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The UFC has announced another bout for UFC 149 in Calgary, this one in the lightweight division. Canadian Mitch Clarke will be looking for his first UFC win when he faces off with Finnish fighter Anton Kuivanen. The news was confirmed via the official Canadian UFC twitter account: @UFC_CAUFC Canada CDN content: another #UFC149 Calgary fight confirmed as Canadian lightweight @MitchClarkeMMA faces Finland's Anton Kuivanen on July 21. Apr 06 via web Favorite Retweet Reply Clarke (9-1) was undefeated when he stepped into the octagon for the first time at UFC 140, but he suffered the first loss of his career when John Cholish stopped him by second-round TKO. Kuivanen (16-5) is looking for his first UFC win as well, dropping his only bout by decision to Justin Salas at UFC on Fuel 1. The bout is expected to take place on the preliminary card. The main event on July 21st will see UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defend his title against an opponent to be named. SBN coverage of UFC 149: Aldo vs. Someone

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is slowly but surely filling up its upcoming UFC 149 pay-per-view (PPV) fight card for the ScotiaBank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012. Coming out of the chute, via the promotion's official Canadian Twitter account, is a 155-pound match-up pitting once-beaten Mitch Clarke against Finnish fighter Anton Kuivanen. Clarke (9-1) made his Octagon debut opposite John Cholish at UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" last December, getting pounded out in the second round to snap his undefeated streak of eight consecutive fights. Kuivanen (16-5) didn't fare much better in his UFC debut, falling to John Sala via unanimous decision back in February. Which one of these talented lightweights gets back into the win column on fight night? UFC 149 is expected to feature a main event that includes featherweight Champion Jose Aldo against a soon-to-be-announced opponent. Match-ups of Court McGee vs. Nick Ring and Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon have also been confirmed. For more on the promotion's Calgary debut check out our complete UFC 149 event archive right here.

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Justin Salas defeated Anton Kuivanen by Unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 29-27. To be honest, this was no a good fight. It was a fight between two top prospects but that doesn't change the fact that neither fighter was impressive in their UFC debuts. The first round saw Anton Kuivanen back Salas up with punches and just more activity keeping the Grudge Gym member on his toes. Round two was more of a competitive fight with Salas settling in and establishing his wrestling. Kuivanen remained a threat but wasn't able to really push Salas around the cage as he did in round one. The final round was Justin Salas' best round. Finally finding his range at stand up, he was able to keep Kuivanen uncertain about when the fight would be taken to the ground. Salas hit a big double leg takedown that essentially sealed the fight for him. Justin Salas successfully made his octagon debut. Anton Kuivanen will be brought back as he is still considered a blue chip prospect and the UFC always needs fighters for international cards. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV

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This is the UFC on FUEL live blog for all the preliminary bouts on Facebook in support of tonight's FUEL-televised card from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha.The live blog begins below. More Coverage: UFC on FUEL Results | Latest UFC News Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes Round 1: Means taking the center of the cage early. After some slow action in the opening moments, Means lands a hard knee to the face. Magalhaes counters with an overhand right. Means with another knee to the face, this one knocks Magalhaes down. Means attacks with a D'arce but Magalhaes defends it and they go back to their feet. Means takes round 1 on damage, 10-9. Round 2: Means walks out confidently to start the second. Magalhaes dances around the outside but Means finds his target with long jabs and power punches. Magalhaes has some blood leaking from his nose now. Magalhaes shoots but Means stuffs him easily. Means stalking Magalhaes around and pressing forward. He lands a hard body shot with :20 left. Magalhaes goes down and Means lands hard strikes from the top. Another 10-9 round for Means. Round 3: Magalhaes fires off an overhand right that misses, then lands a left hook. Magalhaes shoots in for a single leg takedown, but he's rebuffed by a nice sprawl. Magalhaes' strategy of taking the fight to the ground has come up empty thus far, and he's getting tagged in the process. Means with another body shot. Magalhaes goes down, but he might be trying to lure Means down, and Means doesn't go for it, inviting him back to his feet. Means with another hard right and this time he follows Magalhaes down and punishes him with elbows. Magalhaes is in trouble but Means lets him up again. He controls the standup to the horn, 10-9. Winner: Tim Means via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas Round 1: Both fighters are UFC newcomers. Salas walks out southpaw while Kuivanen is orthodox. Salas tries an early takedown that fails. Kuivanen landing some early kicks to the body. He backs up Salas with a right hand to the body. Kuivanen stops another takedown. Salas lands a nice lead right hook. Salas scores his first takedown with two minutes left. Salas lands one overhand right but Kuivanen sweeps and gets free and back to his feet. Kuivanen with another kick to the body. He's the one moving forward. Salas completes another takedown at the final horn. A very close round that MMA Fighting scores for Kuivanen 10-9. Sean Loeffler vs. Buddy Roberts Jonathan Brookins vs. Vagner Rocha

