Ion Cuțelaba
Moldovan mixed martial arist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ion Cuțelaba (born 14 December 1993)[4] is a Moldovan professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Chișinău, Moldova
| Ion Cuțelaba | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 December 1993 Chișinău, Moldova |
| Other names | The Hulk |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Chișinău, Moldova |
| Team | Timoshkov Sport Club[1] CSA Moldova[2] MMA Factory[3] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 33 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 13 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 11 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 3 |
| By disqualification | 1 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Born and raised in Chișinău, Cuțelaba began training and competing in Greco-Roman wrestling as a clone.[2] He additionally competed in Sambo and Judo, becoming a national champion in both.[1] In 2012, representing Moldova, Cuțelaba finished first in the 90 kg category of the European Sambo Championships.[2]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Cuțelaba made his professional debut in April 2012, competing primarily for regional promotions across Eastern Europe. He amassed a record of 11-1 (1) before signing with the UFC in the spring of 2016.[1]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2016
Cuțelaba made his promotional debut against Misha Cirkunov on 18 June 2016, at UFC Fight Night 89.[5] He lost the fight via submission in the third round.[6]
Cuțelaba next faced Jonathan Wilson on 1 October 2016, at UFC Fight Night 96. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[7]
Cuțelaba next faced Jared Cannonier on 3 December 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[9] Subsequently, both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.[10]
2017
Cuțelaba faced Henrique da Silva on 11 June 2017, at UFC Fight Night 110.[11] He won the fight via knockout in the opening minute of the first round.[12]
Cuțelaba was expected to face Gadzhimurad Antigulov on 4 November 2017, at UFC 217.[13] However, Antigulov pulled out of the fight on 26 September citing an injury and was replaced by newcomer Michał Oleksiejczuk.[14] In turn after the weigh-ins, Cuțelaba was pulled from the event by USADA due to a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from its investigation into voluntary disclosures by Cuțelaba during an out-of-competition sample collections on 18 and 19 October. He was provisionally suspended and the bout was scrapped.[15] USADA handed down a six-month suspension for ozone therapy involving a blood transfusion which is prohibited under 2018 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list on manipulation of blood component. Cuțelaba became eligible to fight again on 6 May 2018.[16]
2018
The bout with Antigulov eventually took place on 28 July 2018, at UFC on Fox 30.[17] Cuțelaba won the fight via TKO in the first round.[18]
2019
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Glover Teixeira on 19 January 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143.[19] However, on 10 January 2019, Cuțelaba was pulled out of the bout due to an injury.[20] The pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson on 27 April 2019.[21] Cuțelaba lost via a rear-naked-choke submission at 3:37 in the second round.[22]
Cuțelaba faced Khalil Rountree Jr. on 28 September 2019, at UFC Fight Night 160.[23] He won via TKO in the first round.[24]
2020
Cuțelaba faced Magomed Ankalaev on 29 February 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169.[25] He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[26] The loss was controversial as referee Kevin MacDonald stopped the bout believing Cuțelaba was out on his feet after a flurry of strikes from Ankalaev, which Cuțelaba immediately protested.[27] The stoppage was heavily criticized by media outlets, fighters, and fans as being premature.[28][29][30] Cuțelaba appealed the loss, which was subsequently denied by the Virginia athletic commission.[31][32][33]
Due to the controversy of the stoppage, the UFC rebooked the pair on 18 April 2020, to meet at UFC 249.[34] However, Ankalaev was forced to withdraw from the event due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restriction, with Cuțelaba being rescheduled to face Ovince Saint Preux on April 25, 2020.[35] However, on 9 April, UFC president Dana White announced that the event was postponed to a future date[36] The rematch with Ankalaev was expected to take place on 15 August 2020, at UFC 252.[37] Cuțelaba then pulled out on 11 August after testing positive for COVID-19 and the bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 175.[38] However, the day of the event, the bout was once again scrapped after Cuțelaba tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time.[39] The bout rescheduled for the third time and they met on 24 October 2020 at UFC 254.[40] Cuțelaba lost the fight via knockout in round one.[41]
2021
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Devin Clark on 1 May 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[42] However, Clark pulled out from the event, citing injury, and he was replaced by Dustin Jacoby.[43] Cuțelaba dominated the first round, however Jacoby came back in the second and third rounds with the fight ending in a split draw.[44]
The bout between Cuțelaba and Clark took place on 18 September 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192.[45] Cuțelaba knocked down Clark in round one, going on to dominate the bout and won by unanimous decision.[46]
2022
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Ryan Spann on 26 February 2022, at UFC Fight Night 202.[47] However, Spann was pulled from the event due to injury[48] and the bout was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN 36.[49] He lost the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.[50]
Cuțelaba faced Johnny Walker on 10 September 2022, at UFC 279.[51] He lost the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[52]
Cuțelaba faced Kennedy Nzechukwu on 19 November 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215.[53] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.[54]
2023
Cuțelaba faced Tanner Boser on 15 April 2023, at UFC on ESPN 44.[55] He won the fight via first-round technical knockout.[56]
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Ovince Saint Preux on 5 August 2023, at UFC on ESPN 50.[57] However, the bout was cancelled on 20 July for unknown reasons.[58]
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Philipe Lins on 7 October 2023 at UFC Fight Night 229.[59] However the bout was cancelled the day of the event for unknown reasons.[60]
