Career Averages - Ion Cuțelaba
Career Averages - Ivan Erslan
Ion Cuțelaba
Ivan Erslan
Ion Cuțelaba - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 40 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:27 |
| Oumar Sy | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 40 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:27 |
| Oumar Sy | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 14 of 20 | 70% | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 10 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Oumar Sy | 5 of 11 | 45% | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 14 of 20 | 70% | 4 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 6 | 10 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Oumar Sy | 5 of 11 | 45% | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sy (-200); Cutelaba (+170)
Round 1
Herb Dean is the referee. Cutelaba opens with an inside leg kick followed by a body kick. Sy with a leg kick of his own. Cutelaba is utilizing a variety of kicks early. Sy jabs then throws a leg kick. A right lands for Cutelaba. They collide in the clinch and Cutelaba drives his man into the fence. A knee lands for Cutelaba. Sy reverses the position, but Cutelaba trips him down and lands in half guard. Sy scoots toward the fence and reverses into a takedown attempt against the cage. Sy lifts and slams Cutelaba, who assumes top position in a scramble. Cutelaba is in half guard, looking to advance. Cutelaba hovers and drops a right. Sy eats more standing to ground shots as Sy threatens with a heel hook. Cutelaba isn’t too woried about the submission possibility, but Sy falls back, forcing his foe to defend the manuever.. Cutelaba frees his leg and dives back into top position. Now Sy is pushing forward for a takedown, but he finds himself quickly ensnared in a guillotine.
Cutelaba rolls into full mount, forcing Sy to tap almost instantly.
Cutelaba has won three of his last four UFC appearances.
The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Oumar Sy via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1 4:24
Angelo picks Oumar Sy but is nervous. He acknowledges Sy's athleticism and dangerous grappling, but worries about his tendency to not pull the trigger, as seen in the Alonzo Menifield fight. He thinks Sy should win if he wrestles early, but if he waits too long or stands and bangs, it could be a problem.
Big Brady picks Oumar Sy to win by second-round submission. He identifies three problems with Cutelaba: bad cardio, poor fight IQ, and weak jiu-jitsu off his back. He believes Sy should take the fight to the mat and exploit the grappling gap, especially as Cutelaba slows down.
Cody picks Sy but is hesitant. He notes Sy's size, reach, and wrestling advantage, but acknowledges Cuțelaba's experience and durability. He thinks Sy can get takedowns and grind out a win, but the price is not great. He expects a split decision.
Connor picks Sy, agreeing that Cuțelaba needs an opponent who implodes to win, and Sy is not that. He notes Cuțelaba's wins are over fighters who implode, and Sy has enough survival instinct.
James picks Oumar Sy to win by finish, likely via ground and pound. He notes that Cuțelaba will expend all his energy in round one and gas out, while Sy's size, athleticism, and physicality will allow him to take over. He expects Sy to get on top and finish a tired Cuțelaba in the second round.
The host picks Sy to win by submission, expecting his grappling to dominate. He notes Sy's size and reach advantage, and believes he will take Cuțelaba down and find a finish. He highlights Cuțelaba's cardio issues and tendency to lose to grapplers, making Sy a strong pick.
Paul is tempted by Cuțelaba as a dog, noting his striking and takedown defense. He thinks Cuțelaba can give Sy problems, but ultimately passes due to inconsistency. He mentions Sy's size and wrestling could be too much.
The Guru picks Oumar Sy, comparing him to Ciryl Gane and noting his grappling awareness and striking defense. He thinks Cuțelaba will struggle if he can't get early takedowns, and that Sy will find a finish in the late second or third round as Cuțelaba gets wild.
