Fight Club Rush returns to home base in Västerås this Friday, April 10th with more of the best MMA in Scandinavia! After the sold out success that was FCR 25 last year, FCR 28 will once agan go down at Västerås Kongress in the heart of the city. While every single FCR fight card is well worth watching from start to finish, FCR 28 has some unique aspects that make it especially exciting, aspects that we will take a close look at below.

 

10 Reasons you NEED to watch FCR 28

 

1. Last stop before Contender Series?

Local, undefeated star Millie Eriksson (3-0) returns for her second straight FCR main event. Last time out, she edged out the highly-dangerous prospect Kate Bacik via split decision. Now Eriksson will take on the very experienced Mabelly Lima (10-2) – a veteran of both Oktagon and Dana White’s Contender Series. The co-main event will see the highly-touted Ali Guliev (8-1) take on Fabricio Nunes (9-2) in a battle between knockout artists. Guliev knocked out Norwegian phenom Jon Vetle Furuheim in his previous bout and is just about ready to take the next step in his career. These are two top-tier bouts, and should Eriksson and Guliev manage to pull off a win Contender Series could very well be next for both. This may be the last time we see both before competing under the UFC umbrella.

 

2. That Västerås Kongress atmosphere

The FCR debut at Västerås Kongress last year was a massive success. The sold out venue delivered an amazing and unique atmosphere, culminating in a symphony of excitement and action. There is something special about the theatre-like layout that truly turns the fans attention in one direction, showering the cage and fighters with waves of support and fuel.

 

3. Swedish legend Amir Malekpour returns to FCR

One would be hard pressed to find a Swedish MMA icon who has been as beloved and revered as Amir Malekpour (7-3) has for just shy of a decade. Having competed way back at the very first FCR card in 2017, Malekpour built up a reputation as one of the best amateurs in Sweden and solidified that claim by become European MMA champion while representing Team Sweden. After treating the Swedish fans to some amazing fights against the likes of Ilaz Zabelaj and Safi Hussein, Malekpour ventured in Cage Warriors where he went 3-0 against top competition. While his last outing in the Spanish promotion WOW ended in defeat, Malekpour is still one of the best fighters in Scandinavia in the lighter divisions and a constant threat. Malekpour will face Georgian top prospect Royal Leyizade (7-1) – a fighter with a 86% finishing rate! This is a bout that promises high-level excitement.

 

4. Osman Vacoev finally makes his pro debut

For years those in the know have had their eye on Osman Vacoev (0-0). Originally a product of Helsingborg Combat Club, Vacoev has begun training at Allstars in Stockholm alongside some of the best in the Nordics.

As an amateur Vacoev has remained deadly, with wins over top opponents. His hunt for a willing dance partner for his pro debut has been a tough one, leaving him to compete in Muay Thai while waiting for the right opportunity in MMA. Vacoev has gone undefeated in Muay Thai, showcasing his top striking skills.

Now Vacoev will take on Abbe Hussein (1-2) – who is no stranger to causing huge upsets, something he proved with knockout wins over Ali Al-Jasim and Kevin Osorio.

 

5. Nina Back is BACK!

The well credentialled and extremely experienced Nina Back (3-2), former member of the Swedish MMA Team, returns to FCR for the first time since her pro debut. While he first bout as a pro didn’t go her way, Back has since won three out of her last four bouts, with the lone loss coming via a close and controversial decision. Women’s pro flyweight is heating up and a win here could secure a top fight against the likes of Millie Eriksson, depending on how FCR 28 ends.

 

6. Two top strikers will duke it out on the prelims

While the FCR 28 preliminary card features top prospects, as usual, there is one bout that could very well steal the show. Martin Karlsson will take on Jakob Ersrud in what could be the formers last amateur bout before going pro. Karlsson, a student of KRAFT Kampsport in Stockholm, has built up a formidable reputation for heavy hands – something that stems from a brutal 15 second brutal KO he scored in December of 2023. Solid wins over fighters like William Karlsson and Manne Hampusson have only cemented his status as a fighter with a bright future. The same could be said for Ersrud, who an astounding undefeated 3-0 record with every single win coming by way of knockout. In his FCR debut last year he finished Fahim Balki in under 30 seconds. Ersrud hasn’t faced anyone as experienced or hardened as Karlsson, however, this should be a good one.

 

7. Friday funday!

For the first time FCR will host an event on a Friday. This means that weigh ins are on Thursday at Ruths Ölhus – which will also host the afterparty on Friday. No need to worry if your cousin is celebrating his birthday on Saturday, if your partner has been wanting a date night or if you want to be bright and fresh for church on Sunday. FCR on Friday night leaves the rest of the weekend wide open to be enjoyed!

 

8. An under-the-radar banger you CANNOT miss

Kevin Dolvik (3-1) and Marko Boychuk (3-0) are two sides of the same coin. Both are young, hungry, bright prospects with a penchant for securing vicious finishes. Dolvik has proved his worth in FCR with two finishes and a decision loss against top contender John Oldenqvist in one of the best FCR bouts of last year. Boychuk has dazzled the UK MMA scene since going pro and is undefeated in both pro and amateur MMA. A win in this bout could tip the winner over the edge from dark horse to contender.

 

9. Two promising prospects open up the main card

It’s Sweden vs France as Tome Bokofo (0-0) clashes with Axel Djarallah (0-0) in what is both fighters pro debut. Both fighters have only ever lost once as amateurs and now making their pro debuts against one another, the path towards greatness has been set. Bokofo is perhaps the best judoka in modern Swedish MMA, with trips and throws that puts the audience on pins and needles as they await the huge slam to the canvas. Djarallah got his start in Muay Thai and kickboxing, but has since rounded out his game, winning a European Amateur title in a respected promotion. Both fighters have a bright future, the question is: Who will take the first big step as a pro?

 

10. The last event in Västerås for 2026

This year will see a record amount of six FCR events, but FCR 28 will the first and last for 2026. While the fans in the home base of Västerås are always great, there are new cities and markets to venture into. If you’re in the Västerås area, be sure to get in on this event, seeing it live is a completely different thing! Doors open at Västerås Kongress at 17:00 local time, the first fight starts at 17:30 and the whole preliminary card will be broadcast at fcrmma.se. The main card can be seen in its entirety at UFC Fight Pass, starting 20:00 local time.

 

DOORS OPEN: 17:00

FIRST FIGHT ON PRELIMS: 17:30

FIRST FIGHT ON UFC FIGHT PASS: 20:00

 

MAIN CARD (UFC Fight pass)

Millie Eriksson vs Mabelly Lima

Ali Guliev vs Fabrício Nunes

Amir Malekpour vs Royal Leylizade

Nina Back vs Barbara Grabowska

Kevin Dolvik vs Marko Boychuk

Tome Bokofo vs Axel Djarallah

 

PRELIMS (FCRMMA.TV)

Abbe Hussein vs Osman Vacoev

Martin Karlsson vs Jakob Ersrud (amateur)

Tamerlan Akhmadov vs Leo Kadiric (amateur)

Theo Rubinstein vs Marley Yaley (amateur)

Ahmad Amro vs Zana Ayaz (amateur)