MMA-URLS

Two UFC newcomers who both won their debut fights at UFC on Fuel TV 1 back in February, are now set to collide in Florida on June 8th, as Tim Means will face Justin Salas in a lightweight bout at UFC on FX 3, according to UFC.com. Means, better known as "The Dirty Bird", is a New Mexico native and trains out of the Fit NHB team that was once home to Carlos Condit. A veteran of King of the Cage where he held the promotion's lightweight title until his UFC debut, Means employs an aggressive striking game which has earned him 12 knockouts in 17 career wins. Riding a nine-fight unbeaten streak, Means was signed by the UFC as a short-notice replacement and most didn't give him much of a chance against BJJ black belt, Bernardo Magalhaes, but Means proved the doubters wrong by absolutely dominating Magalhaes, busting him up on the feet and dropping heavy ground-and-pound on the mat en-route to lopsided decision win. Salas was a highly-touted prospect and product of the Grudge Training Center in Colorado, also home to Nate Marquart, Shane Carwin, and Duane Ludwig among other notable fighters. After ranking as the #4 lightweight on Bloody Elbow's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report, Salas was signed by the UFC to face a fellow prospect and UFC debutante, Finland's Anton Kuivanen on the same Fuel TV card that saw Means make his debut in February. Salas successfully employed his strong wrestling skills to mitigate the striking and submissions of Kuivanen, and won a unanimous decision, but it wasn't much of an entertaining fight, and he'll have to show more of a killer instinct if he wants to make the most of his UFC contract. Tim "The Dirty Bird" Means (17-3-1)W Bernardo Magalhaes (unam. decision) - UFC on Fuel TV 1W Tye Brown (TKO) - KOTC: Total DestructionW Mario Ramos (TKO) - KOTC: High Performance Justin "J-Bomb" Salas (10-3)W Anton Kuivanen (unam. decision) - UFC on Fuel TV 1W Joe Ellenberger (unam. decision) - Victory Fighting Championship 36W Rob Emerson (unam. decision) - Full Force Fighting: Volume 1 UFC on FX 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, decision, tv, sala, fuel

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

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

Posted in: fight, round, kuivanen, sala, anton

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

OMAHA, Neb. - A wrestling base and solid standup skills helped carry promotional newcomer Justin Salas to a unanimous-decision victory over fellow lightweight Anton Kuivanen. Salas shook off an early stream of low kicks before scoring some key takedowns throughout the fight. The preliminary-card bout was part of UFC on FUEL TV 1 at Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb. It streamed live on Facebook prior to the night's main card on FUEL TV.

Posted in: tv, sala, fuel, omaha neb, omaha

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

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

Posted in: right, round, magalhae, kuivanen, sala

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

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.

Posted in: round, brookin, magalhae, kuivanen, sala

Read the full article at UFC

Go behind the scenes with Justin Salas, who is is finally getting his shot in the big show at Wednesday's UFC on Fuel TV 1 in Omaha, Nebraska.

Posted in: ufc, justin, sala, wednesdays ufc, justin salas

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

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.