Zane picks Sy, noting that Cuțelaba is prone to imploding and even when he doesn't, he makes mistakes that allow Sy to take him down and ride him. Sy showed determination in his loss to Menefield.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modestas Bukauskas | 0 | 44 of 92 | 47% | 52 of 100 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 58 of 130 | 44% | 121 of 194 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modestas Bukauskas | 0 | 12 of 34 | 35% | 12 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 17 of 46 | 36% | 17 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Modestas Bukauskas | 0 | 16 of 32 | 50% | 18 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 25 of 49 | 51% | 50 of 74 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 | |
| 3 | Modestas Bukauskas | 0 | 16 of 26 | 61% | 22 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 16 of 35 | 45% | 54 of 74 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:23 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modestas Bukauskas | 44 of 92 | 47% | 37 of 85 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 42 of 90 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 58 of 130 | 44% | 18 of 74 | 16 of 19 | 24 of 37 | 47 of 117 | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Modestas Bukauskas | 12 of 34 | 35% | 7 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 12 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 17 of 46 | 36% | 4 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 16 | 17 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Modestas Bukauskas | 16 of 32 | 50% | 15 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 25 of 49 | 51% | 11 of 30 | 5 of 6 | 9 of 13 | 20 of 42 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Modestas Bukauskas | 16 of 26 | 61% | 15 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 16 of 35 | 45% | 3 of 18 | 8 of 9 | 5 of 8 | 10 of 29 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bukauskas (-112), Cutelaba (-108)
Round 1
Keeping to the light heavyweight division, there is a very realistic scenario that both men will hold .500 records in the Octagon if one man prevails. Bukauskas (17-6, 5-4 UFC) has done his absolute best to make up for an early rough stretch, while “The Hulk” Cutelaba (19-10-1, 1 NC; 8-9-1 UFC) is aiming to smash his way back to that midpoint range. Both men vastly prefer the knockout, but they have also sustained multiple stoppage losses of that type in the past as well. Referee Dan Miragliotta dons his proverbial hard hat as the 31-year-olds do not bother to touch gloves. Bukauskas leads off with a long, leaping jab. Cutelaba kicks him back in the front leg, doing so one more time when Bukauskas changes stances. Cutelaba keeps at it until Bukauskas fires one back at him, and it does not slow him for long. Cutelaba turns his hips into an especially heavy calf kick, and he leans back as a one-two comes up just short of his face. Bukauskas is unable to reach his foe with punches, while Cutelaba kicks him at will. Bukauskas steps in and catches Cutelaba with a left hand, and he follows with a right that “The Hulk” takes on the chin without batting an eye. Cutelaba fires back with an overhand right, and he offers a body kick and spins with a wheel kick that both bounce off the guard. Cutelaba catches Bukauskas at the end of a calf kick, and he parries a body kick and blocks a subsequent head kick. Bukauskas snaps out a jab, and he sways to avoid the worst of an overhand right. Cutelaba does not falter kicking the front leg time and time again, and they clash together with hooks that partially land. Cutelaba has a massive uppercut and right hand knock out the air around the Lithuanian, and he plants his legs and pounds on Bukauskas’ from leg. Bukauskas gets off a two-punch combo and rushes back knowing “The Hulk” is coming after him. Bukauskas chains together two one-twos that catch the Moldovan on the chin, and once more, he no-sells them and walks forward. They both miss with spinning back kicks to the body, and Cutelaba tries to corner Bukauskas with a low kick and times a left hand when Bukauskas advances. Cutelaba plants his heel on Bukauskas’ side with a spin kick, and Bukauskas tries to do something similar but cannot score it. The round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 2
The second round opens up with Cutelaba pressing forward, landing a few punches and mixing in kicks. The Moldovan follows the success with another blitz, backing his opponent up and drilling Bukauskas with a right hand. They crash together, and Cutelaba spins with an elbow that bangs into Bukauskas’ jaw. It is Cutelaba who goes flying after the blow lands, because he spun himself off-balance, and he recovers quickly. Cutelaba considers a level change, and he runs into a stone wall that he pushes against the fence. Cutelaba grinds his man against the fencing, offering a knee or two but otherwise stalling out. They jockey for position when in the clinch, and Miragliotta separates them. Cutelaba spins with a wheel kick out of nowhere, and both men trip and nearly go down without the strike connecting. They get back to their feet, and Cutelaba chases his man with an overhand right. When he pitches a naked leg kick, Bukauskas counters with two punches. Cutelaba sits down on a hard right hand, and Bukauskas has to blink it out but is otherwise unconcerned. Cutelaba keeps his guard up, and he rushes forward and lands a couple punches and a kick at the end. Cutelaba offers a leg kick and ducks down to fire off a right hand when he sees Bukauskas coming forward, and he throws a wheel kick so hard that he falls over when it is way out of range. Cutelaba stands, and he initiates a brawl. Bukauskas catches him and nearly gets blasted, having to circle around to regain his footing. One final brawl ensues, with Bukauskas getting the better of the final exchange before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 3
Cutelaba is energized to start off the final frame, pushing forward immediately but not able to catch Bukauskas standing still. He settles for a few chopping calf kicks, and he shoots in for a double from afar that Bukauskas is able to defend thanks to the wall behind him. The clinch position stalls the two 205ers out, who trade occasional knees but do little more to satisfy Miragliotta. They are separated, and Cutelaba is the aggressor again. Clipping Bukauskas with a left hand, Cutelaba keeps marching forward and lashes out with a low kick that scores, and a spinning back kick that bangs into his foe’s midsection. Cutelaba stomps out with a kick to the front knee, and Bukauskas is tired of waiting and lays into “The Hulk” with a massive right hand. Cutelaba does not so much as flinch, and eats another huge punch that he once more shrugs off. Cutelaba follows his foe around the cage, and he skims a spin kick off the body and reaches at the end of a right hand. Bukauskas goes high with a kick that is blocked, and he stings Cutelaba with a check hook and forces the Moldovan to shoot in on his hips. Bukauskas stops the takedown but is otherwise pushed to the wire, where they spin one another around. They give one another knees to the guts, and Cutelaba goes for a trip that is unable to get his man down. Bukauskas pushes off and lets his hands go, only for Cutelaba to tie him back up. Miragliotta calls for action as Bukauskas leans on his opponent, and he breaks and spins with an elbow. Cutelaba busts him in the chops with a right hand, and swings for the bleachers with a few more. The final strike of the fight is a spinning kick from the Lithuanian to the midsection, and a slightly bloodied Cutelaba raises his hands to signal he thinks he won the fight. Time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bukauskas (29-28 Cutelaba)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Bukauskas (29-28 Cutelaba)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Bukauskas (29-28 Cutelaba)
The Official Result
Modestas Bukauskas def. Ion Cutelaba via Split Decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Modestas Bukauskas as the more technically sound and well-rounded fighter, but acknowledges Ion Cuțelaba is unpredictable and dangerous. He notes Cuțelaba has power and offensive takedowns but no takedown defense. Angelo mentions a potential bet on Cuțelaba inside the distance with decision no action, but his pick is Bukauskas. He emphasizes that picks are not bets and he wouldn't bet on Bukauskas.
