ION CUTELABA

Representing Moldova, Ion Cutelaba entered the light heavyweight division after finding success on the regional circuit in Eastern Europe. The orthodox fighter sharpened his craft at the MMA Factory, utilizing a diverse skill set rooted in Sambo, Judo, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Throughout his tenure within the organization, he has squared off against high-profile opponents such as Jared Cannonier, Magomed Ankalaev, and Glover Teixeira. His professional tenure is defined by an aggressive approach to striking combined with his grappling background, which previously earned him a Fight of the Night performance bonus.

Heading into this February competition, Cutelaba holds an overall record of 19-11-1 with one no-contest. His recent trajectory has been inconsistent, featuring a split-decision defeat to Modestas Bukauskas in May 2025. Prior to that, he secured a submission victory over Ibo Aslan and a split-decision win against Ivan Erslan. This followed a unanimous decision loss to Philipe Lins and a technical knockout triumph over Tanner Boser during the spring of 2023.