Brazilian UFC newcomer Luiz Dutra meets Kiichi Kunimoto at UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore
The UFC has a new Brazilian on the roster, and he’ll make his promotional debut in Singapore at UFC Fight Night 34.
An injury to headliner Jake Ellenberger on Thursday sent Hyun Gyu Lim up the ladder to meet Tarec Saffiedine. That left Kiichi Kunimoto (15-5-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) without an opponent, but that has been resolved with the booking of Luiz Dutra (11-2-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) for the fight. UFC officials announced the new bout on Friday.
UFC Fight Night 34 takes place Jan. 4 at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. It will be the UFC’s first trip to Southeast Asia.
The 31-year-old Dutra comes to the UFC on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. But three of those wins came in 2009, and the most recent was in May 2012. His resume includes a pair of wins over UFC veteran Fabricio Camoes and UFC vet Luis Ramos. His most recent loss, more than five years ago, came at the hands of Paulo Thiago when he couldn’t continue with an injury. Six of Dutra’s 11 wins have come by stoppage.
Kunimoto, from Japan, will make his UFC debut on a four-fight winning streak that includes a July submission over UFC veteran Edward Faaloloto. The 32-year-old Pancrase veteran has been professional since 2006 and has 10 stoppages in his 15 career wins.
With the change to the main event, the UFC Fight Night 34 lineup now includes:
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Hyun Gyu Lim*
Hacran Dias vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Luiz Dutra vs. Kiichi Kunimoto
Kyung Ho Kang vs. Shunichi Shimizu
Katsunori Kikuno vs. Quinn Mulhern
Dustin Kimura vs. Jon Delos Reyes
Will Chope vs. Max Holloway
David Galera vs. Royston Wee
* – Not officially announced
