they cant hold him down for shit. I see Alexander keeping it standing enough to expose Davis standup and catch him with a straight right or a knee Ben Saunder-style. I got “The Mauler” all day!
KO round 1 or the beginning of round 2
by Zlatan, My Hero on Feb 15, 2010 4:38 PM EST up reply actions
Groomed = fed cans
and we “hardcores” just LOVE to knock on guys who are can crushers.
But this trips me out. Phil Davis is labeled “the future”, yet if Ryan Bader had fought Stann the way Davis did, all we’d be hearing about is how boring Bader is and how he should’ve finished and blah blah blah, another boring wrestler. But for some reason, this guy is set as the future of the division for laying (albiet in mount) for basically 3 rounds and not finishing??? Get outta here…
Gustafsson will take this.
My breakout fighter for this coming year: Terry Etim
Upset of the Year: John Hathaway over Diego Sanchez
I'd rather watch two complete and well rounded (in the true sense of the word not UFC well rounded)...
fighters battle it out instead of amatuerish matches that look like throwback fights of the 90s. Guys need to be groomed. Crushing cans is the way to learn and apply technique in-fight and you can’t claim that everyone, in the ladder leading to the big boys, is a can.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Feb 16, 2010 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
it is a retarded matchup
pretty clear that the UFC wants to get Alex out of the way and market Phil, all they do is trying to market new american wrestlers, when is it gonna be enough!
I hope Alex sends a big fuck you to Dana in swedish, din fitta, after he KO’s Phil and goes on a tear against every american wrestler they have.
come on maaayn.
LMAO
Where the hell do ya’ll come up with this shit?
-This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
by PSYQO78 on Feb 15, 2010 9:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Swedes have no wrestling. All of europe seriously lacks wrestling. Britain is kinda catching up but still sucks.
That makes this fight even more retarded. Let’s hope his handlers make him train here in the states. Or he better develop his guard game if he remains home.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Feb 16, 2010 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
All of Europe seriously lacks wrestling???
We dont have collage wrestling like in the states but you seem to forget that europeans are highy competetive in freestyle wrestling and DOMINATE Greco-Roman wrestling when it comes to the worldchampionships and the olympics? Not many high caliber european wrestlers have made the crossover to MMA (yet) because the sport hasnt really become mainstream (yet), if you count europe as a whole, but that doesnt mean we dont have high caliber wrestlers??? Heard of Karelin? :)
Swedish wrestlers, all worldchampions and olympic medalists:
Ara Abrahamian, Martin Lidberg, Mikael Ljungerberg (R.I.P.) Jimmy Samuelsson (friend of mine)
And on a side note: As I stated above. You guys underestimate Alxanders groundgame.
by Zlatan, My Hero on Feb 16, 2010 3:58 AM EST up reply actions
Not saying the caliber of wrestling but on a mass level though it's still at a lower level...
you see guys like Goran, Bielkieden, Gunnar Nelson describing the ability to find wrstling partners and good programs within gyms for that and how impossible it is. I am a big fan of amateur wrestling and know that great athletics come from there especially the eastern block countries. But still from an MMA and logicstical prespective, BJJ is a lot more common because all this big names from brazil and expanding out there so that level is at a much better level. But as far as straight up wrestling or its applications to MMA, it’s very hard to find gyms and trainers. That’s why most european and almost every russian fighting have the same liabilities.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Feb 16, 2010 8:28 AM EST up reply actions
Jesus..
Please tell me I’m not going to have to watch Phil Davis lay all over somebody for another three rounds.
Greasy St.Pierre is a cheater.
Interesting matchup
But I think the wrestler takes this. It would be nice to see another AG KO but unless he catches Davis early, I see Davis taking this to the ground and AG not being able to do anything about it. Davis by decision
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