Superior Challenge has loaded up on their 18th card as part of their 10 year anniversary. The card puts one title on the line, three IMMAF World Champions, four UFC vets, and a Finn versus Swede main event rematch. Superior Challenge 18 goes down in Stockholm at the Fitnessfestivalen and MMA Viking is cageside for live updates and photos.
Undercard
Fannie Redman Vs Tiia Kohtamäki
Round 1 – The two exchange and land early. Redman wins by armbar late in the first round after getting a double-leg take-down and landing some ground and pound.
RESULT: Fannie Redman submits Tiia Kohtamäki in Round 1
Irman Smajik Vs Malik Jahmaze
Round 1 – The two fighters touch gloves, and Smajik opens with a kick to the legs of the much shorter fighter. Jahmaze throws a huge overhand right and pressures Smajik to the cage. Jahmaze eats a leg kick, then attempts a spinning back fist which falls short. Another attempt at a big right hand lands on the gloves of Smajik, but another gets through. And again. Jahmaze feints the level change nicely, and continues to walk down Smajik against the cage. Jahmaze initiates the clinch with Smajik against the cage, but Smajik circles out and takes the center. Jahmaze attempts a single leg, then pushes Smajik to the cage and attempts to chain his takedown into a double leg against the fence. Smajik breaks away, and Jahmaze swings wildly, coming up short with his shots at the horn.
Round 2 – The fighters once more touch gloves, and Smajik cedes the center of the cage to the shorter fighter. A kick misses for Smajik, and Jahmaze swings wild, then a kick to the body unbalances Jahmaze and sends him reeling. He is quickly back to his feet, and continues to stalk Smajik looking for a big right hand. Another wild attempt at an overhand right falls short for Jahmaze. Smajik throws a leg kick which lands flush, and Jahmaze ducks down for the takedown, but Smajik sprawls, and stuffs Jahmaze’s head. Smajik works his way to the fence, pushing the shorter Jahmaze along with him, taking his back. Smajik gets his right hook in, and begins to rain down punches until the referee calls the fight.
RESULT: Irman Smajik defeats Malik Jahmaze by way of TKO (Referee Stoppage) in Round 2.
Anna Astvik Vs Elin Öberg
Round 1 – These debuting fighters meet in the center, and immediately Öberg clips Astvik with a left hand that stiffens her. A right follows, and Astvik is sprawled on the canvas, eating a follow-up shot before the fight is called off.
RESULT: Elin Öberg Defeats Anna Astvik by way of knockout at 0:06 seconds of the very first round.
Adam Westlund Vs Christopher Jeanpier Basauri
Round 1 – Westlund effortlessly takes the center of the cage, and the two begin the process off feeling one another out. Basauri makes first contact with a leg kick, then another attempt at a kick sees him lose his footing. Two inside leg kicks land for Basauri, and Westlund sneaks in a quick right hand. Westlund attempts the Stockton slap, and Basauri grins. A combination lands for Westlund, but Basauri goes high with a kick, then follows with another to the body. Westlund changes to southpaw and eats a kick, and thus switches back before throwing a kick of his own. Basauri fires off a hard kick to the body. Westlund alternates between jabs and attempts at slapping the hands of Basauri, but Basauri blasts him across the cage with a successful takedown attempt. Westlund clambers back to his feet quickly, but the round ends with Basauri applying knees from the outside, up against the cage.
Round 2 – The round opens with more kicks from Basauri, and Westlund finding his rasnge with the jab, before coming in with a hard left hook to the body. Westlund switches to Southpaw once more, and fires off a kick, switching stances to deliver a left hook. Basauri is keeping Westlund on his toes with kicks, and Westlund steps in with a knee, then touches the head and the body. A looping right lands for Westlund, but BAsauri blazes forward with his hands, and ends with a high kick. Westlund once more pressure Basauri to the cage, and Basauri circles out, attempts a takedown, and ends up with Westlund’s back to the cage as he searches for a takedown despite finding himself in a guillotine loose enough for him to continue working. Basauri breaks free, and the ref separates the fighters, with Westlund taking the center of the cage, pressuring Basauri to the fence and teeing off with shots to the body and head. A clean left hand lands for Westrlund from Southpaw, and he marches Basauri down, teeing off with jabs and uppercuts. Westlund is teeing off indiscriminately, and Basauri clinches, saving himself from the stoppage.
