Josefine Lindgren Knutsson

Josefine Lindgren Knutsson
Born (1996-01-16) 16 January 1996 (age 30)
Stockholm, Sweden
NicknameLittle Thunder
Height5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
DivisionFlyweight (Kickboxing)
Strawweight (MMA)
Reach61 in (155 cm)
StyleMuay Thai, Kickboxing
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out of
Stockholm, Sweden
TeamAllstars Training Centre
TrainerSanja Trbojevic
Kickboxing record
Total32
Wins27
By knockout9
Losses5
Mixed martial arts record
Total10
Wins8
By knockout1
By decision7
Losses2
By submission1
By decision1
Amateur record
Total1
Wins1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Josefine Lindgren Knutsson (born 16 January 1996) is a Swedish mixed martial artist who competed in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is also a former kickboxer and was a K-1 flyweight (-52 kg) Grand Prix finalist in 2019.

Kickboxing career

Knutsson faced the ISKA and future Enfusion strawweight champion Amy Pirnie at Yokkao 27 on 15 October 2017. Pirnie won the fight by unanimous decision.

Knutsson participated in the 2017 IFMA Youth World Championship and won a bronze medal in the -51 kg event. Knutsson took part in the 2018 IFMA World Muaythai Championships as well, albeit in the -54 kg event. She won all four fights of the tournament, most notably against Janet Todd, and captured the gold medal.

Knutsson faced the Krush Women's flyweight champion Kana Morimoto at K-1 World GP 2018: 3rd Super Lightweight Championship Tournament on 3 November 2018. She lost the fight unanimous decision. The pair fought an immediate rematch at K'Festa 2 on 10 March 2019. She won the fight by majority decision.

Knutsson faced Kotomi at Krush 104 on 31 August 2019. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Knutsson participated in the 2019 Flyweight Grand Prix, held at 2019 K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament on 28 December 2019. In the semi-finals she won a unanimous decision against Mellony Geugjes, but in turn lost a unanimous decision in a trilogy fight with Kana Morimoto.

Combat Press ranked her as a top ten pound for pound female kickboxer between November 2020 and January 2022, peaking at #5.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Fight Club Rush

Knutsson had one single amateur fight before she made her professional debut. She fought Nina Back at Brave CF 37 and won the fight by unanimous decision.

Knutsson was scheduled to make her professional mixed martial arts debut against Fabiola Pidroni at Fight Club Rush 8 on 6 March 2021. The bout was later cancelled, as Pidroni was arrested on drug charges. Adriana Fusini took the fight as a short notice replacement. Knutsson ended up winning her professional debut by unanimous decision.

Knutsson was scheduled to face Elizabeth Rodrigues at Fight Club Rush 9 on 4 September 2021. She won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.

Knutsson was scheduled to face Lanchana Green at Fight Club Rush 10 on 20 November 2021. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Road to UFC

Knutsson faced Ye Dam Seo on Episode 3 of Road to UFC Season 1 on 10 June 2022. She won the bout via unanimous decision.

Knutsson faced Jacinta Austin at UAE Warriors 36 on 25 February 2023. She won the fight by a closely contested bout by split decision.

Knutsson faced Isis Verbeek at Dana White's Contender Series on 22 August 2023. She won the fight by unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Knutsson was expected to make her UFC debut against Iasmin Lucindo at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 on 16 September 2023. However, Lucindo was pulled from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Marnic Mann. Knutsson won the fight via unanimous decision.

Knutsson was scheduled to face Julia Polastri on 2 March 2024, at UFC Fight Night 238. However, Knutsson pulled out due to injury. The bout was later rescheduled to take place on 15 June 2024 at UFC on ESPN 58. Knutsson won the fight by unanimous decision.

Knutsson faced Piera Rodriguez on 14 December 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Global Fight League

On 24 January 2025, it was announced that Knutsson had parted ways with the UFC and signed with the Global Fight League.

Knutsson was scheduled to face Miao Ding on 25 May 2025 at GFL 2. However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Muay thai

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
10 matches 8 wins 2 losses
By knockout 1 0
By submission 0 1
By decision 7 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 8–2 Mileide Simplicio Submission (rear-naked choke) Oktagon 87 25 April 2026 1 4:55 Liberec, Czech Republic
Loss 8–1 Piera Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley 14 December 2024 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 8–0 Julia Polastri Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira 15 June 2024 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 7–0 Marnic Mann Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 16 September 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 6–0 Isis Verbeek Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series 59 22 August 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–0 Jacinta Austin Decision (split) UAE Warriors 36 25 February 2023 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 4–0 Seo Ye-dam Decision (unanimous) Road to UFC Season 1: Episode 3 10 June 2022 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 3–0 Lanchana Green Decision (unanimous) Fight Club Rush 10 20 November 2021 3 5:00 Västerås, Sweden
Win 2–0 Elizabeth Rodrigues TKO (knee to the body and punches) Fight Club Rush 9 4 September 2021 2 0:47 Västerås, Sweden
Win 1–0 Adriana Fusini Decision (unanimous) Fight Club Rush 8 6 March 2021 3 5:00 Västerås, Sweden Strawweight debut
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Nina Back Decision (unanimous) Brave CF 37 1 August 2020 3 5:00 Stockholm, Sweden