Posted in: ufc, prospect, tv, kuivanen, sala

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Like a lot of would-be UFC fighters, Justin Salas had started to wonder if the call would ever come. The lightweight had had nibbles from the big show, vague assurances that ultimately went nowhere. After he beat former Ultimate Fighter contestant Rob Emerson on a mat so heated by arena lights that it tore a chunk of skin off the bottom of his foot, his coaches at Denver’s Grudge Training Center felt sure that he’d get his shot. When he beat Joe Ellenberger -- the undefeated brother of UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger -- ten months later, it seemed all but certain. For the first time, conversations with the UFC brass had begun to take the form of when rather than if."Then they called us back and said, ‘Have him take another fight. We don’t know if we’ll be able to take him right now,’" Salas said. "I just thought, well, guess I’ll have to find another guy like Joe Ellenberger. ...I don’t expect anyone to hand me anything. They don’t think I’m ready? Then I guess I better keep proving it." Salas had accepted another fight in another small organization and had begun training for it when the call came. February 15, they told him. The UFC on Fuel event in Omaha. That’s when he’d get his shot. Just like that, Salas was a UFC fighter.It’s difficult for some people to understand exactly what that moment means for a young fighter. They look at a guy like Salas, who’s making his debut against fellow UFC newcomer Anton Kuivanen on the prelim portion of a mid-week fight card that’s airing on a cable channel that many fight fans don’t even get, and they don’t see what the big deal is. It’s not like he’s headlining a pay-per-view. The UFC doesn’t even have a photo of him on its website yet, so what’s he so excited about?But then, the people who think that have never been in Salas’ shoes. They’ve never had to try to explain to a stranger that, yes, they are a professional fighter, even if they’re not yet in the UFC."You tell them that, and you can see it," Salas said. "They just think of you like they’re buddy that they met at the bar who fought in some small show that they went to once. Maybe he’s not at your level, but you’re right there in the same category as him in their eyes, no matter how good you are or who you train with. I’ve been pursuing this as my job, as a professional, for a while now. But until you’re in the UFC, people don’t really picture you that way."That’s particularly true back in Salas’ hometown of Green River, Wyo. There, it’s pretty much a given that you’ll grow up to work in the region’s famous trona mines, spending your life underground in the 2,000 miles of tunnels that employ just about every man of working age in the region. Salas was headed that way himself after leaving the University of Wyoming without a degree once his wrestling career there was finished.Then one day a friend of his asked if he’d be willing to do him a small favor. Nothing major. It just involved him driving to North Platte, Neb. to do a cage fight against some guy. His friend had committed to doing it himself, but his wife was due to give birth any day, and missing an event like that just so he could fight in some small show in a small town was the kind of thing he might wind up hearing about for the next decade or two.Salas didn’t have much going on, and he missed the competition of his wrestling days, so he took it. He drove to Nebraska with no real preparation or training and got ambarred by a guy who clearly knew at least a little something about jiu-jitsu. Then he got a return bout with the same guy later that year, and this time Salas knocked him out. By then he was hooked. Salas eventually found a home in Denver at the Grudge gym, where coaches like Trevor Wittman and Leister Bowling transformed him from a haymaker-throwing wrestler to an actual mixed martial artist. And now, after nearly six years in the sport, he’s finally getting his chance to test himself on the sport’s biggest stage. That opportunity alone makes the struggle seem worth it, said Salas."In Wyoming, we don’t have any professional sports teams. Me making it to the UFC, it makes the people back in my hometown look at it and say, ‘Wow, you’re actually doing this.’ Because I could have stayed in the mines and it’s not a bad life. You can live a very comfortable life, living close to your family and making a hundred grand a year, living in a new house. But I chose to come out here and scrape by for years. It makes people look at you and wonder, how long are you going to hold out on this? How long can you keep at this?" The answer, it seems, is long enough to at least get his shot. Salas has dealt with his share of disappointment and frustration just to get the opportunity to fight in the Octagon. Now all that’s left is for him to make the most of it in Omaha next Wednesday night. And that, as many UFC rookies have discovered, is often the hardest part.

Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, sala, donrsquot

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

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

Posted in: ufc, kuivanen, sala, keith, foot split

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

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

Posted in: ufc, kuivanen, sala, fuel, fabricio camoes

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Photo by Isaac Hinds, Sherdog Name: Justin Salas Nickname: -- Age: 29 Height: 5'8" Location: Wheat Ridge, Colorado Five years ago, Justin Salas (10-3) was slaving away in the trona mines of his hometown in Green River, Wyoming without any thoughts of a career in fighting. His only connection to mixed martial arts was a heralded high school wrestling career that bloomed into a spot on the University of Wyoming wrestling squad. Naturally, one would expect the transition to the sport to be seamless, but Salas' entry took a more indirect route. According to MMAJunkie.com's Kyle Nagel, Salas' introduction stemmed from a favor to an old friend: "He (an old wrestling buddy) said, 'I'm supposed to do this fight, but my wife's about ready to have a kid and I don't wanna leave the guy high and dry,'" Salas told MMAjunkie.com(www.mmajunkie.com). "I asked if it was pro or amateur, and he asked which I wanted. I said, 'Do I get paid?' He said, 'If it's a pro fight, you get paid.' "So, I got a week-and-a-half notice before becoming a professional fighter." With no training beyond his standout high school wrestling career and Division I college experience in the sport, Salas competed well but was beaten by an armbar submission. Salas has since recorded nine wins, his latest being an upset decision win over skilled wrestler Joe Ellenberger, the brother of UFC fighter Jake Ellenberger, at Victory Fighting Championships 36 in October. The victory was preceded by an unanimous decision over UFC veteran Rob Emerson nine months prior, making 2011 the best year of his five-year professional career. Salas' success is rooted in his wrestling skills. He specializes in ripping opponents off the cage with single and double leg takedowns from the clinch, and he's proficient in producing offense by way of strikes or submissions on the ground. On the feet, Salas is no slouch, utilizing a southpaw stance and possessing the know-how to throw basic combinations. He isn't an advanced striker by any means, but his striking is good enough to compliment his grappling skills. Combined with solid takedown defense and abundant cardio, Salas is one of the most versatile competitors on our countdown. From a technical standpoint, there are improvements to be made in both his stand-up and grappling acts, but training at the Grudge Training Center in Colorado with the likes of UFC veterans Nate Marquardt, Duane Ludwig, Shane Carwin, and the enormous roster of fighters the facility houses should help him fine tune those areas. With a strong support system and an extensive background in wrestling, it shouldn't be a surprise that Salas is close to making a splash on a larger platform. Check out more video footage of Justin Salas 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 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#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 - Early Justin Salas HL Reel Justin Salas vs. Joe EllenbergerVictory Fighting Championships 36 - October 14, 2011 Justin Salas vs. Rob EmersonFull Force Fighting 1 - January 29, 2011 Justin Salas vs. Matt SimmsJuly 24, 2010 Justin Salas vs. Brenton Swanson (Undocumented pro fight)Fight Industries "The Beginning" - November 14, 2009

Posted in: vs, career, justin, sala, southpaw stance

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Iowa promotion Victory Fighting Championships pulled off a rare feat with the main event of VFC 36. Held in Council Bluffs VFC 36 featured two prospects on the brink of signing an agreement with a major promotion in the cage at the same time. Lightweight Justin Salas (9-3) battled Joe Ellenberger (12-1) for the VFC 155 pound belt. For five rounds Salas and Ellenberger went toe to toe in a 25 minute fight that mixed grappling and stand up. The twin brother of current UFC welterweight contender Jake, Ellenberger nabbed the first round with better wrestling and powerful takedowns. Salas stormed back in the subsequent rounds with a stabbing right hand and adjustments in his grappling game. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} A member of the heralded Team grudge fight team in Colorado, Salas out struck Ellenberger in rounds three and four but more importantly was able to sprawl out of most of the wrestler's takedown attempts. Salas was able to land a handful of takedowns of his own and the subsequent ground n' pound offense racked up points on Ellenberger.   After five rounds all three judges cageside scored the fight in favor of Salas with 49-6 scores. Salas has now won five straight fights since an August 2009 defeat. Fresh off the biggest win of his career over UFC vet Rob Emerson, eight months later Salas showed no signs of a letdown. With back to back marquee and as an entrenched member of the Team Grudge gym Salas' next bout may inside the UFC. A four star prospect at 155 pounds Salas is the number 13 ranked prospect in the lightweight division according to ULTMMA.com.   For Ellenberger the loss was the first of his twelve fight pro career. The 26 year old from Nebraska was in the middle of a remarkable career comeback after nearly two years away from the cage due to illness. Despite the setback Ellenberger is still one of the best unsigned lightweight prospects in MMA. Now 2-1 on the year Ellenberger's combination of wrestling top game and killer instinct, 10 finishes in 12 career wins, give him a realistic shot at the UFC sometime in 2012.Ellenberger checks in at number nine in the ULTMMA.com prospect rankings for unsigned lightweight talent.   Victory Fighting Championships 36 resultsCouncil Bluffs, IAKevin Gray def. Darrick Minner by Unanimous Decision Chuck Streblow def. Blue Peterson by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:19 R2 Summer Artherton def. Kelly Reilly by Unanimous Decision Kassius Holdorf def. Gilbert Loera by TKO 2:51 R1 Jay Collins def. Eldis Sakanovic by Unanimous Decision Mirsad Bektic def. Derek Rhoads by TKO 1:31 R1Brandon Pfannenstiel def. Shane Hutchinson by TKO 0:34 R1Vito Agosta def. Daniel Wales by Submission D'arce Choke 0:55 R1 Justin Salas def. Joe Ellenberger by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: fight, ellenberger, round, prospect, sala