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OMAHA, February 15 - The final fight on the UFC on FUEL TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger Facebook prelim broadcast at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Wednesday pitted two featherweights fighting out of Florida: wrestler Jonathan Brookins vs. BJJ ace Vagner Rocha. And after two early bouts that went to the judges, the crowd erupted after the free-spirited Brookins clocked a quick KO win. Despite being ground specialists, both men showed crisp striking in the opening minute, trading kicks, straights and targeted hooks that stunned one another. When Rocha caught one of Brookins’ kicks and went for a takedown, Brookins landed on top and quickly landed half a dozen powerful blows with his right hand that put Rocha to sleep at 1:32 of the first round. Brookins, the TUF 12 season winner, upped his record to 14-4, netting his first knockout win since his first pro bout in 2006; Rocha departs 7-3.Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas Two debuting lightweights met in a closely-matched second fight of the night. Using his full arsenal of wrestling skills and strategic striking, Colorado’s Justin Salas bested the Estonian-born, Finland-based Anton Kuivanen by scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.Both men started by moving forward, the Finnish Kuivanen opting for more flashy kicks as the Trevor Wittman-trained Salas stuck to power punches. After a few struggles for takedowns, Salas finally scored with a huge one. Unable to pass into mount, he stood over Kuivanen, landing one blow from above before being tripped to the mat by Kuivanen’s long limbs. Bouncing back to their feet, Salas added in low kicks while Kuivanen scored with more shins to the body.In round two they both circled, and though only a two-inch reach differential separated the fighters, Salas struggled to get inside and found himself throwing far more strikes than Kuivanen and landing far fewer. Kuivanen connected a couple of times early on before being bulled to the fence by the former college wrestler.  As the chessmatch threatened to turn into a stalemate, Kuivanen turned up his standup and Salas answered with another trip to the wall, dragging Kuivanen down to the mat briefly.  Salas switched it up and controlled the center to start the third, coming out aggressively with fists that backed Kuivanen against the wall. “J-Bomb” used  momentum and speed to lift his opponent and dump him on his back against the wall. As he started to work his ground and pound, Kuivanen went for a heel hook and Salas appeared to be briefly in trouble. Salas worked his way out and as the two stood up, Kuivanen landed one kick, then traded low blows with Salas. Salas again shot in, trapping Kuivanen against the wall, where scored with one connecting fist. As Kuivanen became more aggressive, Salas used that kinetic motion to scoop Kuivanen into the air for yet another impressive slam to end the round. Kuivanen’s nine-fight win streak is snapped as he falls to 16-5; Salas’ pro record now stands at 10-3. Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes Two lightweight newcomers tested the Octagon in the night’s first fight, with Tim “Dirty Bird” Means earning the unanimous decision over Bernardo “Trekko” Magalhaes via scores of 30-27 and 30-26 twice The first round built steam, as the two UFC newcomers circled cautiously for the first minute or so. Means, with a 5-inch height advantage, tested his range but kept his distance, trying to avoid the BJJ black belt’s all-but-sure takedown attempts. The first one came two minutes in, and Means countered with a nasty knee – one of nearly a dozen he would land in the round.  With that, Means’ confidence grew, and he took the center of the cage, peppering Magalhaes with punches at will and grabbing him in the clinch to deliver knees – five in a row at one point. One knee dropped the intrepid Magalhaes, and Means followed him to the mat, but when “Trekko” reversed, Means quickly slipped away to the safety of his feet, and the end of the first round drew cheers from the half-full Omaha Civic Auditorium. Round two played out much like the recent Diaz vs. Condit did... in the eyes of Diaz' fervent fans, anyway . Means stalked his increasingly frustrated opponent around the Octagon, backing him against the fence and delivering punch combinations. With no luck on his feet, Magalhaes desperately dove for a takedown, earning another knee in the process, and Means again pulled himself out of harm’s way. “Come on,” yelled Means, as Magalhaes used lateral footwork to avoid damage but mounted no real offense on the feet. The goading eventually spurred a couple of wild overhand attacks from the smaller lightweight, and Means cut off his opponent into closer and closer quarters. Again dropped, Magalhaes curled up as Means delivered body blows, then returned to his feet, forcing Magalhaes to follow. In the third, Magalhaes became more aggressive with his takedown attempts, and paid for those as well. During two attempts at a single-leg, Means issued vicious hammerfists and elbows from the top, until his opponent let go of the hold. Exhausted or out of game plans, Magalhaes stayed on the ground, and several times had to be directed by the referee to stand up. At the end of the fight, the bloodiest Magalhaes again returned to the ground, this time of his own accord. The Brazilian-born, Aussie-based Magalhaes’ record falls to 11-2 with the loss, while Means returns to New Mexico with a record of 17-3-1.