Big Brady thinks Cuțelaba has multiple paths to victory: he hits harder, is more durable, and can mix in wrestling. He notes Bukauskas is chinny, hittable, and has poor takedown defense. He believes Cuțelaba's losses have come against high-level or dangerous opponents, while Bukauskas is neither. He predicts Cuțelaba wins by decision, landing bigger shots and mixing in wrestling.
The host believes Bukauskas is in the best form of his career and will thwart Cuțelaba's power striking and grappling. He expects Bukauskas to use his cardio, technical striking, and improved grappling to win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Cuțelaba as a slight underdog, citing Bukauskas' knee injury and susceptibility to pressure. He thinks Cuțelaba's wrestling and early aggression will exploit Bukauskas' compromised leg, leading to a finish in the first or second round by TKO or submission.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 14 of 31 | 45% | 17 of 39 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Ibo Aslan | 0 | 15 of 30 | 50% | 15 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 14 of 31 | 45% | 17 of 39 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:06 |
| Ibo Aslan | 0 | 15 of 30 | 50% | 15 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 14 of 31 | 45% | 10 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Ibo Aslan | 15 of 30 | 50% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 27 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 14 of 31 | 45% | 10 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
| Ibo Aslan | 15 of 30 | 50% | 14 of 28 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 27 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
If this prelim headliner does not end violently, it will be quite the surprise. “The Hulk” Cutelaba (18-10-1, 1 NC; 7-9-1 UFC) has claimed 13 of his 18 wins via strikes, while Aslan (14-1, 2-0 UFC) presents a 100% knockout rate. Referee Kevin MacDonald keeps his head on a swivel for the mayhem that is about to ensue. Nothing more needs to be said other than buckle up, buckaroos. Cutelaba is so intense, security has to keep him from putting his hands on Aslan before the opening bell rings. The power-punching 205ers do not touch gloves. Aslan walks Cutelaba down with his right hand chambered, and he pitches a front kick instead. Cutelaba responds in kind, and he wings an overhand right that buzzes the beard of his foe. Aslan slings back with fire, and the two turn their hips into mighty low kick that crash together. A furious brawl suddenly erupts out of nowhere, with both men bashing each other in the face with ridiculously arced punches. When Cutelaba gets clipped, he shoots for a takedown, and it is rebuffed. Aslan tags him a few more times, and a second takedown effort from the Moldovan succeeds to get his wits back about him. Aslan climbs back to his feet, and he ducks to dodge a spinning back fist from “The Hulk,” who is bleeding already. Aslan tees off with strikes, and Cutelaba steels himself and releases a bomb of a right hand that sends Aslan staggering back. With his balance barely beneath him, Aslan stumbles away and gets taken to the floor by a beautiful double. Cutelaba sits up and smashes Aslan with a number of right hands, forces Aslan to turn over and jumps into dominant position.
Rather than keep smashing, “The Hulk” in mount steps to the side to wrap up an unexpected arm-triangle choke. Aslan hangs on tough as MacDonald checks on him, and he signals he is ok and shows resistance on his arm. As the submission is not wavering, Aslan is about to go out, and he taps out.
Cutelaba stands up and roars repeatedly. In his post-fight interview, the Moldovan declares, “Who now is power,” and that he is a “f---ing crazy guy.” With that, the prelims are violently completed, but who expected the hard-swinging Cutelaba to wrap up a submission?
The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Ibo Aslan R1 2:51 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Big Brady picks Ibo Aslan (Eduard Oslan) despite wanting to back Ion Cuțelaba. He notes Cuțelaba is untrustworthy with poor cardio, often gassing after three minutes of wrestling. He believes Aslan has good takedown defense from training at Extreme Couture and Tiger Muay Thai, carries power late, and will stuff takedowns, causing Cuțelaba to slow down. He predicts a second-round knockout.
