Ion Cuțelaba
Ion Nicolae Cuțelaba[6] (born 14 December 1993) is a Moldovan professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
| Ion Cuțelaba | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ion Nicolae Cuțelaba 14 December 1993 Chișinău, Moldova |
| Other names | The Hulk[1] |
| Nationality | Moldovan |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2][3] |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Style | Sambo, Judo, Kickboxing, Greco-Roman Wrestling |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Chișinău, Moldova |
| Team | Timoshkov Sport Club[4] CSA Moldova[3] MMA Factory[5] |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 27 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 12 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 1 |
| 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 an adolescent.[3] He additionally competed in Sambo and judo, becoming a national champion in both.[4] In 2012, representing Moldova, Cuțelaba finished first in the 90 kg category of the European Sambo Championships.[3]
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.[4]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
2016
Cuțelaba made his promotional debut against Misha Cirkunov on June 18, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 89.[7] He lost the fight via submission in the third round.[8]
Cuțelaba next faced Jonathan Wilson on October 1, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 96. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[9]
Cuțelaba next faced Jared Cannonier on December 3, 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale.[10] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[11] Subsequently, both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors.[12]
2017
Cuțelaba faced Henrique da Silva on June 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 110.[13] He won the fight via knockout in the opening minute of the first round.[14]
Cuțelaba was expected to face Gadzhimurad Antigulov on November 4, 2017 at UFC 217.[15] However, Antigulov pulled out of the fight on September 26 citing an injury and was replaced by newcomer Michał Oleksiejczuk.[16] 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 October 18 and October 19. He was provisionally suspended and the bout was scrapped.[17] 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 May 6, 2018.[18]
2018
The bout with Antigulov eventually took place on July 28, 2018 at UFC on Fox 30.[19] Cuțelaba won the fight via TKO in the first round.[20]
2019
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Glover Teixeira on January 19, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 143.[21] However, on January 10, 2019, Cuțelaba was pulled out of the bout due to an injury.[22] The pair was rescheduled to meet at UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson on April 27, 2019.[23] Cuțelaba lost via a rear-naked-choke submission at 3:37 in the second round.[24]
Cuțelaba faced Khalil Rountree Jr. on September 28, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 160.[25] He won via TKO in the first round.[26]
2020
Cuțelaba faced Magomed Ankalaev on February 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 169.[27] He lost the fight controversially via TKO in the first round.[28] The loss was controversial as referee Kevin MacDonald stopped the bout believing Cuțelaba was out on his feet while still standing, which Cuțelaba immediately protested. The stoppage was universally considered early by the event announcers, MMA pundits, and UFC fighters alike.[29][30][31][32] Subsequently, the Virginia athletic commission reviewed the controversial stoppage, denying the appeal thus resulting the technical knockout win for Ankalaev left standing.[33][34][35]
Due to the controversy of the stoppage, UFC rebooked the pair on April 18, 2020 to meet at UFC 249.[36] However, Ankalaev was forced to pull from the event due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restriction, and Cuțelaba was pulled from the event and was scheduled to face Ovince Saint Preux on April 25, 2020.[37] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date[38] The rematch with Ankalaev was expected to take place on August 15, 2020 at UFC 252.[39] Cuțelaba then pulled out on August 11 after testing positive for COVID-19 and the bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 175.[40] However, the day of the event, the bout was once again scrapped after Cuțelaba tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time.[41] The bout rescheduled for the third time and they met on October 24, 2020 at UFC 254.[42] Cuțelaba lost the fight via knockout in round one.[43]
2021
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Devin Clark on May 1, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[44] However, Clark pulled out from the event, citing injury, and he was replaced by Dustin Jacoby.[45] Cuțelaba dominated the first round, however Jacoby came back in the second and third rounds with the fight ending in a split draw.[46]
The bout between Cuțelaba and Clark took place on September 18, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 192.[47] Cuțelaba knocked down Clark in round one, going on to dominate the bout and won by unanimous decision.[48]
2022
Cuțelaba was scheduled to face Ryan Spann on February 26, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 202.[49] However, Spann was pulled from the event due to injury[50] and the bout was rescheduled for UFC on ESPN 36.[51] He lost the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.[52]
Cuțelaba faced Johnny Walker on September 10, 2022 at UFC 279.[53] He lost the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[54]
Cuțelaba faced Kennedy Nzechukwu on November 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 215.[55] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.[56]
Personal life
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Jared Cannonier
Sambo
- European Combat Sambo Federation
- 2012 European Combat Sambo Championships (90 kg)[3]
Mixed martial arts record
| 27 matches | 16 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 3 |
