Lt has been on a mission since Joining Grudge back in 2009, Racking up a perfect Professional record of 4 wins and 0 losses all of his wins by finish. After having a stellar amateur career Lt made the decision to turn pro in 2010 and has been on a mission since.

Head trainer Trevor Wittman has high hopes of his 21 year old athlete, “Lt has all the potential to go all the way. The passion and determination this kid has, and his learning curve is one to none. I personally believe he will be the Lightweight Champ of the World before he reaches 25 and being signed by Bellator is our first major Step”

Trevor got the call 2 weeks ago from Bellator’s Matchmaker and now we he is  in a 6 fight deal and 6 days away from facing K-1 Star Cosmo Alexandre.

Only time will tell if another one of GTC rookie’s will make it to the GOLD, and Wittman has all the confidence in the World he is the One!

155 lbs.: Anton Kuivanen vs. Justin Salas

Round one: Salas lands a good right jab right away. Salas goes for the takedown but thinks better of it. Back to center. Another good jab by Salas. Front kick by Kuivanen. Good body kick by Kuivanen. Salas rushes in throwing punches and is countered with a right hand to the head. Salas ducks under a punch and throws a big overhand left that only partially lands. Good looping right hook by Salas. Outside leg kick by Salas who then comes forward and lands a jab. Salas shoots and gets a great double leg takedown. Two minutes left. Salas looks to stack him and land some punches from the top. Kuivanen using upkicks to keep him at bay, and he’s back up. Salas comes forward with a jab followed by an inside leg kick. Front kick by Salas, countered by a straight hand from Kuivanen that lands on the chin. Salas with the inside leg kick again. Kuivanen throws a head kick that gets blocked. Kuivanen stalking near the end of the round. Salas scores a powerful double leg takedown again, right as the horn sounds. 10-9 Salas.

Round two: Fighters meet in the middle and look again to find the distance. Salas comes forward, pawing a bit, possibly looking for another takedown. Salas with the flying knee that misses, and he clinches up against the fence right after. He backs away and throws a big left hand that doesn’t connect. Kuivanen lands a hard right hand to the head as Salas shoots but doesn’t commit to it. Three minutes left. Superman punch by Kuivanen, partially connects. Big left hand by Salas to the head. Salas’ corner imploring him to be more aggressive and keep the pressure on. Salas grabs a hold of a leg but can’t get the takedown. They’r clinched against the fence, but Kuivanen gets loose and lands a big body kick on exit. Salas with the left hand, transitions to the inside leg kick. One minute to go. Good left body kick by Kuivanen that scores to the ribs. Salas comes forward and lands several good quick punches. Good body kick by Salas. Salas tries to get a takedown as the round approaches its end. He’s grabbing a hold of the single leg but can’t quite get it. 10-9 Salas.

Round three: Good body kick by Kuivanen. Salas very voraciously trying for the takedown and he gets it. He’s on top now, trying to push past Kuivanen’s legs. Kuivanen very active from the bottom. He’s going for the heel hook, momentarily, but Salas defends and works free of trouble. Salas lands a good punch from the top. Now another. Salas trying to toss Kuivanen’s legs away so he can land some shots but he’s having trouble. Not that time. Big left hand to the jaw by Salas. Three minutes left. Kuivanen is able to get back to his feet. Good right hand by Kuivanen but answered by a front kick to the body by Salas. Salas tries for another double leg takedown but Kuivanen defends well this time. Salas pushes him up against the cage and lands a couple good dirty boxing strikes. Back to center. Salas with a jump front kick that barely misses. Kuivanen with a big left hook to the head, but right after he lands, he’s put right back on his butt by Salas who lands a power double leg takedown. Kuivanen able to get back up but eats a knee in the process. 10-9 Salas.

Final result: Justin Salas via unanimous decision

Denver, Colorado – February 8, 2012 - Fight to Win MMA will be presenting an explosive main event on Friday, February 24 when Grudge Training Center fighter Justin ‘J-Ho’ Houghton (4-0) takes on UFC veteran Cameron Dollar (10-4). Houghton, a Michigan transplant brings an impressive undefeated amateur and professional record, support of a strong fan base, and the weight of an entire state on his shoulders.

“I put the whole of Michigan on my back. People don’t truly understand what it is like back there. There is no going back home because there are no factory jobs, and if you want a gas station job there are probably ten people more qualified than you,” Houghton said before clarifying that his history has made him strong, “It won’t beat Michigan though, and it won’t beat me. I carry that into any fight. If this fight comes down to a heart match, that will go to me because no one has more heart than I do.”

