“Exciting striker Siyar Bahadurzada has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against the always-dangerous Brazilian Special Forces Police Battalion member Paulo Thiago at UFC Sweden in April," UFC president Dana White confirmed. Both welterweights were originally slated to fight - though not against each other - on the UFC Rio in January but forced to withdraw due to injuries.

In other welterweight action, TUF: US vs UK standout DaMarques Johnson will go toe-to-toe against yet another Brit, as he has agreed to fight Cambridge submission specialist John Maguire. Plus, Oslo's 16-2 fight finisher Simeon Thoresen will make his UFC debut against undefeated Swede Besam Yousef.

Two more Swedish signees will face French opponents at the European event. At light heavyweight, Cyrille Diabate welcomes undefeated kickboxer Jörgen Kruth to the UFC; while middleweight Francis Carmont will face 10-3 knockout artist Magnus "Jycken" Cedenblad in his sophomore Octagon outing. Verbal agreements are in for all of these bouts.

UFC Sets its Sights on Sweden updated January 5
The UFC will make its Scandinavian debut this spring as the second UFC on FUEL TV fight night has been slated for Saturday, April 14 in Stockholm, Sweden. The date and venue were confirmed on this week's UFC 142 conference call.

Verbal agreements are also in for two intriguing bouts at the April event. Fists will fly in a middleweight match between Italian striker Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara and "All American" brawler Brian Stann.

Also on that card, Papy Abedi will meet Oklahoman James Head. The French-born Abedi, known as "Makambo," grew up there and in the Congo, but has lived and trained in Sweden for several years. The bout will be the sophomore UFC effort for both welterweights.

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