The host is intrigued by Cuțelaba as an underdog, noting the fight could be a car crash or a grind. He thinks if Cuțelaba avoids getting knocked out early, he can match Aslan's aggression and power and finish him within the first two rounds.
Despite a bias toward Cuțelaba, the Guru picks Aslan, citing Cuțelaba's rough recent wins and low success rate. He notes Aslan is 2-0 in the UFC with finishes, has momentum, and has fought tricky grapplers. He expects Aslan to TKO Cuțelaba in the first or second round, though he mentions Aslan's 'gynoed up' physique as a potential concern.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 45 of 120 | 37% | 80 of 161 | 3 of 12 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 39 of 69 | 56% | 63 of 101 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 5:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 18 of 72 | 25% | 22 of 77 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 24 of 39 | 61% | 25 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 24 of 43 | 55% | 44 of 66 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 17 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:26 | |
| 3 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 14 of 18 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 21 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 45 of 120 | 37% | 24 of 93 | 9 of 14 | 12 of 13 | 38 of 112 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
| Ivan Erslan | 39 of 69 | 56% | 29 of 59 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 61 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 18 of 72 | 25% | 9 of 57 | 5 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 14 of 68 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 24 of 39 | 61% | 21 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 35 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ion Cuțelaba | 24 of 43 | 55% | 13 of 32 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 7 | 21 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Ivan Erslan | 14 of 27 | 51% | 7 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ion Cuțelaba | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
With four losses in his last five outings, “The Hulk” Cutelaba (17-10-1, 1 NC; 6-9-1, 1 NC UFC) has not been smashing much lately. Luckily for him, the UFC has given him a willing dance partner in KSW vet Erslan (14-3, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC), who has seen 10 of his last 11 appearances end inside the distance, win or lose. Before they go ballistic, the two hulking 205ers meet in the middle to share an incredibly intense face-to-face staredown as referee Herb Dean watches closely. There is no glove touch to be shared, as Cutelaba is energized and wants to inflict punishment of some sort. Cutelaba sweeps the leg early, and Erslan does not budge. Cutelaba splits the guard with a front kick, and Erslan sits down on a left hand counter. Cutelaba has a kick checked, and he lets go with two punches that bounce off the guard. Cutelaba lunges and whiffs with a right hand, but his front kicks to get through. Cutelaba overswings, and Erslan ducks under and pushes him to the wall. Cutelaba spins around and smashes Erslan in the face, and Erslan staggers away, regains his footing and shakes his head to signal he is fine. Cutelaba comes up short on a big head kick, and Erslan bets him to the punch with two counters. Cutelaba walks Erslan down and draws him into a brief slugfest, but Erslan is wise to it and does not want to get blasted. Erslan sneaks in an uppercut while Cutelaba blitzes, and he absorbs a low kick and a left hand before stopping a takedown shot. Cutelaba steps in with a body kick, and he whizzes past his target with a spinning back kick. Cutelaba bites down on his mouthpiece to throw hammers, but the head movement of the newcomer keeps him safe. Erslan keeps his guard up high, but the sheer horsepower of Cutelaba’s three punches knock Erslan across the cage and down to his seat. Cutelaba leisurely walks him down rather than sprinting, and instead lets Erslan stand so he can go after a single. Erslan stands, ignores a right hand to his temple and puts his back to the wall. Erslan gains a bit of space thanks to an elbow on the inside, and they reset. Erslan lashes out with a calf kick, and when he throws a second, Cutelaba is on him with a winging right hand. Cutelaba’s big right hooks come up short, and he gets stuck with a right straight. Erslan walks through a power punch to sling leather, and he gets his bell rung once more in a furious exchange. Cutelaba spins with a back fist that goes well wide, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 2
The light heavyweights lumber towards one another to start off the stanza, and they both measure one another with front kicks from afar. Cutelaba advances rapidly, and Erslan escapes out the side before getting struck. Erslan rolls with a punch, but Cutelaba is on him with three more and a takedown shot. Erslan shoves the Moldovan away, and Cutelaba takes a moment before lashing out with a low kick and a right hand. Cutelaba gets caught with a right hand and wobbles back, but then flashes a huge grin as he was playing possum and hoped to draw Erslan in. When Erslan does not engage, Cutelaba spins with a back kick that slams into his liver. Cutelaba jabs and swings hard behind it, and he clips the Polish fighter with a powerful left hook. Erslan does not like what he is getting, and he shoots in for a single but finds himself facing a wall in “The Hulk.” Cutelaba gives Erslan a taste of his own medicine, grabbing a single and kicking Erslan’s other leg out to put him down dramatically on the canvas. Cutelaba jumps around to take his back, wrapping a body triangle around his waist and hitting him with punches around the side of the head. Cutelaba briefly latches onto a rear-naked choke, and the newcomer fights out of it, breaks the body triangle and muscles back to his feet. Erslan tries to wrangle Cutelaba down to the floor, and when they hit 50/50 position, Cutelaba turns the tables and tosses Erslan effortlessly to the mat. Cutelaba climbs into full mount, and he takes Erslan’s back and slides off of it. Falling to his back, Cutelaba briefly considers a triangle choke, but Erslan keeps himself flat on top of his adversary to ride out the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 3
The heavy hitters have reached the third round—as many of the fights tonight have done so far—and it starts off gingerly as neither man wants to overcommit. Erslan walks the favorite down, and he swings for the fences with a monster right hand. Cutelaba counters him brilliantly with a right hand, only for Erslan to duck under a second blow and hit an easy takedown. Erslan gets dragged into the guard when assuming top position, but he finds himself struggling to mount any offense. Cutelaba either holds on tightly or pushes off Erslan enough to get space so that Erslan cannot reach him. When not pushed by Cutelaba’s legs, Erslan utilizes tight chest pressure, smothering rather than attacking. Erslan stands up and drills “The Hulk” with a huge right hand, and it is one-and-done when Cutelaba kicks him off. Erslan lowers himself back to top control, and Cutelaba is flat on his back not entirely sure which way to lean. Cutelaba briefly considers a kimura, and Erslan sees it coming a mile away and wrenches his arm out. Cutelaba looks for an omoplata shoulder lock, which he uses to get enough leverage to work his way to his feet. Erslan controls Cutelaba from behind, dragging the Moldovan to his seat against the fencing to further nullify him. Erslan is warned for hooking his fingers inside of Cutelaba’s gloves, and Erslan lets go and starts slugging Cutelaba in the chops. Cutelaba stands up, and Erslan tries to muscle him back down. Cutelaba turns him around and imposes his weight to attempt to wrench Erslan to the mat, dropping low for a double and tossing the newcomer to the floor. Time runs out, and these two have surprisingly left it in the hands of the judges.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Ivan Erslan via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Ivan Erslan but does not bet on him. He notes that Cuțelaba is feast or famine and can be knocked out, but Erslan has holes in his grappling defense. If Cuțelaba wrestles early, he can win, but if he stands, he'll likely get knocked out. Angelo is not betting on a UFC newcomer with grappling issues.
Big Brady picks Ivan Erslan by first-round knockout, citing Cuțelaba's tendency to find ways to lose and his poor cardio. He notes Erslan has power and good takedown defense, and if he stuffs takedowns, he could knock out Cuțelaba early. He expects the fight to end in the first round.
Cody picks Erslan as a slight underdog, noting Cuțelaba's inconsistency and poor fight IQ. He believes Erslan has better striking and takedown defense, and can keep the fight standing. However, he acknowledges Cuțelaba's power and explosiveness make this a 50/50 fight, and he's not confident.
Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Cuțelaba is a 'five-tool loser' who has lost every way possible. He notes that Erslan is a back-foot counter striker who may struggle if Cuțelaba doesn't come forward, but ultimately Cuțelaba's tendency to lose makes Erslan the pick.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ivan Erslan to win. He thinks Erslan is a technical striker with good power, speed, and durability, and that he can recover from being dropped. He believes Cuțelaba will gas out or make mistakes, and Erslan will catch him. He notes Erslan's takedown defense looks solid and that Cuțelaba is not at a good camp.
JP picks Ivan Erslan because he doesn't trust Ion Cuțelaba, who is inconsistent and has low fight IQ. He notes Cuțelaba lost to Ryan Spann and Johnny Walker, whom he considers low-IQ fighters. He thinks Erslan has power and is more calculated, and calls it a coin flip but sides with the dog.
Paul leans towards Erslan, citing Cuțelaba's poor takedown accuracy and tendency to gas. He notes that Erslan has good takedown defense and power, but the fight is volatile. He doesn't plan to bet heavily but takes the slight dog.
The MMA Guru picks Ivan Erslan over Ion Cuțelaba, noting Erslan's well-roundedness and experience against good competition. He believes Cuțelaba's reign over lower-level opponents will end. He predicts a second-round TKO for Erslan.
Zane thinks Erslan is a capable, big, powerful athlete who fits the UFC light heavyweight baseline. He notes that Cuțelaba finds ways to lose and has a poor record, while Erslan has a whole host of first-round knockouts. Zane believes Erslan will probably beat Cuțelaba, though he has some long-term concerns about Erslan's style.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philipe Lins | 0 | 47 of 97 | 48% | 119 of 171 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 67 of 115 | 58% | 73 of 121 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 5:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philipe Lins | 0 | 23 of 42 | 54% | 24 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 33 of 50 | 66% | 34 of 51 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 | |
| 2 | Philipe Lins | 0 | 13 of 20 | 65% | 27 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 19 of 29 | 65% | 22 of 32 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:26 | |
| 3 | Philipe Lins | 0 | 11 of 35 | 31% | 68 of 93 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 15 of 36 | 41% | 17 of 38 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:46 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philipe Lins | 47 of 97 | 48% | 33 of 82 | 9 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 42 of 90 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 67 of 115 | 58% | 37 of 82 | 7 of 9 | 23 of 24 | 57 of 100 | 5 of 8 | 5 of 7 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philipe Lins | 23 of 42 | 54% | 14 of 32 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 22 of 39 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 33 of 50 | 66% | 16 of 31 | 3 of 4 | 14 of 15 | 32 of 47 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Philipe Lins | 13 of 20 | 65% | 8 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 19 of 29 | 65% | 11 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 7 | 13 of 21 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 | |
| 3 | Philipe Lins | 11 of 35 | 31% | 11 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 15 of 36 | 41% | 10 of 30 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cutelaba (-135), Lins (+114)
Round 1
At long last, we will finally see the oft-delayed light heavyweight showdown between Cutelaba (17-9-1, 1 NC; 6-8-1 UFC) and Lins (17-5, 3-2 UFC). This fight was initially slated for an October 2023 event, and a fight night medical scratch for Lins delayed it until now. Both men sharing their preferred method of victory of the knockout, referee Mike Beltran may have his hands full until it is all over. The two have to be separated when Cutelaba walks right in front of his opponent during the introductions, and they do not touch gloves when completed. Lins strikes first with a low kick, and Cutelaba answers immediately with the same blow. Lins goes low, and Cutelaba tries to catch it and go over the top with a right hand. Lins slides back in the nick of time, and he connects with a heavy calf kick that Cutelaba does not like. Cutelaba gives him a lighter kick back to the same target, and he intercepts an advancing Lins with a jab. Lins comes out swinging, and he ends a combination with a low kick that gets checked. Cutelaba turns his hips into a leg kick, and Lins throws one back as Cutelaba reaches for it. Lins hops in, lands a straight left, and gets out of harm’s way before the counter lands. Lins lands a hard calf kick, and Cutelaba swings heavy punches him that bounce the Brazilian off the cage. Lins ricochets off and chambers to fire a low kick, and he buckles Cutelaba’s leg for a second. Cutelaba shakes it off and winds up with a right hand, and he blasts Lins in the face and sends him flying to his seat. Lins pops back up, no worse for wear, and he throws a leg kick. Cutelaba checks it and grins, and he reaches out with an overhand right. Cutelaba preemptively lifts his leg ahead of time to prevent a kick from landing, and this allow Lins to pops him with a right hand over the top. Lins then goes low with a heavy leg kick, and he shoots in for a single. Cutelaba hops back to the wall, elbows Lins in the face and drags his leg back down. Lins backpedals and lets go with a head kick, and Cutelaba charges him and busts him in the chops with an elbow. Lins scores a leg kick, draws a wobble, and fires off a one-two that gets Cutelaba’s attention. Cutelaba bites down on his mouthpiece and starts trading heavy leather, cracking “Monstro,” and Lins throws back hard. Cutelaba gets rocked as they keep throwing, and Lins shoots for a takedown that ultimately fails. Cutelaba lashes out with an elbow that cuts the Brazilian on the cheek, and he wades into a brawl and slugs it out with his opponent. Lins backs off, scores a low kick, and the tense round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lins
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lins
Round 2
Lins opens up in the second round to throw a low kick at the compromised lead leg of his opponent. Lins motions that he has done some damage to his foe’s leg, and he throws another that takes Cutelaba’s balance away. Cutelaba changes stances and is hurt badly from the kicks, and it is swelled and damaged. Cutelaba blitzes, walking through a low kick so he can throw hands, and he ignores another kick so he can engage in a brawl. Lins shrugs off a back fist and scores another devastating leg kick, and Cutelaba is tough as nails as his calf has swelled up on multiple places. Cutelaba overswings, and Lins ducks and circles around to take his back standing so he can take the fight down. Cutelaba keeps on his feet, and they spin around in the clinch until Lins trips his man up and falls on top of him. Lins lands in half guard, and he smothers his opponent without getting any ground-and-pound off. The crowd rains down boos as Lins holds on from on top, and Cutelaba hangs on to force a standup. Cutelaba pushes off and Lins stands up, and they start talking to one another. Lins lowers himself down, and he leans back before taking an upkick on the chin. Lins leaps down and hammers his man with standing-to-ground punches, and Cutelaba explodes through to get back to his feet and put his back to the fence. Lins attempts another takedown, and Cutelaba shuts it down. Cutelaba squirrels away with 30 seconds left in the round, and he plods forward and shoots in right after absorbing a low kick. Lins shucks it off, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lins
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lins
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lins
Round 3
The two are so excited to fight, they have to get ushered back to their corners by Beltran before he clocks them in. When they commence, Cutelaba pushes forward, and he checks a low kick and limps forward. Lins winds up with a left hand, and Cutelaba’s aggression makes Lins trip up. Cutelaba swarms forward, and he opens himself up to a takedown by swinging for the bleachers. Lins takes him down, and holds him there for a few seconds. Cutelaba muscles his way up, only to get dragged down with a mat return. Cutelaba attempts a kimura to sweep, but this only allows Lins to turn the corner and take his back. Cutelaba goes for another double wrist lock to force his way back to his feet, and he succeeds with his back to the wall. Lins presses heavily on his man against the cage, and Cutelaba pushes off and swings hard but misses the mark. Lins strafes to the side, trying to get away as he sucks wind. Cutelaba charges at him, ignoring jabs so he can throw bombs. Lins shoots for a single and is stood up, and Cutelaba hacks down with an elbow on the back of the head. Beltran immediately calls time and very sternly warns Cutelaba for the blatant foul. Beltran resets them in the center of the cage rather than putting them back in the clinch where Lins was. Cutelaba thanks him for this by rushing forward to throw hands, and he catches Lins with a right hand but cannot hurt him enough before Lins shoots. Lins knees him in the body, and he hangs on to run the clock out. Lins softens him up with knees from both sides, and he shoots in for a double. Cutelaba sprawls his hips to stop the takedown, and he bops Lins with short right hands until Beltran splits them up at the 40-second mark. Cutelaba plods forward while Lins runs away, and he throws two punches and eats a right hand. Cutelaba screams at Lins, and he wings punches that Lins can avoid. Lins knocks Cutelaba back with a left hook, and he gets bounced off the wall with a counter. The fight ends, and it could be a close one where a 30-27 tally might not illustrate just how evenly matched it was.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lins (29-28 Lins)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Lins (30-27 Lins)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Lins (30-27 Lins)
The Official Result
Philipe Lins def. Ion Cutelaba via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo rolls the dice on Ion Cuțelaba, noting his dangerous grappling and power, despite his questionable chin. He thinks Cuțelaba can win because Lins hasn't faced good takedown artists. He warns Cuțelaba gets finished often but says his losses are to quality opponents. He won't bet on this fight due to Cuțelaba's chinny nature.
Big Brady picks Philipe Lins to win by decision, but is not confident. He calls the fight a 'dog or pass' because he doesn't trust either fighter. He notes that Cuțelaba has only 5 minutes of gas and tends to fade, while Lins has shown he can go 15 minutes. He expects a chaotic fight but thinks Lins can win a greasy decision.
Cody thinks Cuțelaba is explosive but has terrible cardio and often fades after the first round. He believes Lins is durable and can survive the initial onslaught, then take over as the fight goes on. However, he notes Lins has a history of pulling out of fights, which makes him hard to trust.
Daniel flips a coin and picks Cuțelaba. He notes Cuțelaba is dangerous early but can gas out, while Lins has been knocked out before but looked good at 205. He has very low confidence and says he could see it going either way.
Lins has been on a three-fight winning streak since moving down to light heavyweight, showing good power and the ability to mix in the clinch and wear on opponents. Cuțelaba relies on early knockouts but tends to gas out and become vulnerable if he doesn't get the finish. Lins is more skilled overall and should be able to roll with Cuțelaba's big shots, then grind on him in the clinch and slow him down. I expect Lins to showcase a full MMA arsenal and pick up a decision victory. The plus money is a good value.
Paul agrees that Cuțelaba is a one-round fighter and that Lins can weather the storm. He also notes Lins' durability and ability to go the distance, but he is concerned about Lins' frequent withdrawals from fights.
The MMA Guru picks Ion Cuțelaba, acknowledging his inconsistency but highlighting his physical freak athleticism and moments of brilliance. He believes Philipe Lins lacks the athleticism and power to punish Cuțelaba's mistakes, and that Cuțelaba will get his own way and finish early. He notes Cuțelaba's losses came against strong, athletic fighters like Nikita Krylov and Johnny Walker, which Lins is not.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 5 of 16 | 31% | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tanner Boser | 0 | 30 of 40 | 75% | 30 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 5 of 16 | 31% | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Tanner Boser | 0 | 30 of 40 | 75% | 30 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 5 of 16 | 31% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tanner Boser | 30 of 40 | 75% | 27 of 36 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 16 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 5 of 16 | 31% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Tanner Boser | 30 of 40 | 75% | 27 of 36 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 16 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cutelaba (-130), Boser (+110)
Round 1
While there are no heavyweight matches littering the lineup tonight, this next fight may seem like the closest of any. Two men with their backs against the proverbial wall come to blows, when ex-heavyweight Boser (20-9-1, 4-4 UFC) makes his move down in weight having dropped three of his last four. Cutelaba (16-9-1, 1 NC; 5-8-1 UFC) sports the same unsuccessful record the last couple years, so they are both in dire need of a win. Watching out for any nonsense or an errant blow will be referee Keith Peterson, as this potential mad dash begins with a glove touch. The first 30 seconds go by without a strike, and as soon as the crowd turns on them, they surge into action. Both men throw bombs, and Boser gets knocked back and bounces off the cage. Cutelaba flicks out front kicks as Boser backpedals, and the Canadian sticks out a jab to avoid a huge overhand right.
