The fight card for the UFC’s second FOX show in Chicago, Ill. continues to fill out. NCAA Diviion II All-American Josh Janousek will make his Octagon debut against Michael Kuiper at the network television event. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani has confirmed that news with sources close to the signing.
A junior college national champion in wrestling, Janousek eventually moved on to the Minnesota State University, Mankota for his junior and senior years in 2004 and 2005 where he earned All-American honors.
Janousek, 32, is 8-1 in professional mixed martial arts and has moonlighted as a coach for various other fighters. Most notably, he helped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira prepare for Brendan Schaub prior to UFC 134. He also prepped Junior dos Santos prior to his first meeting with Cain Velasquez at the first UFC on FOX.
Kuiper, 23, is a UFC veteran with two Octagon fights under his belt. He’s 1-1 under the Zuffa banner, having dropped his debut to Rafael Natal at UFC 143 in February 2012. He rebounded in his most recent bout, besting Jared Hamman by TKO at UFC 150 in August.
Janousek wrestled at 197 pounds in college and has competed as a small heavyweight in mixed martial arts. However, his bout against Kuiper will be contested at middleweight.
UFC on FOX 6 takes place at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. on January 26.