| By submission | 2 | 4 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 16–9–1 (1) | Kennedy Nzechukwu | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba | November 19, 2022 | 2 | 1:02 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–8–1 (1) | Johnny Walker | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 279 | September 10, 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 | May 14, 2022 | 1 | 2:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–6–1 (1) | Devin Clark | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Draw | 15–6–1 (1) | Dustin Jacoby | Draw (split) | UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka | May 1, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–6 (1) | Magomed Ankalaev | KO (punches) | UFC 254 | October 24, 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 | February 29, 2020 | 1 | 0:38 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 15–4 (1) | Khalil Rountree Jr. | TKO (elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier | September 28, 2019 | 1 | 2:35 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Loss | 14–4 (1) | Glover Teixeira | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jacaré vs. Hermansson | April 27, 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 | July 28, 2018 | 1 | 4:25 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 13–3 (1) | Henrique da Silva | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | June 11, 2017 | 1 | 0:22 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 12–3 (1) | Jared Cannonier | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions Finale | December 3, 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 | October 1, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Portland, Oregon, United States | |
| Loss | 11–2 (1) | Misha Cirkunov | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson | June 18, 2016 | 3 | 1:22 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | Return to Light Heavyweight. |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Malik Merad | KO (punch) | WWFC: Cage Encounter 4 | September 19, 2015 | 1 | 0:08 | Paris, France | Catchweight (209 lb) bout. |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Vitali Ontishchenko | Submission (omoplata) | WWFC: Cage Encounter 3 | April 4, 2015 | 1 | 2:37 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Yuri Gorbenko | TKO (punches) | WWFC: Ukraine Selection 5 | February 28, 2015 | 1 | 1:10 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 8–1 (1) | Izidor Bunea | TKO (punches) | WWFC: Cage Encounter 2 | December 13, 2014 | 1 | 1:13 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 7–1 (1) | Alexandru Stoica | KO (punch) | WWFC: Cage Encounter 1 | June 14, 2014 | 1 | 0:07 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 6–1 (1) | Constantin Padure | KO (punch) | CSA FC: Adrenaline | April 4, 2014 | 1 | 1:05 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 5–1 (1) | Igor Gorkun | KO (punch) | GEFC: Battle on the Gold Mountain | December 21, 2013 | 1 | 0:28 | Uzhgorod, Ukraine | |
| Loss | 4–1 (1) | Michał Andryszak | DQ (punches to back of head) | CWFC 58 | August 24, 2013 | 1 | 4:07 | Grozny, Russia | |
| NC | 4–0 (1) | Murod Hanturaev | NC (referee error) | Alash Pride: Grand Prix 2013 | July 7, 2013 | 1 | 0:24 | Almaty, Kazakhstan | Originally a TKO win for Hanturaev; overturned due to a referee error. |
| Win | 4–0 | Anatoli Ciumac | TKO (punches) | ECSF: Battle of Bessarabia | March 24, 2013 | 2 | 0:29 | Chișinău, Moldova | |
| Win | 3–0 | Igor Kukurudziak | Submission (omoplata) | ECSF: Adrenaline | December 14, 2012 | 1 | 0:42 | Chișinău, Moldova | Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Julian Chilikov | TKO (punches) | The Battle For Ruse | June 22, 2012 | 1 | 0:25 | Ruse, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 1–0 | Daglar Gasimov | TKO (punches) | CIS: Cup | April 5, 2012 | 1 | 0:27 | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia | Light Heavyweight debut. |
See also
References
- ^ Ion Cuțelaba at ufc.com
- ^ "Fight Card - The Ultimate Fighter A Tournament Of Champions Finale". UFC.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Ion Cutelaba". Tapology. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Zane Simon (30 March 2016). "Welcome to the UFC, Cutelaba & Elmose". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2016_Results/12-03-16MMA.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ Staff (29 March 2016). "Multiple fight bookings made official for UFC Fight Night 89". themmareport.com. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (18 June 2016). "UFC Fight Night 89 results: Misha Cirkunov taps Ion Cutelaba with third-round arm-triangle choke". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (1 October 2016). "UFC Fight Night 96 results: Ion Cutelaba sweeps Jonathan Wilson for first UFC victory". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- ^ Staff (20 October 2016). "Jared Cannonier vs. Ion Cutelaba added to TUF 24 Finale". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (3 December 2016). "TUF 24 Finale results: Jared Cannonier outworks Ion Cutelaba in move to light heavyweight". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Staff (4 December 2016). "TUF 24 Finale bonuses: What bout upset Benavidez-Cejudo to win 'Fight of the Night'?". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ^ Staff (31 May 2017). "2 new bouts complete next week's UFC Fight Night 110 lineup in New Zealand". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (10 June 2017). "UFC Fight Night 110 results: Ion Cutelaba destroys Henrique da Silva in 22 seconds". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ Adam Haynes (13 August 2017). "UFC 217: Ion Cutelaba announces bout with Gadzhimurad Antigulov". mmanews.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "Michał Oleksiejczuk w UFC – powalczy z Ionem Cutelabą na UFC 217". Lowking.pl (in Polish). 13 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "Ion Cutelaba flagged for possible USADA violation, removed from UFC 217". MMAjunkie. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "UFC's Ion Cutelaba accepts six-month USADA suspension for ozone therapy administration". MMAjunkie. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ Staff (27 April 2018). "UFC on FOX 30 official for Calgary, eight fights added to lineup". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ "UFC on FOX 30 results: Ion Cutelaba turns tables on Gadzhimurad Antigulov for first-round TKO". MMAjunkie. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