Round 3 – Once more, Westlund puts Basauri’s back to the cage. Basauri rallies and attempts a takedown, but once it is shrugged off by Westlund, he once more finds himself getting tuned up from the outside. Despite this, Basauri is game, and rushes forward with a takedown attempt. It’s unfruitful, but gives Basauri the positional advantage against the cage. Westlund captures his neck in a front choke, drives Basauri to the ground, and rains down blows. Basauri initiates a scramble, and winds up on top, but there isn’t much time to work, and he finds himself finding off a Kimura until the bell.
RESULT: Adam Westlund is declared winner by way of unanimous decision.
Bartosz Wojcik Vs Lucas Tenorio
Round 1 – The round begins, and Wojcik takes the center, opening witrh as lef kick, and following up with a left hook and rigfht hand. Wojcik patiently stalks Tenorio to the cage. Tenorio circles out, and Wojcik takes him down, easily taking mount against the Brazilian fighter in the center of the cage. Wojcik starts to tee off, and Tenorio flips around, giving the Swede his back. Wojcik lands hard shots from this position, then sinks in a rear naked choke, and the tap comes shortly after.
RESULT: Bartosz Wojcik is declared winner by way of submission (rear naked choke) in the first round.
Irman Smajik Vs Malik Jahmaze
Round 1 – The two fighters touch gloves, and Smajik opens with a kick to the legs of the much shorter fighter. Jahmaze throws a huge overhand right and pressures Smajik to the cage. Jahmaze eats a leg kick, then attempts a spinning back fist which falls short. Another attempt at a big right hand lands on the gloves of Smajik, but another gets through. And again. Jahmaze feints the level change nicely, and continues to walk down Smajik against the cage. Jahmaze initiates the clinch with Smajik against the cage, but Smajik circles out and takes the center. Jahmaze attempts a single leg, then pushes Smajik to the cage and attempts to chain his takedown into a double leg against the fence. Smajik breaks away, and Jahmaze swings wildly, coming up short with his shots at the horn.
Round 2 – The fighters once more touch gloves, and Smajik cedes the center of the cage to the shorter fighter. A kick misses for Smajik, and Jahmaze swings wild, then a kick to the body unbalances Jahmaze and sends him reeling. He is quickly back to his feet, and continues to stalk Smajik looking for a big right hand. Another wild attempt at an overhand right falls short for Jahmaze. Smajik throws a leg kick which lands flush, and Jahmaze ducks down for the takedown, but Smajik sprawls, and stuffs Jahmaze’s head. Smajik works his way to the fence, pushing the shorter Jahmaze along with him, taking his back. Smajik gets his right hook in, and begins to rain down punches until the referee calls the fight.
RESULT: Irman Smajik defeats Malik Jahmaze by way of TKO (Referee Stoppage) in Round 2.
Bilal Musa Vs Serdar Altas
Round 1 – A take-down gets the fight to the ground for Musa, but Altas is able to reverse and get on top where he eventually ground and pounds the Malmö fighter til the referee jumps in. Impressive performance from Altas.
RESULT: Serdar Altas defeats Bilal Musa by TKO (punches) in Round 1.
Rostem Akman Vs Shah Hussain
RESULT: Rostem Akman wins by verbal submission over Shah Hussain in Round 1.
Main Card
Michel Ersoy Vs Fouad Mesdari
Round 1 – Ersoy opens with a blitz, but nothing of consequence lands until Mesdari hits him with a hard body kick. The Swede lunges for a takedown, and gets Mesdari to the mat. Ersoy passes to half guard, and moves Mesdari away from the cage when he attempts to wall-walk. Ersoy rains down a few shots, but in doing so Mesdari is able to create distance and escape to his feet. The two struggle for position against the cage, and Ersoy pulls Mesdari atop him when searching for a bodylock takedown. Ersoy throwing volume from the bottom, but Mesdari passes to half guard and rains down punches of his own before escaping to the feet. Mesdari advances on Ersoy with punches and a hard kick to the body, and Ersoy powers through a double leg, ending the round on top in the center of the cage.
Round 2 – The second stanza begins, and Mesdari blitzes with punches, but stops his barrage to point at the mat and call to the ref, who instructs him to keep fighting. It appears he may have lost a contact lens. Ersoy hits Mesdari with right hand and drops low for a takedown, which he gets. Ersoy applies little offense from the top, and the ref stands them up just after the 4 minute mark. Mesdari throws a hard knee up the middle at Ersoy, and follows with a high kick. Ersoy backs away, playing the matador for the remainder of the round.
