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Anton Kuivanen

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Anton Kuivanen
Born (1984-05-01) May 1, 1984 (age 40)
Pärnu, Estonia
ResidenceSörnäinen, Helsinki, Finland[1]
NationalityFinnish
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
DivisionLightweight
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Fighting out ofHelsinki, Finland
TeamAmerican Top Team
Team MMA Finland
Primus Fight Team (2004–present)[3]
Years active2006–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total38
Wins26
By knockout7
By submission8
By decision11
Losses12
By knockout8
By submission3
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Anton Kuivanen (born May 1, 1984) is an Estonian-Finnish mixed martial artist and coach. Kuivanen trains and teaches at the GB Gym, which is located in Helsinki, Finland and he has also had training camps in American Top Team located in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Background

Anton Kuivanen was born in Pärnu, ESSR Estonia, which is a town in modern-day Estonia.[4] He has two brothers and their mother Valentina is Russian and their father Vladimir is Finnish and Estonian.

Kuivanen's first touch with martial arts was karate at the age of four in his native Estonia.[4] Anton and his brothers were athletic and active since childhood, playing football and ice hockey.[1][5] Towards his teenage years, he complemented his combat training with Capoeira, boxing and wrestling before becoming interested in mixed martial arts.[5][1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Kuivanen started training mixed martial arts in 2004, winning all of his amateur bouts and eventually winning Finnish mixed martial arts championship in 2006.[3] Kuivanen made his professional mixed martial arts debut in January 2006 in his native Finland. Over the next 6 years, he amassed a record of 16 wins and 4 losses.

In April 2011, he won the Cage Lightweight Championship and successfully defended it in October 2011.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On January 16, 2012 it was announced that Kuivanen has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC. He made his promotional debut on February 15, 2012 against fellow newcomer Justin Salas at UFC on Fuel TV 1.[6] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kuivanen fought Mitch Clarke on July 21, 2012 at UFC 149.[7] He won the bout via split decision.

Kuivanen faced Michael Chiesa on February 23, 2013 at UFC 157.[8] Kuivanen lost to Chiesa via rear-naked choke in the second round after doing well for the first round and defending Chiesa's attacks. He made a mistake against the cage and Chiesa - who is known for his submissions and back control - got him down and after small grappling exchange he got the choke locked and gave Anton chance to tap or go out. Despite having one bout left in his contract, he was subsequently released from the promotion with a record of 1–2.[9][1]

Post-UFC career

Anton Kuivanen defended his CAGE lightweight title against Jason Pierce on May 11, 2013, winning by clear decision. His goal of getting back in the UFC took a huge step backwards when he was knocked out by Eric Reynolds in 30 seconds. The underdog landed a punch behind his ear when Kuivanen was moving in. Kuivanen lost his balance, dropped to ground and Reynolds knocked him out cold with finishing punches. Kuivanen was very sad and stated, that he had put effort to being more relaxed before and during the fight than before but it backfired and Kuivanen was too relaxed which lead into his first clean knockout loss and for his first loss in Finland since 2006. Reynolds had said after the fight that he is willing to face him in a rematch.[citation needed]

Kuivanen got back in the cage in November 23, 2013 when he faced Diego Gonzalez in Sweden. Kuivanen needed only 52 seconds to knock Gonzalez out. Likewise, this was his first clean knockout win. He dropped Gonzalez and he looked at the referee. When the referee let the fight go on, Kuivanen put Diego out with few more punches to get the win. He will fight some weeks after this fight in a catchweight bout. He will face Oriol Gaset in Salo, Finland. If he wins his fight against Gaset he will possibly face Reynolds in a rematch for the title and/or face former UFC fighter Reza Madadi, who called Kuivanen out after Kuivanen's fight.[10]

On July 1, 2018, Kuivanen faced the then-reigning lightweight King of Pancrase Takasuke Kume in a non-title bout at Pancrase: 297. Kuivanen won the fight via technical knockout.

Next Kuivanen faced Valeriu Mircea at Cage 44 on September 8, 2018. Kuivanen lost the fight via technical knockout in the second round.