Houghton sports an 11-0 amateur record, held five titles in three different weight classes and is currently 4-0 as a professional, but he admits that his biggest test yet is coming on February 24.

“Cam is one of the best guys in the world and I want to test myself against that caliber of fighter. I feel good. I feel strong. I feel like I’m training with a group of killers right now out here at the Grudge Training Center. There isn’t a lot I haven’t seen in fighting. He’s dangerous in all aspects, but I feel like I train with guys that are dangerous in all aspects. I feel like we’re both different fighters coming into this. I won’t say we’re as good as our last fights because he is coming off a loss and I am sure he has grown since then. I’m not the same fighter I was in my last fight, which was a win. I think you’ll see something new from both fighters on the twenty fourth,” Houghton said.

The last time Dollar fought for Fight to Win, he defeated Houghton’s teammate Alvin Robinson. While Houghton loves and supports his teammate, he insists there is no grudge carrying over to his match.

“There is no extra motivation needed for this fight. I’m not fighting him because he fought in the UFC or because he beat a teammate. I’m fighting him for me, for my career. Before this fight was set, a lot of people probably didn’t even know who I was out here. I need to take advantage of the attention that comes along with this fight. I know I’m very fortunate and humbled to be fighting someone like Cam, but no, I don’t need a reason to fight him other than what it can do for my career because in the end, it is just business,” Houghton said.

Houghton does feel that the Colorado MMA community has been sleeping on his career, a mistake he believes will be righted at Mardi Gras Brawl.

“I felt somewhat disrespected by the Colorado MMA awards, having gone 4-0 and not even being on the ballot. I’m confident you are going to have to take me seriously. I’m dangerous in all aspects and people are going to have to start paying attention and respecting what I bring to the table,” he said.

Houghton is a household name in his native Michigan and much of that fan support has followed him to Colorado.

“I have a lot of pressure from family and friends and my team and a ton of hometown proud. I’m expecting between fifteen to twenty people to fly in from Michigan to see this fight. My upbringing in Michigan shapes who I am out here and everything I do. When I first got into this, or was talking about fighting, my dad was like, do you think you have the skills? Then do it. Don’t talk about it. If you think you can do it, I’ve got your back,” Houghton said.

When asked why he thinks he got the main event slot on such a big card, Houghton doesn’t hesitate, “Truthfully it is all because of my fans. I owe this fight to my fan support because even though I’m 4-0, lots of people had never heard of me until this fight. But because I have such strong fan support, I am being given this opportunity. I thank my fans from the bottom of my heart,” Houghton said.

As for why new fans should be excited to see this relative Colorado newcomer, Houghton cites his entertainment value and his higher aspirations, “I’m an explosive fighter. One of my wins comes from a spinning back fist knockout. If I win this fight I’m going to move to 16-0, and there may not be a whole lot more chances to see me fight locally. I might be getting some big calls if this fight goes my way.”

Justin ‘J-Ho’ Houghton wanted to thank; Ink’d Out Apparel, Titled Kilt (sight of his after party), Grudge Training Center, LA Boxing, Go Fast Energy, Futo-Kan MMA, Rock Hard Nutrition, Fresh Fit Meals, Phantom 8 Tattoos, RevGear and Kwon.Net.

Will Justin ‘J-Ho’ Houghton shine in his biggest fight to date or will Cameron Dollar show why he is still the man in Colorado? Find out live on February 24, 2012 at the National Western Complex when Fight to Win MMA presents Mardi Gras Brawl.

Courtesy of Luke Henderson/FightToWin

Fight Fotos by Joe Cordova/Brawlin.com

As of today Saturday Feb 4th the gym will be closed, Wheatridge received 19″.

THE PRO TEAM TRAINING WILL GO ON AS NORMAL..

Have a great weekend and if you are out on the roads be careful..

GTC will be closed today cause of the blizzard in effect..

Next month’s UFC on FUEL TV 1 event has a new addition to the lineup.

UFC officials today announced that lightweight newcomers Justin Salas (9-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Anton Kuivanen (16-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will meet at the Feb. 15 event.

Originally, officials expected to book Kuivanen against fellow newcomer C.J. Keith (8-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), but he was forced off the card due to a family emergency.

UFC on FUEL TV 1 takes place Feb. 15 at the 10,000-seat Omaha Civic Auditorium in Nebraska. Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger clash in the welterweight headliner. The main card airs on FUEL TV, and as MMAjunkie.com(www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, the prelims will stream on Facebook.

Salas, a former trona miner featured in our “Fight Path” series, was a standout high school wrestling career and Division I college wrestler who made his pro MMA debut in 2006. He’s currently riding a five-fight win streak, which included recent decision wins over UFC vet Rob Emerson and Bellator fighter Joe Ellenberger.

