Throwback Superior Challenge 5 Reza Madadi vs Junie Allen Browning

The bout that changed Swedish MMA

On May 1st, 2010 at Fryshuset arena, Reza "Mad Dog" Madadi fought Junie Allen " The Lunatik" Browning at Superior Challenge 5. It was the largest MMA bout ever in Sweden. Superior Challenge had only existed for two years and thus also MMA at this level. For the first time, a UFC fighter would be matched against a Swedish home fighter, and everyone wanted to watch this fight between these two bad boys.

Reza had fought on all Superior Challenge cards and quickly grew to become one of the promotion's main stars. He was the first Swedish fighter to realize that MMA is both sports and entertainment and that an MMA fighter needs to master both. He was and still is an interesting character with some unique aspects that characterizes him to this day. Everyone knew that his fights would start already at the weigh-ins and that he would give everything during his bouts with a big fighting heart and strong will. He was not only a bad boy but also a dedicated athlete who always performed on top level. Due to this, his popularity grew rapidly.

Junie Browning had recently been released by the UFC and was known from the TV series TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) where he had gained bad boy image. The US fighter was the toughest opponent Reza had faced and it was a big deal to be matched against a UFC veteran who everyone recognized from TUF.

Junie did a very funny walkout to set the Swede of balance mentally. He had dressed like Reza with Superior Wear, Reza’s sponsor gear, and had a big black masquerade beard. He had chosen a specific Persian song which Reza used during walkouts and mimicked the Swede’s behaviour to ridicule him. Joy spread like wildfire among the crowd and when it was Reza's turn to enter the venue, the crowd was ecstatic. The Swede made his grandiose walkout with belly dancers just as usual. Watch the video to see the outcome of the fight.

Sweden’s County Administrative Board's Martial Arts Delegation had attended all five Superior Challenge events during two and a half years in order to evaluate the sport, and to decide whether Martial Arts should be legal in Sweden. Superior Challenge's hard work in MMA had previously resulted in that the Swedish County Administrative Board's Martial Arts Delegation had granted the Swedish MMA Federation a temporary permit to sanction competitions. The Delegation also attended this event which turned out to be the last time. Superior Challenge's hard work had resulted in the Swedish MMA Federation getting the permanent permit, which is still valid today.

After this event, Superior Challenge grew to a new level and thus also Swedish MMA. This was also the last bout that Superior Challenge had in a boxing ring and at the venue Fryshuset. Later that year, the promotion produced its first event in a large Hockey arena, Hovet in Stockholm, and broke new records.

Commentators were Omar Bouiche, a Swedish MMA legend and the no1 coach in the region, together with Musse Hasselvall, a TV personality who had previously fought for the promotion.

Watch previous Superior Challenge events on Viaplay: https://viaplay.se/serier/superior-ch...


http://superiorchallenge.com