FIGHT PREVIEW - Samuel Ericsson vs Tarek Khelifi

Samuel Ericsson’s debut fight unfortunately ended in the most controversial decision in Karate Combat history so far. Many fans believe his opponent Alberto Ramirez should have won that fight. I won’t take a side. Instead, I implore you to see the fight and make a decision for yourself.

As you watch the fight, please remember Karate Combat’s judging criteria: effective aggression scores the highest and takedowns don’t score highly unless supplemented with vicious ground and pound.

Samuel Ericsson is a Freestyle Karate stylist known for his powerful and explosive striking. He has gone viral many times, and is a bona fide Social Media star due to videos showcasing his impressive striking.

Among his 650,000+ followers on Instagram are MMA Icons like Joe Rogan and Conor McGregor. (Joe Rogan has even shown Ericsson's videos on his famous Joe Rogan Experience podcast.)

But while some see Ericsson as a mere Social Media Influencer, he is a legitimate Fighter as well. Before signing with Karate Combat, he trained in Taekwondo from the age of 7 and later became a Professional Mixed Martial Artist on the regional European scene. Today, he’s looking to make a name for himself in the Pit.

- Tarek Khelifi

Looking to derail the hype train before it leaves the station, Shotokan stylist Tarek Khelifi will enter the Pit to fight Ericsson at KC37.

Khelifi has trained Karate since age three, and garnered many medals over the years in Sport Karate. Now, the Algerian has gone to some of the best trainers to help him achieve Karate Combat Gold, including Karate Combat fighter Davy Dona.

Many fighters seek a fight with Ericsson due to his popularity, but Khelifi made the strongest case in a call out video. This caught the social media star’s attention, and now they will come to blows on December 17th, live from the backlot of Universal Studios Florida in Orlando.

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