The UFC UK office has just announced on Twitter that Icelandic grappling phenom Gunnar Nelson (10-0) will fight Jorge Santiago (25-10) at the UFC on Fuel 7 in London on 16th of February. Nelson’s original opponent Justin Edwards had to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.
This late replacement call brings former middleweight top dog Santiago back to the UFC. His last run in the promotion didn’t go too well as he was first outgrappled by BJJ ace Demian Maia and then knocked out cold by Brian Stann. After being released by the UFC, the Blackzillian’s fighter has won two fights and dropped down to welterweight division. Santiago has a black belt in BJJ and holds one of the highest finishing rates in the sport: 23 out of his 25 wins have come via finish. Experienced Brazilian holds notable wins over Mamed Khalidov, Kazuo Misaki and Siyar Bahadurzada among others.
Gunnar Nelson is 1-0 in the UFC after winning his debut in impressive way at the UFC on Fuel show in September in Nottingham, England. The icelandic talent made quick work of his opponent DaMarques Johnson and submitted him with a rear naked choke after three minutes of fighting. Nelson has taken all his ten wins by stoppages and the last six by submissions.
