Gegard Mousasi Rides Jab to Unanimous Decision Over Ilir Latifi in UFC on Fuel TV 9 Headliner

Gegard Mousasi outpointed his last-minute opponent at UFC on Fuel TV 9. | Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

A stout, accurate jab carried the former Dream and Strikeforce champion to a lopsided unanimous decision over Ilir Latifi in the UFC on Fuel TV 9 headliner on Saturday at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm. All three judges arrived at the same verdict: 30-27 for Mousasi (34-3-2, 1-0 UFC), who has rattled off four wins in a row.

Latifi, a short-notice replacement for the injured Alexander Gustafsson, was no match for the speed and skill of “The Dreamcatcher.” One jab after another found its mark on the Swede’s face, and the damage the blows exacted became readily apparent. Kept at range, the brawny 29-year-old failed to get Mousasi on the ground until the closing seconds of the fight, and by then, it was far too late to make a difference.

Mousasi is 21-1-1 in over his last 23 fights.

“I had the advantage striking-wise,” he said. “I know he’s a wrestler, so I didn’t want him to close the distance. I fought smart. Some people lay and pray. Maybe I did a little bit of that with the standup.”

Pearson Spoils Couture’s UFC Debut

Couture kept Pearson (15-6, 7-3 UFC) guessing throughout the first five minutes, as he sucked the Alliance MMA representative into the clinch and racked up points with knees, elbows and shoulder strikes. He was not as successful in round two. There, Pearson unlocked his timing, tripped him to the canvas and teed off once Couture attempted to stand. A series of power punches had Couture reeling, and Pearson sealed it with one last searing left hook and follow-up ground strikes.

“It was just patience, timing and not overcommitting,” Pearson said. “I’ve had a lot of fights now. Practice makes perfect.”

Mitrione KOs De Fries in 19 Seconds

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Mitrione demolished De Fries in 19 seconds.

Mitrione (6-2, 6-2 UFC) closed the deal 19 seconds into round one, as he threw the brakes on a two-fight losing streak.

Hands down and head exposed, De Fries (9-3, 2-3 UFC) moved in for a takedown, only to be met with a short counter right hand. He collapsed to the canvas in a dazed state, and Mitrione rendered him unconscious with a series of unanswered lefts and rights.

“I’m developing,” Mitrione said. “I was out for a long time, so I appreciate the UFC giving me this fight. Whoever they think is appropriate for me to get down [with], let’s get down.”

‘One Punch’ Pickett Edges Easton

The give-and-take action spilled all over the cage. Pickett appeared to be the busier and more diverse of the two on the feet, as he fired away with punching combinations, knees and even short elbows from the clinch. Easton did his best work in the second round, where he utilized his strength advantage to toss around Pickett in tie-ups, delivered a takedown and scored effectively with punches.

American Top Team’s Pickett re-established himself in round three, as he scrambled out of an Easton takedown and settled in top position. Both men threw caution to the wind late, exchanging punches with reckless abandon in the closing seconds.

Brandao Choke Submits Garza

Brandao (17-8, 3-1 UFC) scored with a takedown roughly two minutes into the fight, carved through the 6-foot-1 Garza’s guard and set up shop in side control. From there, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14 winner transitioned beautifully to the arm-triangle choke. Garza put up a brief struggle but ultimately succumbed to the submission.

“Because he’s so tall,” Brandao said, “I didn’t want to strike with him too much.”

Corassani Executes Game Plan, Denies Peralta

Outside of a crisp left hook that nearly finished the Swede in the second round, Peralta (16-4, 2-1 UFC) was largely a non-factor in the fight. Corassani baffled him with constant movement, effective counterpunching and kicks to the legs. In the third round, the 30-year-old delivered multiple takedowns and scored inside the clinch, handing Peralta his first defeat in nearly four years.