The flyweight division has never been hotter in Sweden, with everyone chasing reigning Fight Club Rush flyweight champ Jonny Touma. Now Renato Vidovic (4-1) and Rohullah Yousofi (3-3) are set to face off for the second time in a top fight with title implications at FCR 19 - which will see Northern Europe's premiere MMA promotion return to the Swedish capital of Stockholm.
The two fighterts faced off in Vidovic's hometown of Gothenburg in the spring of 2022. While Vidovic ended up winning a decision, it was a hard-fought one where Yousofi displayed a huge development to his game.
This will also be the third time that Vidovic challenges for the FCR flyweight title, as an inadvertent eye poke stopped his fight with Amir Malekpour at FCR 16, and an issue with clearance put a halt to his planned title bout with Touma at FCR 17.
Vidovic is one of, if not the most accomplished amateur fighter in Sweden, as a five time Swedish MMA champ and two-time IMMAF European champion. Since a loss to Finlands top bantamweight Tuomas Grönvall (who challenges for the vacant bantamweight title at FCR 19), in his pro debut, Vidovic has remained perfect, lining up four straight, impressive wins.
Vidovic TKO'd Eli Elias in his FCR debut, followed up with defeating Jakob Valegren and Yousofi, capping off his current unbeaten streak with a knockout win over veteran Binh Son Le.
While he lost his pro debut against Fadi Asfar at FCR 7 and came up short against Vidovic, Yousofi has showed monumental improvements.
As a multiple time Afghan boxing champion and three-time Swedish silver medalist Yousofi has truly grown into his own, becoming a well-rounded MMA fighter.
He secured his first pro win by finishing Qudrat Dargai via first round knockout and followed up with a knockout win over Anton Larsson at FCR 14.
That secured a number one contender bout against Zoran Milic at FCR 16 in what was an absolute barn burner. Yousofi dropped Milic in the first round and was close to a finish. The fight ended up going the distance in one of the best fights of the year, with Yousofi as the clear winner via decision.
That eventually led to Yousofi challenging Touma for the title at FCR 18 on two weeks notice. Once again it was an exciting affair, with Touma winning a unanimous decision despite a third round rally from Yousofi.
The bout between Touma and Vidovic has been booked thrice now, and it seems like a fight that is destined to happen. Meanwhile Yousofi has remained adamant that he can defeat Touma on a full camp.
Only one of these top flyweights can take one step closer to the FCR title, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious for a chance att challenging for the gold.
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