Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson may be considering a comeback to the Octagon. In the meantime he is scheduled to appear against fellow Swedish MMA-fighter Anton Turkalj on December 11th at AK fighting championship. It will be a matchup of old vs. young as 32 year old Gustafsson takes on up-and-comer 23 year old Turkalj.
It did not take Gustafsson all that long to consider a return to figthing sports. He announced his retirement after his loss against Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith on the 1st of June this year. In a recent interview with Swedish site MMA Viking he revealed to be in talks with UFC. So, taking on a young gun eyeing his throne as the premier Mixed Martial Artist of Sweden makes for an exciting grappling bout. Though, Gustafsson may be most famous for his stand-up he was the first man to take Jon Jones down inside the octagon. And arguably the man who has come closest to beating the light heavyweight king, bar Jones himself.
Challenging Gustafsson is young Anton Turkalj. Despite making his pro MMA debut early this year he’s already won three fights, and an impressive amateur resume. He fought as an amateur since 2016, captured gold in the IMMAF European Championships 2017, and medaled in the World Championships 2018. He has shown skills on the ground, finishing a big portion of his opponents by a plethora of chockes.
AK Figthing Championship has recently been making waves by setting up fellow UFC-veteran Reza Madadi against Israeli Moshe Ben Shimol. Madadi is a Swede born in Iran and by taking the fight (also No Gi rules) risks never being allowed back to the country he was born in.
The two face off on the 11th of December at AK fighting championships in Gothenburg. Pitting the three-time challenger for the UFC light heavyweight belt Gustafsson against newcomer Turkalj. Gustafsson is eyeing a comeback, Turkalj looks to get his biggest scalp so far. While both are mixed martial artistists first and foremost it is bound to be an exciting grappling bout.
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