Kuivanen was then expected to face Takasuke Kume in a rematch, which would have been for the Pancrase Lightweight Championship, at Pancrase 304 on April 14, 2019.[11] However, Kuivanen withdrew from the bout due to a knee injury which needed surgery and was replaced by Tom Santos.[12]

After a year of rehabilitating the knee, Kuivanen faced Dan Moret at UAE Warriors 9 on November 29, 2019.[12] He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Coaching career

Having graduated as a certified sports coach from Pajulahti Sports Institute, Kuivanen has been coaching at Crest Professional Fighting Center since 2006.[13][1]

On July 1, 2020, Kuivanen was appointed as the head coach of Primus Fight Team, the team he has trained in since the beginning of his mixed martial arts career.[14]

Personal life

Kuivanen and his wife have a daughter, Vilma (born 2018).[15]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Cage MMA
    • Cage Lightweight Championship (Two time; Current)
  • Nordic MMA Awards - MMAviking.com
    • 2013 Knockout of the Year vs. Diego Gonzalez[16]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
38 matches 26 wins 12 losses
By knockout 7 8
By submission 8 3
By decision 11 1
Draws 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 26–12 Dan Moret KO (punches) UAE Warriors 9 November 29, 2019 2 4:59 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 26–11 Valeriu Mircea TKO (punches) Cage 44 September 8, 2018 2 4:15 Helsinki, Finland
Win 26–10 Takasuke Kume TKO (punches) Pancrase 297 July 1, 2018 2 4:56 Tokyo, Japan
Win 25–10 Junior Maranhão Decision (unanimous) Cage 42 February 17, 2018 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Win 24–10 Tetsuya Yamada Decision (unanimous) Cage 38 February 18, 2017 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 23–10 Felipe Silva TKO (punches) Cage 35 May 13, 2016 1 4:04 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 23–9 Thibault Gouti KO (punch) Cage 33 November 21, 2015 3 1:08 Helsinki, Finland
Win 23–8 Eric Reynolds Decision (unanimous) Cage 31 September 19, 2015 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland Won the Cage Lightweight Championship.
Win 22–8 Sean Carter Decision (unanimous) Cage 30 May 16, 2015 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Win 21–8 Sergej Grecicho Decision (unanimous) Cage 29 February 28, 2015 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 20–8 Dakota Cochrane KO (flying knee) Fight Night Finland: Cochrane vs Kuivanen June 14, 2014 1 0:48 Helsinki, Finland
Win 20–7 Oriol Gaset TKO (knee to the body) Grand Combat Entertainment: Seven Virtues of Bushido December 14, 2013 1 1:03 Salo, Finland Catchweight of 160 lbs
Win 19–7 Diego Gonzalez KO (punches) Superior Challenge 9 November 23, 2013 1 0:52 Gothenburg, Sweden
Loss 18–7 Eric Reynolds KO (punches) Cage 23 September 21, 2013 1 0:30 Vantaa, Finland Lost Cage Lightweight Championship
Win 18–6 Jason Pierce Decision (unanimous) Cage 22 May 11, 2013 3 5:00 Vantaa, Finland Defended Cage Lightweight Championship
Loss 17–6 Michael Chiesa Submission (rear naked choke) UFC 157 February 23, 2013 2 2:29 Anaheim, California, United States
Win 17–5 Mitch Clarke Decision (split) UFC 149 July 21, 2012 3 5:00 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Loss 16–5 Justin Salas Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger February 15, 2012 3 5:00 Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win 16–4 Thiago Meller Decision (unanimous) Cage 16 - 1st Defense October 8, 2011 3 5:00 Espoo, Finland Defended Cage Lightweight Championship
Win 15–4 Ivan Buchinger Decision (unanimous) Cage 15 - Powered by Reezig April 29, 2011 3 5:00 Espoo, Finland Won Cage Lightweight Championship
Win 14–4 Ryan Bixler Submission (rear naked choke) FF 29 - Fight Festival 29 January 31, 2011 2 4:51 Helsinki, Finland
Win 13–4 Tim Radcliffe TKO (injury) Cage 14 - All Stars November 20, 2010 1 5:00 Espoo, Finland
Win 12–4 Raymond Jarman TKO (knee to the body) Cage 13 - Spring Break May 8, 2010 3 4:00 Vantaa, Finland
Win 11–4 Erikas Petraitis Decision (unanimous) FF 26 - Fight Festival 26 October 17, 2009 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Win 10–4 Yunus Evloev Submission (armbar) LFN 3 - Lappeenranta Fight Night 3 April 25, 2009 1 1:22 Lappeenranta, Finland
Win 9–4 Alexandre Abin TKO (punches) FF 25 - Fight Festival 25 March 14, 2009 1 2:30 Helsinki, Finland
Win 8–4 Owen Hartwig Submission (armbar) AF 2 - Arctic Fights 2 January 17, 2009 1 2:27 Rovaniemi, Finland
Loss 7–4 Bendy Casimir Submission (kneebar) HC 2 - Hell Cage 2 October 19, 2008 1 4:03 Prague, Czech Republic
Win 7–3 Juris Karpenko Submission (armbar) FF 24 - Fight Festival 24 September 20, 2008 1 0:59 Helsinki, Finland
Win 6–3 Vaclav Stastny Submission (armbar) CF 4 - Carelia Fight 4 September 6, 2008 1 1:51 Imatra, Finland
Win 5–3 Sergei Kudrjashov Submission (arm triangle choke) The Cage Vol. 9 - Capital Concussion December 8, 2007 1 1:23 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 4–3 Sergej Juskevic TKO (punches) K-1 HERO's - HERO's Lithuania 2007 November 10, 2007 2 1:27 Vilnius, Lithuania
Win 4–2 Takayuki Okochi TKO (punches) Shooto Estonia - Bushido April 14, 2007 1 0:59 Tallinn, Estonia
Loss 3–2 Marius Liaukevicius TKO (punches) K-1 - Hero's Lithuania November 11, 2006 2 4:27 Vilnius, Lithuania
Loss 3–1 Hiroki Kotani Submission (heel hook) Zst - Prestige September 23, 2006 1 1:17 Turku, Finland
Win 3–0 Cole Lauritsen Decision (unanimous) CF 2 - Carelia Fight 2 September 2, 2006 3 5:00 Imatra, Finland
Win 2–0 Martin Ahlberg Submission (guillotine choke) The Cage Vol. 6 - Balls to the Wall May 20, 2006 1 0:35 Helsinki, Finland
Win 1–0 Sergey Denisov Submission (rear naked choke) EKH - MMA Action January 14, 2006 1 1:48 Espoo, Finland

