ION CUȚELABA

Hailing from Moldova, Ion Cuțelaba transitioned from backgrounds in Judo, Sambo, and Greco-Roman wrestling to professional mixed martial arts in 2012. He eventually joined the UFC roster in 2016, establishing himself as a permanent presence within the light heavyweight division. Training out of the MMA Factory, the orthodox fighter gained a reputation for an aggressive approach that frequently leads to finishes by strikes. Throughout his long tenure with the promotion, he has competed in various high-profile contests and earned at least one performance bonus for his activity inside the cage.

Entering this upcoming event, the Moldovan carries a career record of 20-12-1 with one no-contest. His recent activity shows mixed results, starting with a split-decision victory over Ivan Erslan followed by an arm-triangle submission against Ibo Aslan. After losing a split decision to Modestas Bukauskas, he rebounded by submitting Oumar Sy via guillotine choke. He most recently suffered a technical knockout defeat against Navajo Stirling in June 2026.