Round 3 – Mesdari opens the round with a right hand and a kick to the body of the Swede. The Frenchman takes the center of the cage, and both fighters swing with brutal intent, Mesdari coming away the better of the striking exchange. Ersoy shoots for a takedown, and is briefly stymied by Mesdari, but the Swede is able to secure the top position in the end. Ersoy takes side control near the center of the cage, and while his offensive volume isn’t high, he appears to have cut Mesdari just over the right eye with one of his shots. Short elbows from the Swede come as Mesdari slowly shrimps toward the cage with the intent of wall walking and regaining his feet. Mesdari does so, to an extent – he uses his wall walk to flip himself over Ersoy, and into mount, where he begins raining down hard shots from the top as Ersoy attempts to cause a scramble. Mesdari lunges in with a choke attempt as the round closes, but the fight is called to an end before it bears fruit.
RESULT: Michel Ersoy defeats Fouad Mesdari by way of Unanimous Decision.
Guram Kutateladze Vs Guilherme Cadena Martins (23-14).
Round 1 – The action begins, and Martins attempts a takedown early. Kutateladze denies him, switches the position, and takes the Brazilian down instead. Martins threatens with an armbar, and Kutateladze takes to the feet with Martins rolling after him. Kutateladze avoids another takedown, then a second in quick succession. Martins attempts a kick to the body, and nails the Swede with a hard right, but Kutateladze fires back with a right hand of his own. A hard body kick lands for the Brazilian fighter, but Kutateladze fires back with a head kick that drops Martins. Martins takes back to his feet, but a grazing headkick drops him again, and he stays down.
RESULT: Winner, by way of TKO (referee stoppage) at 3 minutes of the first round, Guram Kutateladze.
David Bielkheden Vs Marcin Bandel – welterweight title
Round 1 – The two fighters meet in the center for the touch of gloves, and Bielkheden anchors himself there. Bielkheden begins with a low kick, then a front kick to the body. Bandel throws a right hand that blitzes forward, but Bielkheden doesn’t stay put for him. Bandel throws a left hook and a right hand, but doesn’t break Bielkheden’s guard. More punches from Bandel land on the guard of Bielkheden, but he has taken the center just past the halfway point of the round. A left hook finds its way through Bielkheden’s guard, and Bandel attempts a takedown, but Bielkheden quickly avoids it. Bielkheden lands a solid right hand, and Bandel returns with more volume. Bielkheden throws another kick up the middle, then feints level changes before delivering another hard kick up the middle. Again, Bielkheden goes low with the leg kick, then shoots, and has his attempt stopped. A flurry from Bandel catches Bielkheden on the run, and Bandel cracks him with a hard kick to the body near the end of the round.
Round 2 – As the second period begins, Bielkheden takes the center of the cage, and plays with the idea of several kicks before finally attempting one and being taken down. This doesn’t last long, however, as Bielkheden explodes back to his feet and establishes some feints. Bandel cuts off the cage on him, and scores a kick to the body, then continues to cut the cage as Bielkheden moves away, and scores with a combo before clinching. Bielkheden circles out, and pressures Bandel to the cage in turn, but now has a streak of blood running from a cut on his left cheek. Bielkheden hits Bandel with strong uppercuts to the body and head, making good use of both his physicality and of having Bandel pinned to the cage. Bielkheden continues to pour on uppercuts, then secures underhooks and peppers Bandel with knees. The ref calls for more action at the one minute mark, and Bielkheden obliges him with a takedown. Bielkheden lays down some ground and pound, and rides out the round on top.
Round 3 – The final round begins, and Bielkheden opens with a high kick, and the conclusion of the spinning back kick he alluded to earlier. He follows with another, then places a right hand on Bandel’s chin near where the streak of blood from his now cut brow ends. Bielkheden pushes him to the cage once more, and goes to work with his uppercuts. Bielkheden continues his dirty boxing clinic, then (as if on cue) switches to underhooks, and takes Bandel down at will. A heavy left hand lands for Bielkheden from the top, and he controls Bandel for the remainder of the round, finishing the round with a half dozen right hooks to the body.
RESULT: The judges score this fight (by way of unanimous decision) in favor of David Bielkheden, who retains the Superior Challenge welterweight championship.
Karl Albrektsson Vs Josh Stansbury – title eliminator
Round 1 – The two fighters touch gloves, and Albrektsson opens with a kick, which is returned by Stansbury. Another hard kick lands for Albrektsson, and another to the legs for Stansbury, who has taken position on the outside. Albrektsson cracks Stansbury with a hard shot, then ducks under for a takedown. Albrektsson navigates to side control, but Stansbury shuffles his way to the cage, and Albrektsson is forced to accept half guard in order to keep the American from wall-walking. Stansbury briefly gives up his back, and eats a hard shot. Stansbury looks to move away from that sort of punishment, and in so doing allows Albrektsson to mount him. The American turns over, gives Albrektsson his back, and then struggles to his feet. Albrektsson uses this opportunity to crack Stansbury with a hard shot, hurting and dropping his opponent. As the wood blocks signal 10 seconds remain in the round, Albrektsson pours on the pressure with big shots from the top, and the referee calls a stop to the match.
