UFC 174 in Vancouver Gets Daniel Sarafian-Kiichi Kunimoto Welterweight Bout

Daniel Sarafian is changing divisions after a 1-2 stint at middleweight. | Gleidson Venga/Sherdog.com

UFC officials Tuesday announced the matchup following a report from The Province. The welterweight tilt is the first confirmed fight for the June 14 event, which takes place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C.

Sarafian reached the final in the middleweight bracket of “TUF: Brazil” Season 1 but was forced to withdraw from his bout with Cezar Ferreira due to injury. The 31-year-old Brazilian has since gone 1-2 in the Octagon, with a submission victory over Eddie Mendez in between decision losses to Ferreira and C.B. Dollaway.

Kunimoto, 32, made his UFC debut against Luiz Jorge Dutra Jr. in January after nearly eight years as a professional. “Strasser Kiichi” got his fifth straight win, though not in the way he would have liked, as a series of illegal elbows from Dutra rendered Kunimoto unable to continue.