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Niklas Bäckström (fighter)

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Niklas Bäckström
Niklas Bäckström at Allstars Training Center
Born (1989-08-22) 22 August 1989 (age 35)
Luleå, Sweden
Other namesKing in the North, Nefarious, Normal, Golden Boy
NationalitySwedish
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight (2009–present)
Lightweight (2016)
Reach73 in (185 cm)[1]
StyleKickboxing, Boxing, Submission Wrestling
Fighting out ofLuleå, Sweden
TeamNorthpaw Fightcenter & Gym
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins11
By knockout4
By submission4
By decision3
Losses4
By knockout1
By decision3
No contests1
Amateur record
Total2
Wins2
By submission2
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Niklas Bäckström (Swedish: [ˈnɪ̌kːlas ˈbɛ̂kːstrœm]; born August 22, 1989) is a Swedish mixed martial arts fighter who competes in the Lightweight and Featherweight divisions. He has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Biography

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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

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Early career

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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

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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

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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]

Since his BAMMA-debut was postponed (see below), Bäckström instead took a short notice fight against Danijel Kokora on June 4, 2016 at Scandinavian Fight Nights 1. The bout was contested at lightweight, with Bäckström moving up and Kokora moving down in weight.[22] He won the fight by submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[23][24]

Bäckström faced Joni Salovaara on November 26, 2016 in the headliner at Cage 37.[25] Despite suffering a broken hand, he won the fight by unanimous decision.[26][27]

He was then set to face Tim Wilde on June 14, 2017 in the main event at Tanko FC 5.[28] The fight would get scrapped from the card a little more than a week before the event, due to Wilde having issues making the weight.

BAMMA

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On April 11, 2016 it was revealed that Bäckström had signed with British promotion BAMMA.[29] He was expected to make his promotional debut on June 4, 2016 at BAMMA 26.[30] No opponent was announced.[31] He was later set to face Attila Korkmaz at the same event which had been postponed to September 10, 2016.[32] However, the matchup was later scrapped from the card altogether. Following the postponing of his first two bookings, he instead fought for other promotions during that timeframe (see above).

Bäckströms promotional debut was then set to be against Brian Moore on December 16, 2016 at BAMMA 27 which was a card co-promoted by BAMMA and Bellator.[33][34] It was later revealed that Bäckström instead would be facing Ronnie Mann,[35] and it would be a fight for the BAMMA featherweight title.[36][37] However, Bäckström had to pull out of the fight due to an injury.[38] The injury was a broken hand that he suffered in a fight which he took after his previously booked fight in BAMMA had been canceled. He was replaced by Martin Stapleton.[39]

Absolute Championship Berkut

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Bäckström was first expected to face Thiago Tavares on July 22, 2017 at ACB 65.[40] However, Tavares was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Andrew Fisher.[41] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki

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Bäckström made his return from 4.5 year lay off against Sebastian Rajewski on January 15, 2022 at KSW 66.[42] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[43]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed Martial Arts

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Submission Grapling

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  • 2008 Västerås Cup 4 Open Weight BJJ Tournament 3rd place[46]
  • 2010 Swedish National Submission Wrestling Lightweight Tournament 3rd place[47]
  • 2012 Swedish National Submission Wrestling Lightweight Tournament 1st place[48]

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
16 matches 11 wins 4 losses
By knockout 4 1
By submission 4 0
By decision 3 3
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 11–4 (1) Sebastian Rajewski Decision (unanimous) KSW 66: Ziółkowski vs. Mańkowski January 15, 2022 3 5:00 Szczecin, Poland Lightweight bout.
Loss 11–3 (1) Andrew Fisher Decision (unanimous) ACB 65: Silva vs. Agnaev July 22, 2017 3 5:00 Sheffield, England
Win 11–2 (1) Joni Salovaara Decision (unanimous) Cage 37: Bäckström vs. Salovaara November 26, 2016 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Win 10–2 (1) Danijel Kokora Submission (rear-naked choke) Scandinavian Fight Nights 1 June 4, 2016 1 N/A Solna, Sweden Lightweight bout.
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. Bäckström 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

Amateur mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
2 matches 2 wins 0 losses
By knockout 0 0
By submission 2 0
By decision 0 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–0 Jonas Forssell Submission (rear-naked choke) Swedish Shootfighting League 07: Umeå Martial Arts Festival November 10, 2007 2 1:21 Umeå, Sweden
Win 1–0 Victor Garabedian Submission (rear-naked choke) Swedish Shootfighting League 07: Shoot Challenge 2 September 29, 2007 1 1:23 Stockholm, Sweden

