By Dwight Wakabayashi
The UFC got an unfortunate break this week, when its event in Sweden lost home country headliner Alexander Gustafsson from the card due to a vicious cut just above his eye. UFC matchmakers scrambled and found a willing replacement in Swedish newcomer llir Latifi.
Despite the loss of Gustafsson, the card will be packed with excitement as Gegard Mousasi will finally make his UFC debut after years of fighting the best of the best in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions outside of the UFC. Also, Randy Couture’s son and rising lightweight Ryan Couture will make his debut in a tough fight against Ross Pearson.
Watch UFC on Sportsnet: Mousasi vs. Latifi at 2 p.m. ET Saturday on Sportsnet ONE. Prior to the main card, catch live preliminary fights starting at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Here is a complete main card beakdown.
Akira Corassani (10-3) vs. Robbie Peralta (16-3) – featherweight
Robbie Peralta has not lost a fight since 2009 and the 27-year-old is definitely hitting the prime of his career. He scored a stunning 23-second knockout over Jason Young in his last fight and will be looking to do the same to Corassani. Peralta swings with terrible intentions and his 12 knockouts in 16 wins are proof that he knows how to hit his mark.
Sweden’s own Corassani is a TUF 14 alum who has been riddled with injury problems since being signed by the UFC. He is 1-0 in the promotion with a few false starts hampering his early progress. Corassani is not particularly elite in any one area, but the ground game will be his only hope in this one.
Look for Peralta to run through Corassani and move up to a big name fight later this year.
Diego Brandao (16-8) vs. Pablo Garza (12-3) – featherweight
This is a very intriguing match-up of styles between two fighters just on the cusp of becoming contenders in the division.
Brandao is a fiery bundle of energy and strikes with reckless abandon and power. He will look to get the well-rounded Garza out of the fight as early as possible. The winner of TUF 14 bounced back from a loss to Darren Elkins with a decision win over Joey Gambino in October.
Garza will be looking to weather an early barrage by Brandao, then use his length and reach to pick away at him and drain some of his power. Garza started slow in his last fight against Mark Hominick and can’t afford to feel his way into this one. The longer this fight goes the better it is for Garza.
This one is a toss-up, and the winner will be right on the cusp of the featherweight top 10.
Brad Pickett (22-7) vs. Mike Easton (13-2) – bantamweight
This fight could provide the most fireworks on the entire card, but I don’t think it will last very long once the bell sounds to open the fight. Both fighters are considered top contenders in the division and are coming off disappointing losses.
Easton is the more explosive of the two, but Pickett has major power in his hands and is the more well-rounded and experienced fighter. While the fight is on the feet, watch for Easton to look for the big bombing shot, while Pickett tries to make it as dirty and in tight as possible.
If Easton can get the takedown, it may be a rough night on the bottom for Pickett. The winner here gets right back into title contention for the remainder of the year.
Matt Mitrione (5-2) vs. Phil De Fries (9-2) – heavyweight
Two heavyweights trying to find some consistency and improvement in their respective games will fight in this one. Both are coming off first-round TKO losses as Mitrione replaced Shane Carwin at the last minute and got floored by Roy Nelson in December, while De Fries got knocked out by Todd Duffee in December as well.
This one won’t be a display of technical excellence but it will be a battle of attrition as Mitrione wants to stand and fight, and De Fries wants to take it down and roll. Whichever fighter can dictate where the fight takes place will dictate the outcome as well. The winner lives to fight another day while the loser could be very close to getting released by the promotion.
Ross Pearson (14-6) vs. Ryan Couture (6-1) – lightweight
Ryan Couture, the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, will make his UFC debut in Sweden against a very tough fighter in Brit Ross Pearson. Couture turned heads with a great performance in his final fight in Strikeforce, a controversial split decision win over K.J. Noons.
Couture’s game is very scrappy and diverse, and hanging with Noons like he did displayed a real fighter’s heart. However, Pearson is a step up in technical skill and Couture will have to have sharper skills and defence to survive this fight. Pearson is much more experienced and is coming off a nice win over George Sotiropoulos in his return to the lightweight division. He is looking to use his technical striking and constant pressure to beat Couture handily and make a final run up the division ladder.
Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2) vs. Ilir Latifi (7-2) – light heavyweight
Circumstances have created a monster mismatch in the main event of UFC Sweden. Credit to home country veteran Ilir Latifi for taking the fight at the last minute, and anything can happen in a cage fight.
Mousasi will finally make his UFC debut and he should be able to use Latifi as a canvas to showcase his complete arsenal of skills, or simply make a statement and take him out right away. I’m thinking of how Rory McDonald toyed with B.J. Penn when I say showcase his arsenal, but if Mousasi really wants the world to believe he could have beaten Gustafsson and challenge for the title, he needs to take Latifi out in the first round.
Mousasi wants to stay relevant for the big-name fights and title contention, and only a highlight-reel stoppage will allow Mousasi to get the opponent he wants in his next fight.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report UFC and regular contributor to Sportsnet.ca’s UFC section. Follow him on Twitter @wakafightermma.
