UFC on Fuel TV Event in Sweden Sells Out in Three Hours

Alexander Gustafsson

Promotion debuts in Stockholm on April 14

The UFC’s first show in Sweden is already a success, selling out in just three hours after tickets went on sale last week.

The UFC earlier this month made official its debut in the country, for an April 14 show at the Ericsson Globe Arena in the capital city of Stockholm. On Sunday, the company made official the sellout of UFC on Fuel TV 2 – saying the event for the 12,000-seat arena is the fastest-selling event in Europe in the company’s history.

“People have been telling me how big of a market Sweden was for the UFC and today, the fans went out and proved it,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement. “I love taking the UFC to new markets. I can’t wait to get to Stockholm in April because we’re going to put on a great event.”

Marie Lindqvist, communications manager at the Ericsson Globe Arena, said the demand for tickets to the event rivals that of the biggest concerts in the venue’s history. The venue, which opened in 1989, has played host to Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, and artists scheduled to visit the arena in 2012 include Pearl Jam, Drake and Michael Buble.

Headlining the UFC’s show in Stockholm will be Swedish light heavyweight star Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Plus, middleweight contender Brian Stann takes on Italy’s Alessio Sakara. The event will be the second UFC card to air live on Fuel TV in the United States, following UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger, which takes place Feb. 15 in Omaha, Neb.