UFC Stockholm Live Results

Two light heavyweight contenders who recently received title shots and came up short will do battle to get back into championship contention again, as UFC Stockholm takes place from the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm, Sweden.

In the main event, Sweden’s own Alexander Gustafsson takes on Anthony Smith. Each man competed in a light heavyweight title bout against Jon Jones (Gustafsson for the vacant title at UFC 232 and Smith at UFC 235), with both losing. A win in this match won’t necessarily grant a title shot to either man, but rather make their path back towards the belt at least a little easier.

Gustafsson has not been as active since another failed title shot back at UFC 192, where he lost a split decision to Daniel Cormier. Gustafsson did win the sole fight each he had in 2016 and 2017, which consisted of a September 2016 win over Jan Blachowicz and a May 2017 fifth-round finish of Glover Teixeira, which also occurred at the Ericsson Globe.

Smith receiving a title shot back in March came after being one of the biggest breakthrough fighters of 2018. After a Fight of the Night loss against Thiago Santos, Smith moved up to light heavyweight, where he ended up scoring first-round finishes of former champions Rashad Evans and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua before a comeback submission win over former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir.

UFC Stockholm’s co-main event was originally set to be Oezdemir taking on Ilir Latifi, but Latifi was forced out due to a back injury on May 30. The event will proceed with 12 events, with Jimi Manuwa vs. Aleksandar Rakic moving into the co-main spot.

FIGHT SPORTS brings you live coverage of UFC Stockholm!

UFC Stockholm Main Card (1 p.m., ESPN+):

Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith def. Alexander Gustafsson via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 4, 2:38)
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic def. Jimi Manuwa via KO (Rd. 1, 0:42)
Featherweight: Makwan Amirkhani def. Chris Fishgold via submission (anaconda choke) (Rd. 2, 4:25)
Lightweight: Christos Giagos def. Damir Hadzovic via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28)
Featherweight: Daniel Teymur def. Sung Bin Jo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

UFC Stockholm Preliminary Card (10 a.m., ESPN2):

Welterweight: Sergey Khandozhko def. Rostem Akman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Women’s Bantamweight: Lina Lansberg def. Tonya Evinger via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-26)
Lightweight: Leonardo Santos def. Stevie Ray via KO (Rd. 1, 2:17)
Lightweight: Frank Camacho def. Nick Hein via TKO (Rd. 2, 4:56)
Women’s Bantamweight: Bea Malecki def. Eduarda Santana via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 2, 1:59)
Light Heavyweight: Devin Clark def. Darko Stosic via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Joel Alvarez def. Danilo Belluardo via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:22)

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Smith:

Round 1: Gustafsson keeps his back towards the cage, circling around Smith as “Lionheart” tries to cut off the Octagon and looks for an opening. Overhand right from Smith that Gustafsson easily gets away from. The Swedish fighter continues to circle. A couple of left jabs by Gustafsson and Smith answers by throwing a couple of power shots. Leg checks by Gustafsson. Smith lands a left hand as the two clash legs. Front kick to the leg by Gustafsson. Another kick by Gustafsson. Left straight by Smith. Left round kick by Smith. Gustafsson works the left jab again, followed by another low front kick. Gustafsson is bleeding on his left leg; the blood trickling down his foot. Gustafsson steps away from another Smith punch. Spin attack by Smith blocked as the two exchange. Gustafsson working the left jab again. Front kick by Smith. Gustafsson working small combinations and continuing to kick. A couple of leg kicks from Smith, but he gets troubled by Gustafsson’s boxing, being backed up before the horn.

Round 2: Left hook by Smith. A couple of front kicks by Gustafsson. Right kick by Gustafsson as Smith flashes the left hand. Smith misses a huge overhand right and the fight goes back to the center. Gustafsson throws a left. More jab work. Kick by Smith and comes after Gustafsson who, again, avoids Smith’s power. Kick by Gustafsson to Smith’s leg. Gustafsson flashes a jab and Smith misses a counter left. Smith, however, does land a nice head kick. Front kick by Gustafsson. Combo by Smith. Right hand by Smith. Left kick to the leg by Smith. More kicks from the Swedish fighter. Two minutes left. Smith lands an uppercut and goes on the attack, throwing a combination. Big left hook from the American. Smith answers more Gustafsson’s kicks with another powerful warning shot. Smith gets on the inside, landing a couple of body blows before missing an overhand. Gustafsson misses a head kick. Weak kick from Smith, who looks a little tired, as Gustafsson is now on the front foot as the round comes to a close.

Round 3: Front kick by Gustafsson to start, as he continues to aim for the leg with these kicks. The two get into an exchange, and each lands a couple of power hooks to the head, with Gustafsson missing a big uppercut opportunity. Smith hits the leg with a kick, then misses with the right hand. Leg kick from each. Gustafsson tags Smith, but “Lionheart” comes right back and pressures Gustafsson, putting him up against the fence briefly. Front kick by Smith. Right hand from Gustafsson. Power body kick by Smith. A couple of kicks to the lead leg of Smith by Gustafsson. Clash of kicks. Another kick from Smith, followed by a right. Gustafsson comes in but doesn’t land much. Gustafsson lands a hook to the body. Leg kick by Gustafsson. Gustafsson lands a jab inside, and the two briefly clinch. Gustafsson throws a one-two. Smith throws a leg kick, and once again Gustafsson is bleeding from the left leg. Gustafsson lands a liver shot and takes Smith down, landing in top side control. Gustafsson lands a big shot to the body before the round ends.

Round 4: Some exchanging, and he counters a Gustafsson kick with a punch. Couple of left hands from Gustafsson answered with a kick to the body by Smith. Gustafsson grapples up with Smith again, but this time Smith counters and he takes Gustafsson down, immediately getting to Gustafsson’s back and looking to get in a choke. Smith stays on Gustafsson’s back and locks his legs around Gustafsson, as instead of slipping off, Smith flattens Gustafsson out and lands a couple of big shots. Gustafsson doesn’t defend his neck and Smith gets the tapout! Smith has silenced the Swedish crowd with a big turnaround, and another comeback submission win!

Official Result: Anthony Smith def. Alexander Gustafsson via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 4, 2:38)