FCR 12 breakdown and prospect watch – someone’s 0 has got to go

Swedish MMA organization Fight Club Rush has quickly become the hottest show in town and established itself as the leading promotion in the Nordic region, known for exceptional matchmaking leading to barnburnes and sensational finishes more often than not. Now, it’s time for their 12th event in Västerås Arena and as you would expect, the FCR 12 card features plethora of hot and exciting prospects.

The main card starts at 6 p.m. CEST on Saturday and consists of six professional bouts, airing live around the world on UFC Fight Pass. The preliminary card features one pro fight and two amateur contents that will be broadcasted on FCRMMA.com.

In this article, Frontkick editors Ashah Tafari and Johan Taliercio highlight ten fighters on the card that you definitely need to keep an eye on.

Remember, UFC sensation Khamzat Chimaev and Cage Warriors standout Tobias Harila both had their early fights in the FCR cage. The promotion keep developing talent and you could be looking at the next breakout star if you decide to tune in on Saturday.

Click on ”Next” to start reading the FCR 12 breakdown and prospect watch!

Photo by Johnathon Michael/Frontkick.online

Josefine Modig

Amateur record: 6-2

Facing: Janika Antinmaa

In the first fight of the preliminary card, Swedish national team member Josefine Modig steps into the cage to take on Finland’s Janika Antinmaa in a strawweight amateur contest.

Modig is still relatively unexperienced, but has definitely turned a corner as her development skyrocketed following the covid pandemic. She went from being somewhat mediocre to becoming one of the biggest IMMAF standouts, scoring a gold medal at last year’s world cup in Prague and a silver medal at this year’s world championship in Abu Dhabi. Modig also became the Swedish amateur MMA champion in her division shortly thereafter.

Her opponent Antinmaa has scored various IMMAF medals herself and as well as multiple national titles.

Photo by IMMAF

Anton Hellström

Amateur record: 0-1

Facing: Martin Corney

The second amateur bout on the card is worth checking out as well. There we have Anton Hellström, a three-time Swedish boxing champion, stepping into the MMA cage for just the second time.

Hellström made his amateur MMA debut at FCR 10 and displayed quite a well-rounded game. Unfortunately he got DQ’d due to landing a knee to the head of his opponent which is not allowed according to Swedish amateur rules.

Even though he didn’t get the win, Hellström had a promising showing last time around and with his high-level boxing he’s a threat to any lightweight in Sweden. Now, he’s out to score his first MMA victory against a durable Martin Corney who’s one to watch as well.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Safi Husseini

Professional record: 1-0

Facing: Amir Malekpour

In the first fight of the main card we find a dark horse in Safi Husseini. He might be relatively unknown – even amongst Swedish fans – but the one’s tuning in to the last FCR event will know why he’s included in this list.

As an amateur, Husseini had mostly showcased his wrestling. When it was time for his pro debut back in March, however, he chocked everyone by knocking his opponent out with his very first jab – scoring the fastest finish in Fight Club Rush history.

Now, he makes quite a quick turnaround to face a tough test in the hard-hitting Amir Malekpour, a former IMMAF European champion, in a 60 kg catchweight bout.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Theodor Berggren

Professional record: 2-0

Facing: Theodor Berggren

One of the absolute hottest prospects on the card is definitely Theodor Berggren. He was looking promising early on as an amateur, but turned a corner before going pro and is now on a roll in the FCR cage.

Berggren is coming off two quick finishes – one by knockout and one by rear-naked choke – and has simply been looking like a beast. Now, he’ll get a step-up in competition as he’s scheduled to face fellow Swede Christian Stigenberg in an intriguing welterweight contest.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Christian Stigenberg

Professional record: 2-1

Facing: Theodor Berggren

Speaking of the devil, the long and lanky Christian Stigenberg is back in the FCR cage after a pair of fights in Superior Challenge.

He might be coming off a tough loss, but Stigenberg is a very skilled athlete with an awkward fighting style who has several amateur wins to his name including a Swedish championship title.

Now, he’s hoping to return to the win column against an up-and-comer like Theodor Berggren.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Nermin Hajdarpasic

Professional record: 3-0

Facing: Fatih Aktas

Nermin Hajdarpasic thundered onto the Swedish MMA scene last year when he made his professional MMA debut against Salif ”The Black Viking” Diop and scored an emphatic second-round knockout after dominating the fight.

Since then, Hajdarpasic has defeated international veteran Fatih Aktas and Swedish MMA world champion Irman Smajic in consecutive fights.

The Swedish boxing champion now looks to add another victory against Aktas on his resumé, as he will face him in a rematch on the FCR 12 main card this Saturday. Certain voices claimed Hajdarpasic didn’t deserve the win last time around, and Hajdarpasic is now looking to prove them wrong.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Hecher Sosa

Professional record: 3-0

Facing: Karlen Minasian

While this list almost only consists of Swedish fighters, Fight Club Rush is also starting to build a roaster of international prospects and after watching his first performance in FCR, it would almost be criminal not to include Spain’s Hecher Sosa here.

Sosa, a 3-0 bantamweight with several IMMAF medals and national titles to his name, absolutely demolished his opponent at FCR 10 last fall and sealed the deal with a beautiful flying knee knockout in the first round.

It should be noted that Sosa came in heavy last time around. This time, however, he made weight and is now ready to take on Ukraine’s Karlen Minasian.

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Zoran Milic

Professional record: 2-1

Facing: Gerard Burns

Zoran Milic is a real hometown hero in Västerås and easily one of the most entertaining fighters on the Swedish MMA scene. Whenever Milic is inside the cage, you can clearly see that he just loves to be there.

The former Swedish national MMA champion has gone 2-1 since making his professional debut last year, only losing a controversial decision after a complete war against Jonny Touma – a fight that most people consider to be ”Fight of the Year” in Sweden 2021.

The 25-year-old now faces Gerard Burns in the co-main event of FCR 12 this Saturday, and will be looking to extend his finish streak.

Photo by Stefan Romare – Frontkick.online

Alexander Lööf

Professional record: 3-0

Facing: Samuel Bark

During his amateur career, Alexander Lööf scored multiple brutal finishes in IMMAF, and made himself known on the Swedish MMA scene for his hard-hitting hands and brutally entertaining style.

Since making his professional debut late last year, Lööf has taken the same approach. The Västerås fan-favorite is already on a three-fight winning streak, scoring knockouts all the while putting on shows for the fans.

He now faces another fighter on a three-fight win streak in Samuel Bark in the FCR 12 main event this Saturday, and the crowd will be ready to carry their hometown hero to another exciting win – but will Lööf’s brutal style suit the Muay Thai specialist like a glove?

Photo by Stefan Romare/Frontkick.online

Samuel Bark

Professional record: 3-0

Facing: Alexander Lööf

Samuel Bark is a highly decorated former Muay Thai fighter and is widely considered one of the best strikers in Swedish MMA.

He now puts his undefeated record on the line as he faces the other big up-and-coming prospect on the Swedish featherweight scene right now in Alexander Lööf, in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Bark switched from Muay Thai to professional MMA in 2021, already winning three fights in the span of less than a year and establishing himself as one of the top prospects on the Swedish scene. Two of his wins has been really impressive stoppages, including a fantastic flying knee knockout in his debut victory fight at Wolf Fight Promotion 3.

”Sammon Decker” already has his sights firmly set on a UFC contract, and a win over Lööf this Saturday surely would be a large stepping stone in his early MMA career.

Photo by Stefan Romare – Frontkick.online

Read more: Fight Club Rush 12: Fight Card, Start Time & How to Watch