LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 01: Michael Chiesa holding the Ultimate Fighter trophy during The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort on June 1, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images via UFC.com)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a lightweight bout for the upcoming UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche event, pitting TUF Live winner Michael “Maverick” Chiesa (8-0) and Finnish fighter Anton Kuivanen (17-5) against one another for the February event.
Officials announced the bout, as well as confirming a previously identified heavyweight match between Brendan ‘The Hybrid’ Schaub vs. Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson for the pay-per-view event at UFC.com on Wednesday.
Plus, TUF Live winner Michael “Maverick” Chiesa has verbally agreed to face one of Europe’s best lightweights, Anton Kuivanen. Chiesa was also scheduled to fight on the Seattle card but forced to withdraw due to illness.
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche is expected to take place on February 23, 2013 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and will feature the first women’s mixed martial arts bout inside the Octagon. Women’s 135-lbs champ Ronda Rousey will defend her title against challenger Liz ‘Girl-Rilla’ Carmouche.
Chiesa debuted inside the Octagon this past June at the TUF Live Finale by choking out fellow Team Faber teammate Al Iaquinta in the first round. The win also earned him the “Submission of the Night” bonus and was his eighth straight victory. Chiesa has won six of those matches by submission along with two decision victories.
Kuivanen earned his fist Octagon win this summer at UFC 149 after losing his debut at UFC on FUEL TV 1 in February. The Finnish born fighter earned a split decision against Mitch Clarke in Calgary this summer putting his record at 10-1 over his last eleven fights. The loss in Omaha was to fellow newcomer Justin Salas by decision at the first Fuel TV show.