- ^ "Glover Teixeira vs. Ion Cutelaba set for first UFC on ESPN+ card". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
- ^ Jay Pettry. "Ion Cutelaba injured, out of bout with Glover Teixeira at UFC Brooklyn". Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ DNA, MMA (6 February 2019). "Poging twee: Glover Teixeira vs. Ion Cutelaba tijdens UFC on ESPN 3 in Miami". Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN+ 8 play-by-play and live results". MMA Junkie. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
- ^ Staff (12 July 2019). "Ion Cutelaba vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. officially confirmed for UFC Copenhagen". mmadnanl.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (28 September 2019). "UFC Copenhagen Results: Ion Cuțelaba Smashes Khalil Rountree Jr". Cageside Press. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Nolan King (2 January 2020). "Three bouts added to growing UFC on ESPN+ 27 lineup". www.mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ^ Fuentes, Jon (29 February 2020). "UFC Norfolk Results: Magomed Ankalaev Gets Controversial Stoppage Win Over Ion Cuțelaba". Cageside Press. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ MMAJunkie Staff (29 February 2020). "UFC on ESPN+ 27 results: Magomed Ankalaev takes controversial TKO over Ion Cutelaba". www.mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ Chris Taylor (29 February 2020). "UFC Fighters react to terrible stoppage in Ankalaev vs. Cutelaba fight". bjpenn.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "'Unbelievably bad': UFC fans erupt over 'worst stoppage ever'". au.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "UFC 169: UFC Fight Night 169, referee stoppage, worst stoppage ever, Magomed Ankalaev, Ion Cutelaba". Fox Sports. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (2 March 2020). "Virginia commission to review expected Ion Cutelaba appeal after UFC Norfolk loss to Magomed Ankalaev". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "Virginia athletic commission likely to review controversial TKO stoppage at UFC Norfolk". www.sportskeeda.com. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (21 April 2020). "Virginia Commission Denies Ion Cutelaba's Appeal of Loss to Magomed Ankalaev". sherdog.com.
- ^ Martin, Damon (5 March 2020). "Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Ankalaev re-booked for UFC 249 following controversial stoppage". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ DNA, MMA (7 April 2020). "Verschillende gevechten voor aankomende evenementen bekend gemaakt". Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (9 April 2020). "Dana White says UFC 249 will not happen April 18". espn.com. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ Staff (12 June 2020). "Rematch after controversial first game between Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba at UFC 252". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 12 June 2020. (in Dutch)
- ^ Steven Marrocco and Damon Martin (11 August 2020). "Ion Cuțelaba tests positive for COVID-19, rematch against Magomed Ankalaev bumped from UFC 252 to August 29 event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ Guillherme Cruz (29 August 2020). "Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Ankalaev pulled from UFC Vegas 8 due to positive COVID-19 test". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Zane Simon (9 September 2020). "Fifth time's a charm - UFC re-books Cutelaba vs. Ankalaev again". Bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (24 October 2020). "UFC 254 Results: Magomed Ankalaev Settles Score, Sleeps Ion Cutelaba". Cageside Press. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Redactie (17 February 2021). "Ion Cutelaba vs. Devin Clark added to UFC event on May 1". mma.dna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (20 April 2021). "Short notice partij voor Dustin Jacoby tegen Ion Cutelaba op 1 mei in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN 23 results: Heated Ion Cutelaba vs. Dustin Jacoby fight ends in draw". MMA Junkie. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (16 June 2021). "BREAKING: Ion Cutelaba vs. Devin Clark opnieuw geboekt, ditmaal voor 18 september". MMA DNA. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "UFC Vegas 37 Highlights: Ion Cutelaba Dominates Devin Clark". MMA News. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (30 December 2021). "Light-Heavyweight partij tussen Ryan Spann en Ion Cutelaba op 26 februari in Las Vegas". MMA DNA. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Ion Cuțelaba vs. Ryan Spann off UFC Fight Night 202 on Feb. 26". MMA Junkie. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "UFC | Spann vs. Cutelaba opnieuw ingepland, ditmaal voor 14 mei in Las Vegas". Eurosport (in Dutch). 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (15 May 2022). "UFC Vegas 54: Ryan Spann Chokes Out Ion Cutelaba in First". Cageside Press. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ Dinks Heck (21 July 2022). "Johnny Walker vs. Ion Cutelaba on tap for UFC 279". mma fighting.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (10 September 2022). "UFC 279: Johnny Walker Quickly Submits Ion Cutelaba in First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
- ^ Mike Bohn and Nolan King (28 October 2022). "Ion Cutelaba vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu added to UFC Fight Night 215 on Nov. 19". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ Dewar, Val (19 November 2022). "UFC Vegas 65: Kennedy Nzechukwu Finishes Ion Cutelaba in Impromptu Main Event". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ Tudor Leonte (26 April 2020). "Ion Cutelaba Unlikely to Fight in Virginia Again After Having Appeal Denied". sherdog.com.
- ^ Ion Cuțelaba [@ioncutelaba] (25 February 2021). "Welcome my little princess!" – via Instagram.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Ion". Sherdog. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
External links
- Official UFC Profile
- Professional MMA record for Ion Cutelaba from Sherdog