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Fight Card – UFC Fight Night Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne". UFC.com. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  2. ^ "Veckans Värsting: Niklas Bäckström". Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  3. ^ "Undefeated Niklas Bäckström claims victory at Cage Warriors 41". mmaviking.com. 2011-04-28.
  4. ^ "Conor McGregor vs. Niklas Bäckström, Cage Warriors | MMA Bout". Tapology.
  5. ^ "Niklas Bäckström off of Cage Warriors FN 2 card, Aron Jahnsen steps in". mmaviking.com. 2011-09-05.
  6. ^ "UFC Ready Viking #7: Niklas Bäckström". mmaviking.com. 2013-02-02.
  7. ^ "Niklas Bäckström: "I'm going to be the best in the world, just watch me"". mmaviking.com. 2014-04-21.
  8. ^ "Niklas Bäckström on UFC debut: "I saw the opportunity and I took it"". mmaviking.com. 2014-05-28.
  9. ^ "Niklas Bäckström replaces Tavares, meets Tom Niinimäki at UFC Fight Night 41". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-16.
  10. ^ "UFC Fight Night 41 results: Emotional Niklas Bäckström taps out Tom Niinimäki". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-31.
  11. ^ "UFC Fight Night 41 bonuses: Mousasi, Dolloway, Backstrom, Cedenblad are winners". mmafighting.com. 2014-05-31.
  12. ^ "Niklas Bäckström can pay back girlfriend with UFC Fight Night 41 bonus". mmajunkie.com. 2014-05-31.
  13. ^ Jason Floyd (2014-07-25). "Niklas Backstrom vs. Mike Wilkinson added to UFC Fight Night 53". themmareport.com.
  14. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2014-10-04). "UFC Fight Night 53 results: Mike Wilkinson shocks Niklas Backstrom with 79-second KO". mmajunkie.com.
  15. ^ Ariel Helwani (2015-04-01). "Niklas Backstrom vs. Noad Lahat in the works for UFC Fight Night Berlin". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  16. ^ "UFC Fight Night 69 results: Noad Lahat tops Niklas Bäckström via majority decision". mmajunkie.com. 2015-06-20.
  17. ^ "Noad Lahat def. Niklas Bäckström :: UFC Fight Night 69 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com.
  18. ^ "UFC cuts Swedish featherweight prospect off back to back losses". bloodyelbow.com. 2015-08-28.
  19. ^ "Niklas Bäckström draws Bulgarian vet for Battle of Botnia". mmaviking.com. 2015-11-25.
  20. ^ "Live results: Battle of Botnia 2015". mmaviking.com. 2015-11-28.
  21. ^ "Niklas Bäckström vs. Georgi Stoyanov, Battle of Botnia 2015 | MMA Bout". Tapology.
  22. ^ "Niklas Bäckström Moves to Lightweight for SFN 1 Matchup". mmaviking.com. 2016-05-29.
  23. ^ O'Leary, Ryan (June 4, 2016). "Live Reporting : SFN 1 in Stockholm".
  24. ^ Lee, Rainer (June 9, 2016). "BtO: TUF finalists break even as UFC vets go 10-5". Bloody Elbow.
  25. ^ "Bäckström vs Salovaara set for CAGE 37". mmajunkie.com. 2016-10-21.
  26. ^ "Live Results : Cage 37 'Salovaara vs. Bäckström'". mmaviking.com. 2016-11-26.
  27. ^ "Niklas Bäckström vinna via domslut – trots bruten han (Swedish) / Niklas Bäckström wins via decision – despite broken hand". kimura.se. 2016-11-26.
  28. ^ "UFC vet Niklas Backstrom faces Tim Wilde in Tanko FC 5 Headliner". thesprawlmma.com. 2017-05-04.
  29. ^ "Niklas Backstrom signs with BAMMA". bamma.com. 2016-04-11.
  30. ^ "Niklas Bäckström signs for BAMMA". mmalatestnews.com. 2016-04-08.
  31. ^ "Niklas Bäckström Makes BAMMA Debut in June". mmaviking.com. 2016-04-12.
  32. ^ "Niklas Bäckström Makes BAMMA Debut in September". mmaviking.com. 2016-05-20.
  33. ^ "Backstrom vs Moore added to the BAMMA 27 lineup". bamma.com. 2016-10-16.
  34. ^ "UFC vet Niklas Backstrom meets Brian Moore under BAMMA banner at Bellator 169 in Dublin". 2016-10-18.
  35. ^ "Updated card for Bellator 169 and BAMMA 27 on 16th December in Dublin". severemma.com. 2016-12-05.
  36. ^ "Niklas Bäckström går titelmatch i BAMMA (Swedish) / Niklas Bäckström booked for title fight in BAMMA". kimura.se. 2016-11-19.
  37. ^ "Ronnie Mann vs. Niklas Bäckström, BAMMA 27 | MMA Bout". Tapology.
  38. ^ "BREAKING – Niklas Backstrom Out Of BAMMA 27 Title Fight". mmalatestnews.com. 2016-11-27.
  39. ^ "Final changes made to Bellator 169 [and BAMMA 27] on Dec 16 in Dublin, Ireland". fightnetwork.com. 2016-12-13.
  40. ^ "Niklas Bäckström Fights Thiago Tavares at ACB 65". mmaviking.com. 2017-07-05.
  41. ^ "Niklas Bäckström Gets New Opponent at ACB 65". mmaviking.om. 2017-07-10.
  42. ^ "UFC veteran Niklas Backstrom returns to MMA after 4.5 years at KSW 66". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  43. ^ "KSW 66: Niklas Bäckström åker på tuff förlust i comebacken". MMAnytt.se. 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  44. ^ "UFC Fight Night Berlin bonuses: Mousasi, Dollaway, Bäckström, Cedenblad each earn $50K". sherdog.com. 2014-05-31.
  45. ^ Staff, MMA Viking (December 25, 2014). "2014 Submission of the Year : Niklas Bäckström".
  46. ^ "Västerås BJJ Cup 4". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  47. ^ "Hilti Stockholm bästa Klubb – Svenska mästerskapen i Submission Wrestling". Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  48. ^ "Resultat SM Submission Wrestling". Archived from the original on 2014-06-05. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
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