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Don't know who he is? After obliterating Jake Shields back at UFC Fight Night 25 in Sept. 2011, Jake Ellenberger returns to the cage once again, headlining the first-ever UFC on FUEL TV card opposite the resurgent Diego Sanchez at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb., on Weds., Feb. 15, 2012. In addition, fight night bonus magnets Stefan Struve and Dave Herman will collide in a heavyweight tilt in the co main event, while hard-hitting Aaron Simpson will welcome Nova Uniao prospect Ronny Markes to the middleweight division. But before all that, we've got a nice set of "Prelims" to tide us over before the main card dish is served. Join us after the jump for the first part (of two) of our look at the UFC on FUEL TV "Prelims" that will air LIVE on Facebook, featuring a clash between two of the brightest prospects at lightweight and a pair of streaking champions. 155 lbs.: Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas Regarded as one of the top prospects on the European circuit, Finland’s Anton Kuivanen (16-4) has been on an absolute tear lately, winning nine straight and 12 of his last 13. His impressive list of victims includes the likes of Ivan Buchinger (18-3) and Brazilian grappling menace Thiago Meller. The well-rounded Kuivanen has demonstrated a very crisp striking game with solid grappling credentials to back it up, stopping four opponents with strikes and tapping out eight. The highly-touted Salas would make a fine addition to the furious Finn’s trophy case and certainly send a message to the stacked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division. Another man considered one of the finer prospects in mixed martial arts (MMA), former Wyoming wrestler Justin Salas (9-3) actually made his 2006 MMA debut on less than two weeks notice. While Salas -- who had never trained in the sport before -- lost via armbar, knocking his opponent out in the rematch just six months later. Recently, he has bloomed into a true contender, defeating UFC veteran Rob Emerson and dangerous bruiser Joe Ellenberger (brother of the event headliner). Replacing C.J. Keith, Salas will look to prove more than just another solid wrestler in a division saturated with them by defeating one of Europe’s finest. Kuivanen breaks the European prospect mold in several ways -- he’s faced stiff competition and has considerable cage experience. He has trained out of American Top Team before and proven himself exciting, well-rounded, and full of potential. Where he doesn’t break the mold enough, though, is in his takedown defense. He’s an excellent grappler, and while his takedown defense has looked solid, "solid" isn’t enough against someone with the wrestling chops of Salas, who held his own against a powerful wrestler in Ellenberger. Against Brit Tim Radcliffe, Kuivanen found himself controlled for most of the first round, though a busted orbital forced Radcliffe to bow out. He just