UFC on Fuel TV 2: Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva preview

This Saturday’s UFC on Fuel TV 2 will mark a great occasion as it is the first card ever from Sweden. Coming from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, the card features a heavy-hitting main event in the form of a bout between the Swedish Alexander Gustafsson and the returning Thiago Silva. The Light Heavyweight tilt promises to end what should be an action-packed card for the first-time Swedish fans. Both fighters are known to be very aggressive and effective strikers, so let’s take a look at this exciting bout.

Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson has been on an absolute tear through the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division as of late. The winner of four straight, he most recently put Vladimir Matsyushenko to sleep in the first round at UFC 141. Prior to that he had retired Matt Hamill and reeled off two previous submission victories via rear-naked choke. Gustafsson is well-known for his fast-paced striking that gives opponents little time to recover and implement their gameplans. The only blemish on his record remains a loss via choke to rising star Phil Davis in April of 2010.

Across the cage, Thiago Silva will await, anxious to get back to fighting after serving a one-year long suspension for performance-enhancing drugs after a brutal decision win over Brandon Vera. Silva possesses a black belt in BJJ and some of the most vicious Muay Thai in all of MMA. The Brazilian has always been a crowd-pleasing, relentless striker, but will his long layoff result in ring rust? Gustafsson is a fast-rising Light Heavyweight prospect and will be tough to derail in a return bout.

What are your predictions fans? Many expect this fight to be a brutal affair that will not make it out of the first round. Both fighters are top-level strikers; will the ground game come into play? We will find out in the Octagon on Saturday night.

Photo: Francis Specker