Niklas Bäckström (fighter)
Niklas Bäckström | |
---|---|
Niklas Bäckström at Allstars Training Center | |
Born |
Luleå, Sweden | 22 August 1989
Other names | Nefarious, Normal, Golden Boy |
Nationality | Swedish |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb) |
Division | Featherweight (145 lb) |
Reach | 73.0 in (185 cm)[1] |
Style | Kickboxing, Boxing, Submission Wrestling |
Fighting out of | Stockholm, Sweden |
Team |
Allstars Training Center Hilti NHB |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Years active | 2009–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 12 |
Wins | 9 |
By knockout | 4 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Niklas Bäckström (born August 22, 1989) is a Swedish mixed martial arts fighter who competed in the Featherweight division, recently in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Biography
Bäckström began training Jujutsu at the age of 10. At 14 he also began Boxing and Wrestling in his hometown Luleå. After high school he moved to Stockholm and took up Mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Bäckström started his martial arts career as a competitor in Submission wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was awarded his BJJ purple belt after winning a Swedish tournament in 2008, he also competed in Shootfighting with a record of 2-0, before starting his professional MMA career in 2009.[2]
After staying undefeated following his first three professional bouts, Bäckström signed with the British promotion Cage Warriors. He made his promotional debut against Adam Edwards, on April 24, 2011 at CWFC 41, he won the fight by unanimous decision.[3] He was later expected to face top Irish prospect and future UFC fighter Conor McGregor on September 8, 2011 at CWFC: Fight Night 2.[4] However, Bäckström was forced out of the bout with a broken hand, and was replaced by Aron Jahnsen.[5]
Bäckström then continued to fight on the European circuit and by 2014 he had racked up a record of 7-0 1 NC, with 4 victories by TKO and 1 by submission, including a unanimous decision win over Sergej Grecicho and a 15 second TKO over Max Coga, before getting the call from the UFC.[6][7]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On May 15, 2014 it was revealed that Bäckström had signed a contract with the UFC.[8]
He made his debut on short notice, replacing an injured Thiago Tavares against Tom Niinimäki on May 31, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 41.[9] Despite coming in as a slight underdog, Bäckström won the fight by submission in the first round.[10] He was also awarded a Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts.[11][12]
Bäckström faced Mike Wilkinson on October 4, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 53.[13] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[14]
Bäckström faced Noad Lahat on June 20, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 69[15] He lost the back and forth fight by majority decision (28-28, 28-29, 28-29).[16] However, on the MMA media scorecards, most had scored the fight a draw, with Bäckström winning round one and three 10-9 and losing round two 10-8, making the score 28-28.[17]
In late August, 2015 it was announced, surprisingly to some, that Bäckström had been released from the promotion.[18]
Post-UFC; Independent promotions
In his first fight since his UFC stint, Bäckström fought Bulgarian veteran Georgi Stoyanov on November 28, 2015 in the headliner at the Battle of Botnia 2015-event, close to his hometown in North Sweden.[19] He won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[20][21]
BAMMA
On April 11, 2016 it was revealed that Bäckström had signed with British promotion BAMMA.[22] He is expected to make his promotional debut on June 4, 2016 at BAMMA 26.[23] No opponent has yet been announced.[24]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed Martial Arts
- Nordic MMA Awards - MMAViking.com
- 2014 Submission of the Year vs. Tom Niinimäki (UFC Fight Night 41)[26]
Submission Wrestling
- 2012 Swedish National Submission Wrestling Lightweight Tournament 1st place[27]
- 2010 Swedish National Submission Wrestling Lightweight Tournament 3rd place[28]
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- 2008 Västerås Cup 4 Open Weight Tournament 3rd place[29]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
12 matches | 9 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 4 | 1 |
By submission | 3 | 0 |
By decision | 2 | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TBD | BAMMA 26 | June 4, 2016 | Dublin, Ireland | ||||||
Win | 9-2 (1) | Georgi Stoyanov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Battle of Botnia 2015 | November 28, 2015 | 1 | 4:15 | Umeå, Sweden | |
Loss | 8–2 (1) | Noad Lahat | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne | June 20, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Berlin, Germany | |