hasn’t faced the sort of fighter with the ability to dictate position that Salas has. Both of these prospects have very bright futures and I look forward to seeing how they do on the big stage. I’m rooting for Kuivanen, but Salas’ ability to dictate position should be enough to overcome Kuivanen’s striking advantage and secure a decision win for the American. Prediction: Salas via unanimous decision 155 lbs.: Tim Means vs. Bernardo Magalhaes A former King of the Cage champion, Tim Means (16-3-1) has been on an absolute rampage since his 2005 loss to Spencer Fisher, going 14-1-1 in his last 16 bouts with 13 finishes. Replacing the viciously-unpronounceable Yoislandy Izquierdo after "Cuba’s" contract issues with his former promotion forced him out of the fight, "The Dirty Bird" has kept himself busy, fighting 10 times in the past two years. Most recently, he took out Tye Brown in 30 seconds on Jan. 21, 2012, and, if he can extend his current streak of first-round stoppages to four on short notice, could put the rest of the division on notice. He’s not the best finisher out there, but grappling expert Bernardo Magalhaes (11-1) known how to win. The owner of the CFC lightweight championship, "Trekko" owns wins over the likes of Legend FC veteran Adrian Pang. Magalhaes, a top control specialist, has nine decision wins to his name, having last finished an opponent back in 2009. If he can impose his game, he can certainly be a headache for anyone he fights, and stifling the dangerous means would do wonders for his stock. I tried to make Magalhaes sound awesome in the last paragraph, but I didn’t have much with which to work. Frankly, the man is a very boring figher. He seems content to sit in top position and throw wimpy little strikes to simulate activity, occasionally passing guard and doing nothing from there. I couldn’t bring myself to finish watching one of his recent fights for research purposes, it was so bad. Means is coming in on very short notice and I haven’t found footage of him, but he strikes me as more than capable of putting down Bernardo. Tim hits hard: 12 of his wins are via knockout, while Magalhaes’s stand up seems to comprise entirely of mediocre leg kicks and occasionally flailing forward into a takedown attempt. Yes, Means fought less than a month ago, but it was a 30-second affair, which shouldn’t impact his conditioning in the least. There’s a good chance we’ll see an abysmally boring fit of positional dominance from "Trekko," but Tim has the goods to connect with something brutal before he gets a chance. Prediction: Means via first-round technical knockout Stop by tomorrow for part two of our, "UFC on FUEL TV 'Prelims' preview and predictions for 'Ellenberger vs Sanchez,'" which comprises two more breakdowns. See you then! Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FUEL TV, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook scheduled for around 6:20 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend.