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Jani Mesikämmen (June 10, 2020). "Ylilyönti #161 - vieraana Anton Kuivanen" (Podcast) (in Finnish).
  2. ^ http://www.ufc.com/fighter/anton-Kuivanen
  3. ^ a b "Anton Kuivanen". antonkuivanen.fi (in Finnish).
  4. ^ a b "Anton Kuivanen aloitti kamppailu-uransa neljävuotiaana". is.fi (in Finnish). February 28, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Anton Kuivanen - sydämellinen kamppailija". vierumaki.fi (in Finnish). March 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "Justin Salas vs. Anton Kuivanen added to UFC on FUEL TV 1". MMAjunkie.com. January 16, 2012. Archived from the original on January 19, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  7. ^ "Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen added to UFC 149 in Calgary". www.mmajunkie.com. April 6, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012.
  8. ^ Staff (2012-12-20). "Mike Chiesa vs. Anton Kuivanen added to UFC 157 fight card on Feb. 23 in Anaheim". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  9. ^ Joona Pylkas (March 11, 2013). "UFC Releases Finnish Lightweight Anton Kuivanen; Next Move Undecided". mmaviking.com.
  10. ^ O’Leary, Ryan (November 23, 2013). "Aziz Grinds Out Pulver, Former UFC Talent Kuivanen Wins at Superior Challenge 9". sherdog.com. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  11. ^ "Anton Kuivanen Gets Rematch in Japan for King of Pancrase Title". mmaviking.com. February 1, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Anton Kuivanen Faces UFC Vet in Return at UAE Warriors 9". mmaviking.com. November 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Anton Kuivanen — Crest PFC". crestcenter.fi (in Finnish).
  14. ^ "Tiedote 1.7. – Primukselle uusi päävalmentaja". gbgym.com (in Finnish).
  15. ^ Anton Kuivanen (December 21, 2019). "Vilma "Pimeyden Ruhtinatar" Kuivanen 1v ❤️". instagram.com.
  16. ^ "MMAViking.com's Yearly Nordic Awards". mmaviking.com.
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