Swedish promotion Superior Challenge on Sunday added another international bout to its “Rise of Champions” card, as Deep welterweight titleholder Yuya Shirai (Pictured) will square off against UFC veteran David Bielkheden in a 169-pound tilt.
Shirai, 30, will look to rebound from a crushing Feb. 26 knockout loss at the hands of Strikeforce welterweight contender Paul Daley. In the main event of BAMMA 5, the heavy-handed “Semtex” needed less than two minutes to halt Shirai and snap the Team M.A.D. representative’s five-fight win streak, which included wins over Che Mills and Seichi Ikemoto.
Bielkheden enters the bout on a two-fight skid, having dropped back-to-back outings last October. After falling to a 36-second guillotine choke from Tommy Depret in the opening round of the 2010-2011 United Glory World Series, the “Brazilian Swede” came up short in a split decision loss to Acacio at Superior Challenge 6. Prior to the defeats the 31-year-old had notched three consecutive wins.
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