Latest
BREAKING: Josefine Knutsson to clash with Australian kickboxing star in Abu Dhabi
Josefine “Thunder” Knutsson, one of the most highly-touted MMA prospects in Sweden, has finally got a new fight booked. On February 25, she’ll take on fellow striking sensation Jacinta Austin at UAE Warriors 35 in Abu Dhabi – a show that’ll be broadcasted live on UFC Fight Pass.
The fight booking was confirmed to Frontkick.online by multiple sources.
Australian striker Jacinta “The Juggernaut” Austin will try to hand Swedish rising star Josefine “Thunder” Knutsson her first MMA loss on February 25. Photo via Instagram (@jacinta.austin_)
Josefine Knutsson and Jacinta Austin – virtually identical?
Josefine Knutsson vs. Jacinta Austin is an interesting fight on paper for various reasons as two very similar fighters are pitted against each other. For one, the two undefeated strawweight standouts have virtually identical 4-0 records in professional MMA competition. They’re also both ranked No. 1 in their respective home countries with Knutsson topping the 115 lbs portion of the Official Swedish MMA Rankings, while Austin is the No. 1 ranked female pound-for-pound in Australia and New Zeeland.
Furthermore, Knutsson and Austin both come from kickboxing and Muay Thai backgrounds where they’ve won different championships and competed at a professional level, including in K-1 Japan.
Knutsson, a former IMMAF world Muay Thai champion, was the runner-up in the 2019 K-1 Flyweight Grand Prix where she defeated Netherland’s Mellony Geugjes before losing a controversial decision to Japanese favorite KANA in the championship finale. Austin, on the other hand, scored a big win against previously undefeated Japanese star SAHO at a K-1 event in Japan just last June. “The Juggernaut” also holds a 1-0 record as a pro boxer.
Visa detta inlägg på Instagram
Winner could be going to the UFC
As for their MMA careers, the winner between Josefine Knutsson and Jacinta Austin could very well be getting the call to join the UFC roster.
Knutsson already showcased her skills for the UFC brass in a “Road to UFC” bout in Singapore last June, where she defeated South Korean grappler Ye Dam Seo rather convincingly. Prior to that, the Allstars Training Center prospect went 3-0 in Swedish MMA promotion Fight Club Rush including a win against former The Ultimate Fighter participant Lanchana Green.
Visa detta inlägg på Instagram
Austin has fought somewhat lesser competition than Knutsson on the Australian regional scene. She has fought her last three fights for the local promotion Eternal MMA where she submitted Nyrene Crowley in her most recent bout.
Subscribe to Frontkick’s YouTube channel – news videos coming very soon!
