Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Hollywood heavyweight Robert Pattinson has us beaters with a fresh batch of gossip to deal with.
The Twilight Saga star was spotted at the Munich Airport on Friday (beach week in Germany) clutching a large suitcase as he made his way to his gate. BFF alert!
While most of us were worrying about whether or not Edward Cullen would make an appearance at airport security check, Pattinson made us worry about another matter altogether. That of his upcoming fight card.
Pattinson has just revealed on Twitter that he’ll be sharing the octagon with UFC Hall of Fame member Maurice Smith on February 15th at the SSE Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. That’s right—the man who fought Karl Hewitt in the first-ever World Title match, Ivan Carter, and Frank Gotch will be fighting outside the UFC for the first time in almost 70 years.
Why Fight at the SSE Arena?
Located just outside of Stockholm, the SSE Arena is one of Europe’s leading indoor arenas. It has a seating capacity of 21,000 people and is home to the Ostersunds AIF (Allsvenskan International Forward), the Swedish Elite League (SEL).
The Ostersunds are one of Europe’s best-supported clubs and have an excellent reputation for sportsmanship and fair play. What’s more is that they’re located in the middle of the forest, which is home to many animals and birds including the infamous Ugly Duckling clan.
According to a press release sent out by the UFC, the card is “set to become one of the biggest events in Scandinavian history”. That’s some serious hype!
Who else will be on the card?
Although the identity of the second fighter has not been divulged, it’s rumored the card will feature several of Europe’s best mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioners.
Pattinson is yet to confirm this report but, if true, it will be his first professional boxing match since turning professional back in 2013. The British actor made his return to the ring in November 2017 at the O2 Arena in London, England when he took on American boxer Justin Fortune in an eight-round contest. For the record, the 45-year old won the bout via unanimous decision. Not bad for his first outing back after eight years.
Meanwhile, Smith has been training for his return to the octagon. The 66-year old former UFC star has been idle since losing his belt to Forrest Griffin back in 1985. On February 15th, he’ll be looking to make a comeback and regain the title he once held. Smith is likely to be accompanied by his longtime friend and trainer Jimmy Watson on this trip to Sweden.
What’s on the agenda?
Aside from the main event, the agenda for February 15th at the SSE Arena includes a press conference and Q&A with both fighters and their trainers. We’re also expected to learn the identity of the mystery opponent for Maurice Smith and a little bit more about their upcoming fight.
The press conference will take place on the 15th at 10 a.m. local time (2 p.m. EST) and will be streamed live on UFC’s YouTube channel.
What time does the fight start?
The actual match gets underway at 2 p.m. (8 p.m. EST) and will be aired live on UFC Network in the United States and on UFC Fight Night in Canada. In Europe, fans can watch the action live on UFC’s official YouTube channel or on DAZN.
Pattinson and Smith are no strangers to Sweden. The English actor is a native of London, spending several months each winter in the country. In 2015, the two were joined at the Heinz-Berndt Circus Krone (HBK) in the city of Cologne, Germany for the European Championships. Smith’s training camp ahead of this bout was nothing short of legendary. Reports suggest he trained with the HBK circus masters – famed coach Gebhard Leber and his team – for over a year in anticipation of this fight.
What are your thoughts on the fight card?
With so much talk of a comeback for Maurice Smith, this fight card could not have come at a better time. It will be an added bonus to have one of the sport’s greats back in the octagon. For the first time in almost 70 years, the scene is set for a World Title fight in Scandinavia.
Personally, I think it’s a great idea to have this matchup. It’s interesting to see the divergent paths these two men’s careers have taken. While most of us know Smith as a boxer who fought for a World Championship, Pattinson is better known for his acting work.
It was actually Smith who inspired the character of Edward Cullen in Twilight. According to Smith himself, when he was a teenager he used to imitate Pattinson’s famous “Edward” accent when speaking with friends.
There’s a lot of history between these two warriors and I’m sure they both want to put that on display on February 15th.