Teemu Packalen (8-2) will face Russian Alexander Yakoalev (24-9-1) on the UFC Russia card going down on April 20 at UFC Fight Night Saint Petersburg according to our friends at MMABetz.com.
The Finn has a 1 win and 2 loss record in the UFC, and 8 wins and 2 losses overall. The FinnFighters’ Gym most recently faced-off with Marc Diakiese (12-1) at UFC Fight Night London card in March of 2017, where he lost by KO in the first round. Prior to this bout, the lightweight won by submission in 24 seconds over Thibault Gouti also in London in February of 2016. “Pacu” had his UFC debut on short notice, where he lost back in 2015 to Mickael Lebout.
Packalen was expected to face Marcin Held in October of 2017 at UFC Gdansk. However, he pulled out of the fight due to a knee injury requiring surgery. The Finnfighters’ Gym is currently in a fight camp, and has teased the hashtag #soon.
Alexander Andreevich Yakovlev, also known as Sultan Tikhaev and nicknamed “Thunder of the North,” is a Russian amateur wrestler, mixed martial artist and rapper. Yes, a rapper. Yakovlev is is a vet of M-1 Global, ProFC, Shooto Russia, and Bodog Fight promotions, and has been in the UFC since 2014. He has a 2 win and 4 loss record in the UFC Octagon, and on a two fight losing streak.