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Anton Kuivanen and Justin Salas have been announced for action at UFC on FUEL 1, an event taking place February 15 from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. The bout will mark the UFC debut for both men. News of the their match-up has been confirmed by the UFC. Kuivanen was originally scheduled to meet C.J. Keith, but Keith was pulled after an incident involving his father’s house burning down. No one was injured, but Keith and his management team decided now was not the time for him to make his debut. The 27-year old native of Finland is 16-4 and has won his last nine fights. Comparably, Salas (9-3) scored a victory over Joe Ellenberger in his most recent match, his fifth straight win. The Grudge MMA competitor also holds a notable victory over Rob Emerson from this past January where a large portion of his foot split apart due to the mixture of a hot canvas (due to lighting) and callouses. The evening’s headliner pits Jake Ellenberger against Diego Sanchez with heavyweights Stefan Struve and Dave Herman meeting in the co-main event. Kuivanen vs. Salas is slated for the prelimiary portion of the card which will stream live through Facebook. PHOTO CREDIT – FIGHT TO WIN / SHOOTERS MMA

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This Friday's UFC on FX card in Nashville is now up there on the list of the most injury-plagued UFC cards, with no fewer than five fighters pulling out of fights and forcing Joe Silva and Sean Shelby to scramble and find replacement opponents. The most recent (and hopefully) final change comes just four days before the event with Sweden's Reza Madadi pulling out his fight against Fabricio Camoes, who was a replacement himself for Rafaello Oliveira. Stepping in for Madadi in the lightweight affair against Camoes will be UFC newcomer, Tommy Hayden. The UFC tweeted the news today: Undefeated Tommy Hayden in for Mad Dag against Fabricio Camoes Friday on FX Hayden is a student of Jorge Gurgel, under whom he holds a blue belt in BJJ. Undefeated at 8-0, the Indianapolis native has five submission wins to his credit, including a victory over TUF 14 competitor, Dustin Neace. Hayden hasn't fought since May when he choked out Harry Johnson at a regional event in Tennnessee. Fortunately, there's some good news in the lightweight division to balance out yet another fighter injury: two talented prospects, both ranked in Bloody Elbow's 2012 World Scouting Report, have been signed by the UFC and will face off next month in Omaha at UFC on Fuel 1. UFC.com reports the news: 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. Many European fans were disappointed when Finland's Kuivanen, ranked as the #8 prospect on the scouting report, wasn't included on the UFC's April card in Sweden, but he'll still get his shot in the Octagon after all. Kuivanen has won nine straight fights since 2008, and his most recent win was perhaps his most impressive: a unanimous decision over highly-regarded Brazilian prospect, Thiago Meller on an October card in Finland. The Helsinki native has also traveled widely to improve his training, spending a good deal of time in the U.S. at American Top Team which has improved his ground game dramatically to complement his kickboxing background. Salas was the #4 lightweight prospect on this year's scouting report, and he trains with a whole host of talented UFC veterans at Trevor Wittman's Grudge Training Center in Colorado, including: Duane Ludwig, Brendan Schaub, Shane Carwin, and Nate Marquardt. Salas's speciality in wrestling, and he's used it quite effectively against talented opponents like Joe Ellenberger (brother of Jake, and undefeated before facing Salas) and UFC veteran, Rob Emerson. Like Kuivanen, Salas enters the UFC on a solid winning steak with five consecutive victories including the recent decision win over Ellenberger in October. UFC on FX 1 coverage UFC on Fuel 1 coverage

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A lightweight matchup between newcomers Justin Salas and Anton Kuivanen has been added to next month’s UFC on Fuel TV 1 event, which takes place on February 15 in Omaha, Nebraska, the UFC announced today. Finland’s Kuivanen (16-4) has finished 12 of his 16 wins, including 8 submissions and 4 knockouts, and is currently on a 9-fight win streak, while Salas (9-3) recently beat Joe Ellenberger, the brother of UFC welterweight Jake Elleberger,  for his fifth-straight win in Oct. UFC on Fuel TV 1 is headlined by welterweight contenders Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez and also includes heavyweights Stefan Struve and Dave Herman and Stipe Miocic vs. Philip de Fries. For complete coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 1 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

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A lightweight showdown between Justin Salas and Anton Kuivanen has been added to the UFC’s Feb. 15 card, the promotion announced on Monday.

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Next month's UFC on FUEL TV 2 event has a new addition to the lineup. UFC officials today announced that lightweight newcomers Justin Salas and Anton Kuivanen will meet at the Feb. 15 event. Originally, officials expected to book Kuivanen against fellow newcomer C.J. Keith, but he was forced off the card due to a family emergency.

