Justin Bernard Salas (born March 13, 1982) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

who competes as a

lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. Notable lightweight ...

. He was signed with the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

from 2012 to 2016.

Background

Salas is from

Green River, Wyoming Green River is a city in and the county seat of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 12,515 at the 2010 census. History The townsite of Green River, Dakota Territory was platted ...

and had a very successful career in

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

. Salas was a two-time State Champion in high school, as well as a two-time high school All-American, in addition to winning the Dave Schultz High School Hall of Fame Award. Salas then went on to wrestle for the

University of Wyoming The University of Wyoming (UW) is a public land-grant research university in Laramie, Wyoming. It was founded in March 1886, four years before the territory was admitted as the 44th state, and opened in September 1887. The University of Wyoming ...

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

Division I program from 2000 to 2003, but dropped out of college to pursue a career in

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...

Mixed martial arts career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On January 16, 2012 it was announced that Salas has signed a multi-fight deal with the

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

. He made his promotional debut on February 15 against fellow newcomer

Anton Kuivanen 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 Cocon ...

in UFC on Fuel TV 1. He won via unanimous decision. Salas faced

Tim Means Timothy Carl Means (born February 20, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist from Moriarty, New Mexico currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2004, ...

on June 8, 2012 at UFC on FX 3. Means defeated Salas via first round TKO. Salas was expected to face

Edson Barboza Edson Barboza Jr. (born January 21, 1986) is a Brazilian-American professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has formerly competed at li ...

on January 19, 2013 at

UFC on FX 7 The year 2013 is the 21st year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. 2013 started with ''UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping''. 2013 also saw the introduction of the wome ...

. However, Salas was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Lucas Martins. Salas faced Aaron Riley on July 27, 2013 at

UFC on Fox 8 ''UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga'' (also known as ''UFC on Fox 8'') was a mixed martial arts event held on July 27, 2013, at the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington. The event was broadcast live on FX and Fox. Background The main event was a UFC ...

. He won the back-and-forth fight by split decision. Salas faced

Thiago Tavares Thiago de Mello Tavares (born November 8, 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and politician who most recently competed in the Lightweight division. An 18-fight veteran of the UFC, he has also fought in the Professional Fighters League and ...

on November 9, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 32, replacing an injured

Quinn Mulhern Quinn Patrick Mulhern (born September 20, 1984) is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor from 2007 until 2014, ...

. He lost the fight via submission in the first round. Salas faced Ben Wall on May 10, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 40. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. Salas faced

Joe Proctor Joseph Edward Proctor (born August 10, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, Proctor was also a competitor o ...

on July 16, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 45. Salas lost the bout via second round TKO. Salas faced Jason Saggo on March 5, 2016 at

UFC 196 ''UFC 196: McGregor vs. Diaz'' was a mixed martial arts event held on March 5, 2016 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Background The event was officially announced in November 2015 as "UFC 197," taking place on March 5, 2016 at HS ...

. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Championships and accomplishments

Full Force Fighting Full Force Fighting (FFF) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Colorado. The organization's first event, Full Force Fighting Vol. 1, was held on January 29, 2011 at the Paramount Theater in Denver. The event was co-promoted by Fight ...

** FFF Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vega ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–6 ,

, TKO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Miller , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:27 , Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 12–5 , Ben Wall , KO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:21 ,

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wi ...

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Goiânia Goiânia (; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Goiás. With a population of 1,536,097, it is the second-largest city in the Central-West Region and the 10th-largest in the country. Its metropolitan area has a population ...

, Brazil , , - , Win , align=center, 11–4 , Aaron Riley , Decision (split) , UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region ...

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, Decision (unanimous) , UFC on Fuel TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 , Joe Ellenberger , Decision (unanimous) , Victory Fighting Championship 36 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 , Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–3 ,

Rob Emerson Robert Michael Emerson (born July 30, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2002, Emerson is also a veteran of Bellator MMA, the UFC, Pancrase, and was a cast member of ''The Ultimate Fighter 5' ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Full Force Fighting - Vol. 1 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–3 , Matt Simms , TKO (punches) , Fight To Win/King of Champions: Worlds Collide , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:14 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–3 , Robert Simmons , TKO (punches) , Fight To Win: Phenoms , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:40 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–3 , Josh Arocho , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Midwest Championship Fighting: Resurrection , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:53 ,

North Platte, Nebraska North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the west-central part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River. T ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–3 , Eddie Pelczynski , TKO (punches) , Ring of Fire 35: Summer Brawl , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:09 ,

Broomfield, Colorado Broomfield is a consolidated city and county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. Broomfield has a consolidated government which operates under Article XX, Sections 10-13 of the Constitution of the State of Colorado. The Broomfield populati ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–2 , Andrew Chappelle , Submission (triangle choke) , Ring of Fire 33: Adrenaline , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:06 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Eric Fagyas , Submission (guillotine choke) , Warriors Collide 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:09 ,

Cripple Creek, Colorado Cripple Creek is a statutory city that is the county seat of Teller County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 1,155 at the 2020 United States Census. Cripple Creek is a former gold mining camp located southwest of Colorado Sprin ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Max Smith , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Ring of Fire 32: Respect , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:26 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Kris Hartman , Decision (majority) , Ring of Fire 27: Collision Course , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Castle Rock, Colorado Castle Rock is a home rule town that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Douglas County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 73,158 at the 2020 United States Census, a 51.68% increase since the 2010 United St ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–1 , Corey Lieberth , KO (punches) , Midwest Championship Fighting: Genesis , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:33 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 0–1 , Corey Lieberth , Submission (armbar) , Victory Fighting Championship 13: Redemption , , align=center, 3 , align=center, N/A ,

, United States ,

References

External links

Official UFC Profile
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Salas, Justin American male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Living people Mixed martial artists from Wyoming People from Green River, Wyoming 1982 births Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu