Ion Cutelaba

The Hulk

Moldova

Picks up key victory
Light HeavyweightUFC
September 28, 2024
Cutelaba defeated Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Paris.
ANALYSIS
Entering with a 1-4 record in his past five bouts, Cutelaba looked pretty good and may very well have saved his job as a result. He badly outworked Erslan over the course of the first ten minutes. Ion landed a few power shots here and there and continued to push the pace. He predictably gassed in Round 3, but his debuting opponent was unable to take advantage of the situation. We've seen enough from Cutelaba over the years to know there's zero upside here, but the win should ensure the 30-year-old gets another fight with the company.
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Fighting Erslan at UFC Paris
Light HeavyweightUFC
July 18, 2024
Cutelaba is fighting Ivan Erslan at UFC Paris on Sept. 28, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Cutelaba is set to take on promotional newcomer Ivan Erslan in a light-heavyweight bout in late September. Cutelaba has struggled as of late, losing four of his last five fights since May 2022. The fight versus a newcomer in Paris gives him a good opportunity to get back on track.
Struggles continue in Miami
Light HeavyweightUFC
March 9, 2024
Cutelaba lost to Philipe Lins via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 299 on Saturday in Miami.
ANALYSIS
Entering as a -140 favorite, Cutelaba's training camp clearly didn't include defending leg kicks. He absorbed a whopping 14 of them in Round 1, leaving him hobbled the rest of the way. The first frame was also the only one in which you could make a case Cutelaba deserved to win. After that, Lins got his wrestling game going, and Ion had no answer. Now 30 years of age, Cutelaba is 1-4 in his past five fights dating back to May 2022. The UFC could easily choose to cut its losses here.
Lins pulls out, fight scrapped
Light HeavyweightUFC
October 7, 2023
Cutelaba will no longer fight Philipe Lins at UFC Vegas 80 due to an unspecified medical issue, according to the UFC's official X.com page
ANALYSIS
The broadcast was actually delayed in hopes of salvaging the bout, but Lins was ultimately unable to make the walk due to the issue. Cutelaba was coming into this fight having lost three of his last four contests, but "The Hulk" is always entertaining in and outside of the cage, which will likely ensure that he will remain on the roster going forward.
Next bout scheduled
Light HeavyweightUFC
September 1, 2023
Cutelaba will match up against Philipe Lins at UFC Vegas 80 on Oct. 7, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Cutelaba, who most recently defeated Tanner Boser at UFC Kansas City in April, will face off against Phillipe Lins next. The 29-year-old fighter is 2-3 in his last five bouts.
Fight cancelled
Light HeavyweightUFC
July 20, 2023
Cutelaba's fight versus Ovince Saint Preux in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Nashville on Aug. 5 has been cancelled, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
It is unclear why this bout has been canceled, but the two have been scheduled to fight for over three years now. It's possible that the fight could be postponed to a later date.