Read the full article at UltMMA

After capturing the VFC lightweight title with a win over Joe Ellenberger, Grudge fighter Justin Salas is ready to take the next step in his career.

Posted in: ellenberger, joe, step, justin, sala

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Justin Salas and Joe Ellenberger are seen by many as the two best 155-pound fighters not yet signed to a major mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. That may have changed for one of them last night (Oct. 14, 2011) at Victory Fighting Championship (VFC) 36 at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Salas earned a hard fought unanimous decision over Ellenberger in the main event of the evening. Both fighters knew that winning this fight could lead to more than the VFC title, which wasn't lost on Salas during the post fight interview, during which he called for a chance to compete in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). When two fighters with such good wrestling backgrounds square off, it’s either a lay and pray snooze fest or non-stop action. This fight was definitely the latter. Both fighters showed what a true MMA fight looks like. Salas and Ellenberger went from going for the knockout to ground-and-pound to submission attempts, with a good dose of "Holy Sh*t" moments thrown in on both sides. Whether it would be Salas’s big right hooks of Ellenberger’s flying knees, the crowd was on their feet for the entire five round affair.   In the end, Salas’s speed, footwork and, surprisingly, cardio seemed to get the best of Ellenberger.  He made a point of saying that Trevor Wittman, his coach at Grudge Training Center, put him through the hardest camp of his life for this fight, and it showed at the end of the fight when he looked like he could go five more rounds. With both fighters saying they expect to eventually see the other in the UFC, this victory may have put Justin on the fast track. Only time will tell. But, these will both be names you will here in the future. While the undercard may not have had potential big show implications, it was not lacking excitement. And with the anticipation for the main event almost a palpable commodity in the air, the other pros on the card did their part to make sure the fans got to see it as quick as possible. Co main event fighter Vito Agosta made quick work of Daniel Wales by submitting him in the first round via d’arce choke. This marks Agosta’s third win in a row and after the fight, VFC promoter Ryan Stoddard announced the next time Agosta steps into the cage, it will be for a crack at the VFC 135-pound title. Emerging pros Brandon Pfannensteil and Mirsad Bektic both moved to 2-0 with impressive first round victories over Shane Hutchinson and Derek Rhodes, respectively. Both fighters are looking to prove that they are people to watch out for in the future. Bektic opened the pro side of the card with an absolutely brutal beating of Rhodes. From the moment the first punch was thrown, there wasn’t much doubt who would win the fight. Rhodes’s attempts at improving position only prolonged his agony. Thankfully for Rhodes, the fight was stopped in the first round. Pfannensteil started off much the same way, dropping Hutchinson with his first punch and pouncing on him for the finish. While Hutchinson tried to work off his back, it was to no avail, as Pfannensteil quickly worked positions until he could take his back and sink in a rear naked choke. The Victory Fighting Championship always starts off the night with the best amateurs around, and tonight was no exception. Other VFC 36 results included:   Kevin Gray def. Darrin Minner via unanimous decision  Chuck Streblow def. Blue Peterson via guillotine  Summer Artherton def. Kelly Reilly via unanimous decision  Kassius Kayne def. Gilbert Loara via technical knockout referee stoppage  Jay Collins def. Eldis Sakanovic via unanimous decision

Posted in: fight, fighter, &rsquo, &nbsp, sala

Read the full article at MMA Mania