The Ultimate Fighting Championship added a lightweight bout between two newcomers to the Octagon, as Finnish fighter Anton Kuivanen (16-4) and Colorado based Justin Salas (9-3) are set to face one another at next month’s UFC on FUEL TV 1 card.
The promotion made the fight official at UFC.com on Monday.
Two lightweights will get their chance in the UFC’s toughest division as they make their debuts next month. Anton Kuivanen will fight Justin Salas at the February 15 FUEL TV event in Omaha. The Finnish Kuivanen has finished half of his 16 wins by submission and is currently on a 9-fight win streak. He’ll look to make it ten against Colorado’s 9-3 Salas.
Undefeated Californian C.J. Keith was originally slated to face off against Kuivanen on the card; however, the same day he was signed, he also received bad news that forced him to pull out of the fight.
UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger (aka UFC on Fuel TV 1) is scheduled to take place on February 15, 2012 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. The event is headlined by a welterweight bout between Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger.
The bout between Kuivanen vs. Salas will certainly take place on the preliminary card and may even open the event.
Kuivanen (pictured) has won nine straight bouts dating back to January 2009. The Scandinavian fighter has earned four victories by (T)KO victories, eight by submission, and four by decision in his pro career. Kuivanen earned his last win in October by decision, defeating opponent Thiago Meller at a Cage 16 event in his homeland.
Salas hails from the Grudge Training Center in Colorado and is currently riding a five fight win streak. His last fight was in October also, at a Victory Fighting Championship event in Iowa which saw him earn a decision win over Joe Ellenberger for that promotions lightweight title. Salas has three wins by (T)KO, three by submission, and three by decision over his career.