Kickboxing and Muay Thai record

Professional Muay Thai and Kickboxing record
27 Wins (9 KOs), 5 Losses. 0 Draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2019-12-28LossJapan Kana MorimotoK-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ FinalNagoya, JapanExt.R Decision (Split)43:00
For the inaugural K-1 Women's Flyweight Championship.
2019-12-28WinNetherlands Mellony GeugjesK-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ SemifinalsNagoya, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2019-11-09WinScotland Rhona WalkerFight Sport ExtremeGlasgow, ScotlandDecision (Split)53:00
2019-08-31WinJapan KotomiKrush 104Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2019-03-10WinJapan Kana MorimotoK-1 World GP 2019: K'FESTA 2Saitama, JapanDecision (Majority)33:00
2018-12-06NCThailand Lommanee Wor.SantaiKing's Cup - International Muay Kastsart UniversityBangkok, Thailandlighting malfunction4
2018-11-03LossJapan Kana MorimotoK1 WGP 2018Saitama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2017-12-15WinPoland Monika Porażyńska-BohnLadies Fight Night 7: Double Trouble 1Łódź, PolandTKO (Retirement)32:57
2017-10-15LossScotland Amy PirnieYokkao 27&28Saitama, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2016-11-12WinNorway Anne Line HogstadBattle of Lund 8Lund, SwedenDecision (Unanimous)52:00
Defends the Battle of Lund Flyweight Championship.
2016-10-22LossEngland Christi BreretonRoar Combat League 4Watford, EnglandDecision (Unanimous)53:00
For the RCL Super Bantamweight Championship.
2016-05-24WinThailandChaweng StadiumKoh Samui, ThailandTKO3
2016-04-30WinSweden Claudia SendlakGladiatorspelen 8Skövde, SwedenDecision33:00
2015-11-14WinSweden Therese GunnarssonBattle of Lund 7Lund, SwedenDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Wins the Battle of Lund Flyweight Championship.
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes
Amateur Muay Thai record
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTime
2018-05-19WinVietnam Buy Yen Ly2018 IFMA World Championships, FinalCancun, MexicoDecision (29:28)32:00
Wins 2018 IFMA World Championships -51kg Gold Medal.
2018-05-18WinFrance Juliette Lacroix2018 IFMA World Championships, Semi-finalsCancun, MexicoDecision (30:27)32:00
2018-05-15WinUnited States Janet Todd2018 IFMA World Championships, Quarter-finalsCancun, MexicoDecision (30:27)32:00
2018-05-13WinRussia Ekaterina Gurina2018 IFMA World Championships, Round of 16Cancun, MexicoDecision (30:27)32:00
2017-05-08LossRussia Valeriya Drozdova2017 IFMA World Championships, Semi-finalsMinsk, BelarusTKO3
Wins 2017 IFMA World Championships -54kg Bronze Medal.
2017-05-07WinChina Xu Yin2017 IFMA World Championships, Quarter-finalsMinsk, BelarusDecision (30:27)32:00
2017-05-05WinTajikistan Madina Gaforova2017 IFMA World Championships, Round of 16Minsk, BelarusTKO1
2017-02-25WinSweden Therese Gunnarsson2017 Swedish Muay Thai Championship, FinalHaninge, SwedenDecision (Unanimous)32:00
Wins 2017 Swedish Muay Thai Championship -51kg Gold Medal.
2017-02-24WinSweden Jennifer Qvistberg2017 Swedish Muay Thai Championship, SemifinalHaninge, SwedenKO1
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

See more

References

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  2. ↑ "Josefine Lindgren Knutsson". awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ↑ "AMY PIRNIE FACES JOSEFINE "LITTLE THUNDER" LINDGREN KNUTSSON AT YOKKAO 28!". yokkao.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "激戦！ エイミー・ペアニー VS ヨセフィン・リンドグレン・クヌッソン Amy Pirnie vs Josefine Lindgren Knutsson ムエタイ女子". queensofthering.com. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "IFMA crowns Muay Thai World Champions in Cancun". fightmag.com. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
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  7. ↑ "K-1 11.3 さいたまスーパーアリーナ：卜部弘嵩、妻・高橋ユウさんのサポートでフェザー級での王座返り咲きに燃える「すべての能力で芦澤選手を上回って試合をする」". boutreview.com. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
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  34. ↑ Lindkvist, Tobias (19 February 2024). "BREAKING: Josefine Knutsson pulls out of upcoming UFC fight". Frontkick.online. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
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  45. ↑ "2018 IFMA World Championships Official Results PDF" (PDF). muaythai.lt.