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Name: Anton Kuivanen Nickname: -- Age: 27 Height: 6'0" Location: Helsinki, Finland That didn't take long, did it? After Finnish MMA fans everywhere relished in the glory of Juha-Pekka Vainikainen's placement at #10 on the 2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report, fellow Finn Anton Kuivanen (16-4) claims the #8 spot. Don't be fooled by the close proximity of these two on the countdown, however. Kuivanen is one of the best mixed martial artists in the country, and his improved skills may take him to the promise land of the UFC in 2012. The 27-year-old is currently riding a nine-fight win streak since losing to WEC veteran Bendy Casimir in October of ‘08 by kneebar. Since that loss, Kuivanen has dominated his competition, beating notable veterans Tim Radcliffe, Ivan Buchinger, and Ryan Bixler in a run spanning three years. His most recent bout against Thiago Meller might be the most impressive of his eight wins, defeating the heralded Brazilian prospect by unanimous decision in an exciting affair at Cage 16 in October. In that match-up, Kuivanen showcased all of the talents that have brought him to where he stands today. A striker at heart, Kuivanen also possesses developed skills in the other areas of his game. He's a solid grappler who has the technical know-how to work effectively off his back. He has above average takedown defense, good conditioning, and a physically superior frame that has helped him in tight spots in past bouts. As aforementioned, Kuivanen's fighting style is deeply focused on his striking, and he's showcased more diversity in recent bouts. Specifically, Kuivanen has added various kicks to his arsenal, notably a front kick. Mixing in those techniques with good footwork and a solid straight-overhand combination have made Kuivanen far more threatening and unpredictable. The jury is still out on whether Kuivanen can ultimately break into the UFC and succeed, but he's doing everything he can do make it a certainty. Not only has he trained extensively alongside fellow prospects in Finland, but he's branched out and traveled internationally to gain an edge. He's worked with Jorge Masvidal at American Top Team in Florida, Demian Maia in Brazil, and traveled to Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, and even China to hone his striking skills. If that weren't enough, Kuivanen is likely one of the more popular fighters in the country. He was featured on a reality show called Sali that followed the everyday lives of MMA fighters. While that isn't completely relevant to what the report aims to show readers, it's difficult to ignore the fact that Kuivanen can draw in casual fans in his home country. That point isn't relevant to our rankings however. Kuivanen's placement may seem a bit harsh considering his overall record and strength of wins recently. Unfortunately, it's hard to get past the fact that the Nordic region lacks the strong competition it takes to prove your worth to a couple of scouts like ourselves. I'm also not completely sold on Kuivanen's defense on the feet, but I can't truly nitpick at it without someone challenging him in that department. That isn't to say that Kuivanen won't prove us wrong, and that certainly doesn't make him a bad choice for the UFC's Swedish card. HT: MMAViking.com's interview with Anton Kuivanen. Check out more video footage of Anton Kuivanen after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Anton Kuivanen vs. Thiago MellerCage 16 - October 8, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Ivan BuchingerCage 15 - April 29, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Ryan BixlerFight Festival 29 - January 31, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Tim Radcliffe Cage 14 - November 20, 2010 Anton Kuivanen vs. Raymond JarmanCage 13 - May 8, 2010