He now meets Kuivanen, a Finnish fighter who’s won nine straight fights and 12 of his past 13 fight. A veteran of promotions such as K-1 HERO’S and Fight Festival, the six-year pro has a solid grappling base with that’s led him to eight submission wins in 16 career victories.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Duane “Bang” Ludwig has traveled the world, chased titles, met the woman of his dreams, had kids and finally got a long-awaited UFC record he’ll someday get to tell his grandchildren about.

So for the veteran fighter, Friday’s UFC on FX 1 co-main-event slot instead offers something else.

A chance for self-discovery. And yes, some fun.

Ludwig (21-11 MMA, 4-2 UFC), a 33-year-old who’s been fighting professionally for 12 years, meets fellow welterweight Josh Neer (32-10-1 MMA, 5-6 UFC) in the co-main-event of Friday’s event, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. The main card airs on FX while prelims air on FUEL TV.

While lacking some of the starpower of bigger UFC shows – and with a half-dozen fighters competing in the UFC for the first time – UFC on FX 1′s expectations are modest. But the co-headliner provides two proven names in a fight that should produce fireworks.

“I want to make sure to show my technical superiority and hit some angles and not just sit there and slug,” Ludwig told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “We’ll see what happens. Like Mike Tyson said, you always have a game plan until you get hit, and I don’t want to get hit. I’ll get upset, I’ll pull the parking brake and start chucking bombs.”

Against the tough-as-nails Neer, Ludwig knows he can’t get caught up in a sloppy volley of haymakers. But if he maintains his composure, it could be a “Fight of the Night” winner. That’s why he was quite pleased when the UFC presented him the fight.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “I thought it’d be a good matchup for sure. He likes to stand and bang, and he’s a standup fighter as well. I think it’ll make for an exciting fight. I’m up for that. I’m always down for a good war.”

Whether it’s his age or his family or his status as an early trailblazer for the sport, Ludwig has found peace in recent years. Rather than the million-dollar paydays or blue-chip sponsors and big-show belts, he’s focused on something else.

“I’m here to have fun,” he said. “I’ve chased the titles and done that. It’s about the passion and self development and finding out who Duane Ludwig is. I find it out every time I train and fight, and go through these interviews and stuff.”

Recently, Ludwig has been doing a lot more interviews. That’s due to the UFC’s decision to recognize him as the record-holder for the fastest knock in the promotion’s history. Even if the Nevada State Athletic Commission claims Todd Duffee and Chan Sung Jung’s seven-second KOs have the honor (a time-keeping error has Ludwig’s six-second KO recorded at 11 seconds), the UFC’s blessing actually provided Ludwig a boost.

When he was younger, “Bang” said he didn’t understand publicity and marketing. He didn’t realize something as seemingly innocuous as getting stiffed in the record books could actually hurt his bottomline. But now that he’s older and has the record, he’s determined to use it for good.

“I get a lot more press, which is cool because I like the press and the fame and the whole popularity contest of it because it opens a lot more doors for me, and in return, I help some people out and help out abused animals,” said the fighter, who’s worked with abused and neglected dogs. “In that aspect, it’s important for me and definitely a good story to tell the kids when they’re older.”

And admittedly, it always irked him a bit. Sure, he’s at peace, but little things have a way of eating at you. So as he prepares for his first fight as a UFC record-holder, he can put to bed that constant aggravation.

“It became a little bit infuriating,” he said of the record. “It’s like telling someone the American flag is red, white and blue, and then someone’s like, ‘It’s red, white and purple.’ When it’s so blatantly obvious, it can be a little infuriating.”

For more on the UFC on FX 1 event, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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 veteransNate 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.

At UFC 140, Chan Sung Jung tied the ‘official fastest KO in UFC history’ with his 0:07 second KO of Mark Hominick. The knockout tied that previous ‘official record’ of Todd Duffe’s of Tim Hague at UFC 102. But most hard core fans credit Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig with the actual fastest KO in UFC history in his 2006 win over Jonathan Goulet, but the official time keeper marked the time 0:11 seconds, the time at which referee Mario Yamasaki intervened, although the KO had happend at the 0:04 second mark.

Rampant internet discussion aside, Duane Ludwig officially petitioned the Nevada State Athletic Commission to review the bout to determine the actual time for the end of the bout.

Today, the UFC President Dana White tweeted that indeed the record would now belong to Ludwig:

@DUANEBANGCOM @ufc and for x mas you have the fastest KO in UFC history and it will be changed ASAP