RESULT: The referee has stopped this fight at 4:56 of the first round, declaring Karl Albrektsson the winner by way of TKO.
Nico Musoke Vs Daniel Acacio – title eliminator
Round 1 – Musoke quickly takes the center of the cage against the shorter fighter Acacio, and opens with kicks before eating a punch from Acacio which sends him backpedaling. Musoke quickly composes himself and rushes forward, smashing Acacio to the cage, and going to work with knees to soften him. The two break and exchange a flurry of punches, and Acacio appears to get Musoke’s attention with a hard right hand. Musoke creates enough space to get comfortable, then sets up his blitz toward the fence with a kick. Musoke pressures Acacio to the cage, and once more goes to work with knees in an attempt to soften him up for the takedown. Acacio escapes and takes to the center of the cage, but Musoke quickly returns him to the cage, and rains down more knees to the thighs of the Brazilian. The two end the round with Musoke pressuring Acacio to the cage.
Round 2 – Musoke appears to have found his range early in round 2, cracking Acacio with several hard punches before once more grating him against the cage. Musoke doesn’t do enough in the ensuing 2 minutes to please the ref, despite several hard knees landing for the Swede, and the fighters are split up. This time, Acacio attempts to pressure Musoke to the cage, but this doesn’t last long before Acacio finds himself reversed, and once more under pressure. Acacio creates a scramble after a time, and manages to escape. Musoke lunges in with a wide hook and Acacio catches him coming in. Musoke attempts a takedown, and is stuffed, but still finds himself in the advantageous position he has occupied for most of this fight – the pressure fighter in a cage grappling scenario.
Round 3 – After several exchanges, these fighters find themselves tidally locked in a battle for position against the cage. This position is truly the story of this fight, with Musoke holding a bodylock on Acacio against the cage, while working to deliver damage with knees to the body and thighs. Around the halfway point of the round, the ref separates the fighters. Musoke creates his opening with his hands, then returns Acacio to the cage once more. The referee splits them up once again, but Musoke is unconcerned, as he employs the same strategy once more until Acacio escapes. Acacio is head hunting now with wide swings, and blitzes forwards with 10 seconds on the clock, only to be forced up against the cage for one last time.
RESULT: Nico Musoke wins this fight by way of Unanimous Decision.
Simon Sköld Vs Jerry Kvarnström – main event
Round 1 – Skold opens with a leg kick, then another to the body. Kvarnström returns fire, but eats a left hand and a body kick for his trouble as Skold backs him up. A hard sidekick lands for Skold, followed by a headkick shortly after. Skold scores once more with another kick to the head, then switches stances and feints with an uppercut. The Finn lunges in and clips the Swede with an elbow, which wobbles him slightly, but Skold retains his composure, cuts off the cage, and goes back to scoring on Kvarnström with kicks. Kvarnström sees his opportunity to shoot for a takedown, and gets a hold on the Swedes leg, but is unable to best Skold’s defense with the ten seconds that remain.
Round 2 – Kvarnström attempts a takedown early, and his efforts pay off. He drives the Swede to the cage, securing top position, and goes to work with his ground and pound. Despite repeated right hands from the Finn, the referee calls for action, and Kvarnström obliges, but the referee is not satisfied and stands them up. Skold goes back to his kicks, and catches Kvarnström with an uppercut, but is quickly taken down once more. Kvarnström works, but the referee is not content with the pace, and stands them up once again. Skold fires off one last kick as the horn sounds for the end of the round.
Round 3 – The final round opens, and Skold takes to attacking the Finn’s legs with kicks. Skold pressures forward, and Kvarnström’s back is to the cage. Kvarnström shoots for a takedown, but finds only air. Another leg kick from Skold, followed by a kick to the head. Kvarnström attempts a kick of his own, but the blow goes low. After a second or two of recovery, Skold realizes he’s fine, and the two re-engage. Another shot for Kvarnström comes up empty. Kvarnström shoots again, and is grazed by a headkick. Skold spins for a headkick with only a few seconds left, but hits only air, and the final horn sounds the end of the match.
RESULT: The split decision victory goes to Simon Skold.
