Niklas Bäckström | |
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Niklas Bäckström at Allstars Training Center
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Born |
Luleå, Sweden |
22 August 1989
Other names | King in the North, 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 (2009-present) Lightweight (2016) |
Reach | 73.0 in (185 cm) |
Style | Kickboxing, Boxing, Submission Wrestling |
Fighting out of | , Sweden |
Team | Allstars Training Center Hilti NHB |
Rank | Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Years active | 2009–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 14 |
Wins | 11 |
By knockout | 4 |
By submission | 4 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Niklas Bäckström (Swedish: [ˈnɪkːlas ²bɛkːstrœm]; born August 22, 1989) is a Swedish mixed martial arts fighter who competed in the Featherweight division, recently in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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 and took up Mixed martial arts.
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.
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. He was later expected to face top Irish prospect and future UFC fighter Conor McGregor on September 8, 2011 at CWFC: Fight Night 2. However, Bäckström was forced out of the bout with a broken hand, and was replaced by Aron Jahnsen.
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.
On May 15, 2014 it was revealed that Bäckström had signed a contract with the UFC.