Posted in: mma, vs, kuivanen, he, anton

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The following is a guest piece by Joona Pylkäs, the mastermind of the Beatings From The North blog. Based out of Helsinki, Finland, and deeply ingrained in the fight scene as a fan, student and coach, Joona is a knowledgeable source that keeps readers abreast on the rising prospects and event results from the burgeoning European MMA market. Beforehand, the "Cage 16: 1st Defense" main event fights were seen as final tests for Finnish MMA stars Anton Kuivanen and Tom Niinimäki, who both have been patiently waiting for their shot at the major leagues. The wait should be over as both fighters passed their test with flying colors. In the extremely exciting main event fight hometown hero Anton Kuivanen (16-4) defended his Cage Lightweight belt against Blackhouse MMA's Thiago Meller (17-4) of Brazil. In the first round Kuivanen controlled the action with crisp striking and used his speed advantage to stay out of harm's way. However, near the end of the round, Meller caught Kuivanen with an overhand right that sent the Finn to floor. Kuivanen quickly recovered, but as he was working on his way up, Kuivanen ended up in Meller's guillotine choke. Kuivanen kept his calm and waited for the round to end. In the second round Kuivanen turned up the volume punishing the fading Meller on the feet with fast strikes. With one minute left in the round Kuivanen connected with a blazing combination that sent the Brazilian dazed against the cage. Continued in the full entry. Kuivanen threw everything but the kitchen sink at Meller, who absorbed an unbelievable amount of punishment, refusing to give up. In the third round an exhausted Meller caught Kuivanen once more in a guillotine choke that looked very tight, but again Kuivanen did a marvelous job in defending the choke by popping his head out and raining down elbows from the top position. Anton Kuivanen is ready for the big stages. In the end Kuivanen kept his Cage lightweight belt with a lopsided unanimous decision. The Finnish striking machine has now won his last nine fights including wins over Ivan Buchinger (16-2) and Tim Radcliffe (11-4). A convincing win over a highly regarded veteran in Thiago Meller should be enough for Kuivanen to land a deal with a major promotion. Number two featherweight in Europe, Tom "Stoneface" Niinimäki, returned to action after almost a year away from the cage. In the Cage featherweight title fight the defending champion showed no signs of ring rust as he crushed his French opponent Johnny Frachey in a little over minute. Frachey, a powerful grappler who had won his last five fights, was stunned by Niinimäki's beautiful headkick. Niinimäki quickly followed up with a shattering uppercut that sealed the deal and left Frachey unconscious on the floor. Since dropping down to featherweight Niinimäki (16-5) is still undefeated after six bouts, winning them all in a dominating fashion. In the Euro circuit, there are no meaningful fights left for the young Finn, so the most reasonable next step for him would be signing with the UFC. Another option is the Bellator who has been signing a lot of Euro talent lately. Also on the main card was the welterweight bout between Finnish grappler Olli-Jaakko Uitto and Sweden's Nicholas Musoke. In a quite uneventful fight, Musoke won the decision, able to stuff Uitto's takedown attempts and get the better of the striking exchanges on the feet. In the women's bout, Finland's Katja Kankaanpää (5-0) kept her record clean by outgrappling Spain's Karla Benitez (5-1) to a decision win. Full results: Cage Lightweight title bout: Anton Kuivanen (16-4-0) vs Thiago Meller (17-4-0), Brazil: Kuivanen by UD Cage Featherweight title bout: Tom "Stoneface" Niinimäki (16-5-0) vs Johnny Frachey (13-8-0), France: Niinimäki by KO R1 Welterweight: Olli-Jaakko Uitto (8-1-1) vs Nicholas Musoke (7-2-0), Sweden: Musoke by UD Lightweight (women 55kg / 122 lbs): Katja Kankaanpää (5-0-0) vs Karla Benitez (5-0-0) Spain: Kalliokoski by UD Heavyweight: Jarno Nurminen (6-2-0) Team Scandinavia vs Catalin Zmarandescu (6-2-0) Romania: Nurminen by Submission strikes R1 Bantamweight: Heikki Tiilikka (5-3-0) vs Mikhael Daboville (4-4-0), France: Tiilikka by UD Lightweight: Antti Virtanen (5-3-1) vs Viktor Tomasevic (3-2-1) , Lithuania: Virtanen by Split Decision Lightweight: Lauri Väätäinen (5-3-0) vs Makwan Amirkhani (3-1-0): Amirkhani by Heelhook R1 Welterweight: Lauri Tonteri (3-2-0) vs Johan Vänttinen (5-2-0): Vänttinen by KO R1 Welterweight: Jussi Halonen (2-0-0) vs Sergei Kabalinov (1-0-0): Halonen by UD   Photos of Anton Kuivanen and Tom Niinimäki via Kulmassi.fi

Posted in: vs, cage, kuivanen, &auml, niinim

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