Loss | 8–1 (1) | Mike Wilkinson | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story | October 4, 2014 | 1 | 1:19 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
Win | 8–0 (1) | Tom Niinimaki | Submission (bulldog choke) | UFC Fight Night: Munoz vs. Mousasi | May 31, 2014 | 1 | 4:15 | Berlin, Germany | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 7–0 (1) | Max Coga | TKO (front kick and punches) | Europa MMA - Coga vs. Backstrom | March 22, 2014 | 1 | 0:15 | Brentwood, England | |
Win | 6–0 (1) | Jaakko Vayrynen | TKO (knee and punches) | Lappeenranta Fight Night 9 | October 19, 2013 | 2 | 0:58 | Kuopio, Finland | |
Win | 5–0 (1) | Thomas Hytten | TKO (punches) | Vision FC - Fight Night 1 | May 5, 2012 | 2 | N/A | Karlstad, Sweden | |
Win | 4–0 (1) | Sergej Grecicho | Decision (unanimous) | Botnia Punishment 11 | March 23, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Seinäjoki, Finland | |
Win | 3–0 (1) | Adam Edwards | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Warriors: 41 | April 24, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
NC | 2–0 (1) | Elias Kunnas | No Contest | Artic Fight 3 | March 19, 2011 | 1 | N/A | Rovaniemi, Finland | Bout ruled a No Contest in round 1 for undisclosed reasons. |
Win | 2–0 | Simon Sköld | TKO (punches) | Superior Challenge 6 | October 29, 2010 | 3 | 3:23 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
Win | 1–0 | Gabriel Mboge Nesje | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Superior Challenge 4 | October 31, 2009 | 1 | 2:30 | Stockholm, Sweden |
See also
References
- ↑ "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne". UFC.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ↑ http://mmaisverige.se/2013/11/05/veckans-varsting-niklas-backstrom/
- ↑ "Undefeated Niklas Bäckström claims victory at Cage Warriors 41". mmaviking.com. 2011-04-28.
- ↑ http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/cage-warriors-fight-night-2-conor-notorious-mcgregor-vs-niklas-backstrom
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström off of Cage Warriors FN 2 card, Aron Jahnsen steps in". mmaviking.com. 2011-09-05.
- ↑ "UFC Ready Viking #7: Niklas Bäckström". mmaviking.com. 2013-02-02.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström: “I’m going to be the best in the world, just watch me”". mmaviking.com. 2014-04-21.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström on UFC debut: “I saw the opportunity and I took it”". mmaviking.com. 2014-05-28.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström replaces Tavares, meets Tom Niinimäki at UFC Fight Night 41". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-16.
- ↑ "UFC Fight Night 41 results: Emotional Niklas Bäckström taps out Tom Niinimäki". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-31.
- ↑ "UFC Fight Night 41 bonuses: Mousasi, Dolloway, Backstrom, Cedenblad are winners". mmafighting.com. 2014-05-31.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström can pay back girlfriend with UFC Fight Night 41 bonus". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-31.
- ↑ Jason Floyd (2014-07-25). "Niklas Backstrom vs. Mike Wilkinson added to UFC Fight Night 53". themmareport.com.
- ↑ Ben Fowlkes (2014-10-04). "UFC Fight Night 53 results: Mike Wilkinson shocks Niklas Backstrom with 79-second KO". mmajunkie.com.
- ↑ Ariel Helwani (2015-04-01). "Niklas Backstrom vs. Noad Lahat in the works for UFC Fight Night Berlin". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
- ↑ "UFC Fight Night 69 results: Noad Lahat tops Niklas Bäckström via majority decision". mmajunkie.com. 2015-06-20.
- ↑ http://mmadecisions.com/decision/6263/Noad-Lahat-vs-Niklas-B%C3%A4ckstr%C3%B6m
- ↑ "UFC cuts Swedish featherweight prospect off back to back losses". bloodyelbow.com. 2015-08-28.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström draws Bulgarian vet for Battle of Botnia". mmaviking.com. 2015-11-25.
- ↑ "Live results: Battle of Botnia 2015". mmaviking.com. 2015-11-28.
- ↑ http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/228236-battle-of-botnia-2015-niklas-bckstrm-vs-georgi-stanchev-stoyanov
- ↑ "Niklas Backstrom signs with BAMMA". bamma.com. 2016-04-11.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström signs for BAMMA". mmalatestnews.com. 2016-04-08.
- ↑ "Niklas Bäckström Makes BAMMA Debut in June". mmaviking.com. 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "UFC Fight Night Berlin bonuses: Mousasi, Dollaway, Bäckström, Cedenblad each earn $50K". sherdog.com. 2014-05-31.
- ↑ http://www.mmaviking.com/2014-submission-of-the-year-niklas-backstrom/
- ↑ http://www.hiltibjj.com/new/2012/05/22/resultat-sm-submission-wrestling/
- ↑ http://www.hiltibjj.com/new/2010/10/21/hilti-stockholm-basta-klubb-svenska-masterskapen-i-submission-wrestling/
- ↑ http://www.budokampsport.se/forum/v%C3%A5ra-idrotter/ju-jutsu/v%C3%A4ster%C3%A5s-bjj-cup-4