UFC on FUEL TV 2: The 10 Best Swedish Fighters in MMA

Go ahead. Do the Muppet voice.

Laugh it up about the inexpensive lampshades, the confectionery pop music and the autistic crime fighters with the ostentatious tramp stamps.  

Fair warning, though. Their meatballs are off-limits in these parts. Because those things are delicious. DELICIOUS, I say!

Sweden may have a checkered international rep, but they're getting stronger every day in another uncommon but emerging sort of export market: the MMA fighter. But that's not news to anyone inside Swedish borders, where UFC on FUEL TV 2, taking place in Stockholm April 14, sold out after three measly hours. That made it the fastest sell out ever for an MMA event in Europe.

Here are the 10 best Swedes currently in the fight biz. This list was harder to narrow down than I had anticipated.

Another fair warning. Save your comments about how so-and-so was actually born somewhere else, or what not. If these guys weren't born in Sweden, they certainly live there now. So if you make this type of comment without at least referencing this disclaimer, you will have exposed yourself as an unconscientious reader. Quite a tactic, isn't it? American spies used to refer to this as a barium meal.

I'm sorry for rambling. Please enjoy the slideshow.

10. Besam Yousef

UFC
Welterweight
6-0

Yousef bid "hej da" to his Zone FC title rein (because he's Swedish...get it?) to sign with the UFC.

Sure, he may not have beaten GSP for that title. But you know what? I don't care if you won the black-brown reversible at Penney's for knocking over a rusty ashcan. If you get a strap around your waist and you're undefeated, you're one to watch in my book.    

Yousef's first UFC fight comes next month against another European debutante, Norwegian Simeon Thoresen.

(Photo h/t: MMAViking)  

9. Assan Njie

Superior Challenge
Middleweight/Welterweight
14-2

"The Black Attack" loses some points for his fairly weak opponent list.

But that's starting to change. In his two most recent bouts, he knocked out UFC vet Sean Salmon (see video) and tapped Russian prospect Beslan Isaev.

8. Magnus Cedenblad

UFC
Middleweight
10-3

Cedenblad tried out for season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, but hit the cutting room floor when the UFC decided not to include middleweights. He'll finally taste the bright lights when he faces Francis Carmont in Stockholm.

Thus far in his career, only one of his fights reached a decision. I heard somewhere the UFC rather likes that sort of style.

7. Sirwan Kakai

Superior Challenge
Bantamweight
6-1

"The Zohan" (and you have to like that) is an under-the-radar but rising bantamweight who hasn't lost since his first pro fight four years ago. 

6. Martin Svensson

The Zone Fighting Championship/Scottish Fight Challenge
Featherweight
9-2

Say hello to the Stefan Struve of the featherweight division.

The reigning 145-pound champ for both promotions in which he fights, Svensson measures up at 6'1". Maybe not so outlandish at first glance, until you remember that UFC belt holder Jose Aldo is 5'7". 

Height aside, Svensson happens to be a pretty good fighter. Check out the video for more.   

5. Reza Madadi

UFC
Lightweight
11-2

Injuries kept the Stockholm resident from making a timely UFC debut. Nevertheless, the Iranian-born wrestler is no stranger to UFC-caliber competition. His last three victims: Junie Browning (see video), Carlo Prater, Rich Clementi.

The fairly, eh, high-strung lightweight will finally break the Octagonal ice at UFC on FUEL TV 2 against Cuban-American Yoislandy Izquierdo. 

4. Mats Nilsson

Cage Warriors/The Zone FC
Middleweight 
8-1-1

The multidisciplinary submission fighter recently signed with British outfit Cage Warriors, and in his debut there tapped TUF 6 finalist Tommy Speer. 

Later this spring, he'll take on fellow Swede Tor Troeng, a good fighter in his own right who just missed this list (and that'll happen when you lose to Thales Leites).

Here he is choking out countryman and recent UFC signee Cedenblad. 

3. Jörgen Kruth

Rumble of the Kings/UFC
Light Heavyweight
5-0

The Muay Thai world champion and K-1 European Grand Prix winner moved MMA-ward in 2009. Three years later, the 37-year-old heads into the Octagon at UFC on FUEL TV 2, where he will face a less-celebrated K-1 but more-experienced UFC vet in Cyrille Diabate.  

2. Papy Abedi

UFC
Welterweight
8-1

When Abedi dropped his UFC debut to Thiago Alves, it doubled as his first pro loss and tripled as his first loss at welterweight.

He'll try to get untracked next month against James Head, another longtime middleweight new to 170. With seven finishes on his record (five TKOs, two submissions), the shredded Congolese-Swede has the tools to restake his claim as one of the sport's most exciting prospects. 

1. Alexander Gustafsson

UFC
Light heavyweight
13-1

No brain required. "The Mauler" is the top dog in Swedish MMA and the crown jewel of the UFC's already-successful foray into Stockholm.

Still only 25, the born-and-bred Swede couples a well-rounded (and getting rounder) game with an unteachable killer instinct. The combination has carried him to four straight wins.

After his last loss, Gustafsson turned his conqueror, Phil Davis, into his training partner. How can you not be several levels of impressed with that? It's a good illustration of why he's not only a fast-rising fighter, but a fast-rising fan favorite.

And that's why he's facing Thiago Silva in April's UFC on FUEL main event. If Gustafsson wins, he's a contender in any country.