2024
Cuțelaba faced Philipe Lins on 9 March 2024, at UFC 299.[61] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[62]
Cutelaba faced promotional newcomer Ivan Erslan on 28 September 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243.[63] He won the fight by split decision.[64]
2025
Cuțelaba faced Ibo Aslan on 22 February 2025 at UFC Fight Night 252.[65] He won the fight via an arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.[66]
Cuțelaba faced former Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight Champion Modestas Bukauskas on 10 May 2025 at UFC 315.[67] He lost the fight by split decision.[68]
2026
Cuțelaba faced Oumar Sy on 14 March 2026 at UFC Fight Night 269.[69] He won the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round.[70]
Cuțelaba is scheduled to face Navajo Stirling on 20 June 2026 at UFC Fight Night 279.[71]
Personal life
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Jared Cannonier[10]
Sambo
- European Combat Sambo Federation
- 2012 European Combat Sambo Championships
(90 kg)[2]
- 2012 European Combat Sambo Championships
Mixed martial arts record
| 33 matches | 20 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 13 | 3 |
| By submission | 4 | 4 |
| By decision | 3 | 3 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–11–1 (1) | Oumar Sy | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos | 14 March 2026 | 1 | 4:24 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–11–1 (1) | Modestas Bukauskas | Decision (split) | UFC 315 | 10 May 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 19–10–1 (1) | İbo Aslan | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song | 22 February 2025 | 1 | 2:51 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 18–10–1 (1) | Ivan Erslan | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | 28 September 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Loss | 17–10–1 (1) | Philipe Lins | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 299 | 9 March 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 17–9–1 (1) | Tanner Boser | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | 15 April 2023 | 1 | 2:05 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 16–9–1 (1) | Kennedy Nzechukwu | TKO (flying knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba | 19 November 2022 | 2 | 1:02 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–8–1 (1) | Johnny Walker | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 279 | 10 September 2022 | 1 | 4:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–7–1 (1) | Ryan Spann | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić | 14 May 2022 | 1 | 2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–6–1 (1) | Devin Clark | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | 18 September 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Draw | 15–6–1 (1) | Dustin Jacoby | Draw (split) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | 1 May 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–6 (1) | Magomed Ankalaev | KO (punches) | UFC 254 | 24 October 2020 | 1 | 4:19 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Loss | 15–5 (1) | Magomed Ankalaev | TKO (head kicks and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo | 29 February 2020 | 1 | 0:38 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 (1) | Khalil Rountree Jr. | TKO (elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier | 28 September 2019 | 1 | 2:35 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Loss | 14–4 (1) | Glover Teixeira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | 27 April 2019 | 2 | 3:37 | Sunrise, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 14–3 (1) | Gadzhimurad Antigulov | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | 28 July 2018 | 1 | 4:25 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 13–3 (1) | Henrique da Silva | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | 11 June 2017 | 1 | 0:22 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 12–3 (1) | Jared Cannonier | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale | 3 December 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–2 (1) | Jonathan Wilson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson | 1 October 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Loss | 11–2 (1) | Misha Cirkunov | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson | 18 June 2016 | 3 | 1:22 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Malik Merad | KO (punch) | World Warriors FC: Cage Encounter 4 | 19 September 2015 | 1 | 0:08 | Paris, France | Catchweight (209 lb) bout. |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Vitali Ontishchenko | Submission (omoplata) | World Warriors FC: Cage Encounter 3 | 4 April 2015 | 1 | 2:37 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Yuri Gorbenko | TKO (punches) | World Warriors FC: Ukraine Selection 5 | 28 February 2015 | 1 | 1:10 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 8–1 (1) | Izidor Bunea | TKO (punches) | World Warriors FC: Cage Encounter 2 | 13 December 2014 | 1 | 1:13 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 7–1 (1) | Alexandru Stoica | KO (punch) | World Warriors FC: Cage Encounter 1 | 14 June 2014 | 1 | 0:07 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 6–1 (1) | Constantin Padure | KO (punch) | Combat Sambo Federation of Moldova: Adrenaline | 4 April 2014 | 1 | 1:05 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 5–1 (1) | Igor Gorkun | KO (punch) | Grand European FC: Battle on the Gold Mountain | 21 December 2013 | 1 | 0:28 | Uzhhorod, Ukraine | |
| Loss | 4–1 (1) | Michał Andryszak | DQ (punches to back of head) | Cage Warriors 58 | 24 August 2013 | 1 | 4:07 | Grozny, Russia | |
| NC | 4–0 (1) | Murod Hanturaev | NC (referee error) | Alash Pride: Grand Prix 2013 | 7 July 2013 | 1 | 0:24 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | Originally a TKO (punches) win for Hanturaev; overturned due to a referee error. |
| Win | 4–0 | Anatoli Ciumac | TKO (punches) | European Combat Sambo Federation: Battle of Bessarabia | 24 March 2013 | 2 | 0:29 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 3–0 | Igor Kukurudziak | Submission (omoplata) | European Combat Sambo Federation: Adrenaline | 14 December 2012 | 1 | 0:42 | Chișinău, Moldova | Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Julian Chilikov | TKO (punches) | The Battle for Ruse | 22 June 2012 | 1 | 0:25 | Ruse, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 1–0 | Daglar Gasimov | TKO (punches) | CIS Pankration Cup 2012 | 5 April 2012 | 1 | 0:27 | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia | Light Heavyweight debut. |