Cutelaba launches a missile of a right hand that collides square on the jaw of the ex-heavyweight, and Boser is on rubber legs and in big trouble as he falls to his knee up against the wall. With sheer force of will, Cutelaba charges in and angrily hurls Boser down on the mat, where he begins to unload his right fist repeatedly with Boser on his knees. Cutelaba continues pounding on the exposed face of Boser, and Boser tries to stand but is wobbled and his head is getting knocked around like a heavy bag.
“The Hulk” keeps on smashing Boser’s noggin until Peterson calls a stop to the fight, with Boser not defending himself or improving his position. This is a huge win for Cutelaba, who ends a long losing streak to get back in the win column in a big way.
The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Tanner Boser R1 2:05 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Tanner Boser as an underdog, noting the line has flipped from Boser being a favorite to an underdog. He believes Boser has all the power, chin, and athleticism to win, especially at light heavyweight where he looks in great shape. He notes Cuțelaba has no chin and gets finished in losses. He has a quarter-unit bet on Boser at +105 and may add more.
Big Brady picks Ion Cuțelaba to win by first-round TKO via ground and pound. He notes Cuțelaba's excellent first-round wrestling and Boser's terrible takedown defense and ground game. However, he warns that Cuțelaba has only one round of gas, so if it goes past the first, Boser could win. He suggests a live bet on Boser if the fight leaves the first round.
Cody is tentative, wanting to see Boser's weigh-in at 205. He thinks Cuțelaba's wrestling should be effective early, but Boser's cardio and size could be factors. He picks Cuțelaba for now but could switch.
Connor also picks Boser but with hesitation, agreeing that Cuțelaba's erratic style and poor fight IQ make him prone to losing. He notes that Boser's consistent, unimaginative approach may be enough to outlast Cuțelaba's wild aggression. However, Connor warns that dropping to light heavyweight could be a terrible idea for Boser, as the speed of the division may expose him to shots he didn't see at heavyweight.
Cuțelaba's wrestling background should be the key against Boser, who has grappling deficiencies. Boser is moving to light heavyweight but still has issues with takedown defense. Cuțelaba is desperate for a win and may revert to his wrestling. However, his confidence and game plan are uncertain after three straight losses. Expect a grinding decision if he uses his wrestling.
Paul notes Boser has made 205 before and has good striking and cardio. He thinks Cuțelaba will win the first round but gas, allowing Boser to take over. He likes Boser as a live underdog and picks him outright.
The MMA Guru picks Tanner Boser to win, possibly by finish, as he drops to light heavyweight. He believes Boser's improved physique, footwork, and boxing will overwhelm Cuțelaba, who is on a three-fight losing streak and may be mentally fragile. He notes Cuțelaba's wrestling and durability but thinks Boser's pressure and striking will be too much.
Zane picks Boser hesitantly, citing Cuțelaba's tendency to self-destruct and Boser's consistency. He notes that Cuțelaba has become overly reliant on takedowns and burns energy, while Boser is durable and methodical. However, Zane expresses concern about Boser dropping to light heavyweight, as the speed and athleticism of the division may negate his durability advantage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 1 | 24 of 42 | 57% | 24 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:14 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 9 of 26 | 34% | 30 of 57 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:32 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 26 of 37 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:32 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 1 | 22 of 36 | 61% | 22 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 4 of 20 | 20% | 4 of 20 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Nzechukwu | 24 of 42 | 57% | 22 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 10 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 9 of 26 | 34% | 7 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 5 of 6 | 83% | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Kennedy Nzechukwu | 22 of 36 | 61% | 20 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 10 |
| Ion Cuțelaba | 4 of 20 | 20% | 3 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nzechukwu (-175), Cutelaba (+150)
Round 1
Do not adjust your set, we have reached the main event of the evening. This three-round light heavyweight affair is the new marquee matchup, if you have not been following the news today thus far. With knockout rates of 70% or higher, they very well might not need those 15 minutes, and referee Keith Peterson is on high alert and prepared to dispose of any nonsense that rears its ugly head. Nzechukwu (10-3, 4-3 UFC) looks to put two wins together after his demolition of Karl Roberson in July, while Cutelaba (16-8-1, 1 NC; 5-7-1 UFC) is gunning to get back in the win column. This almost certainly ultraviolent affair begins with a touch of gloves as these two are thrilled to be here, and it’s on with the makeshift headliner. Nzechukwu begins with a jab and a one-two, and he trips up Cutelaba in an odd exchange. Cutelaba unloads with three punches that appear to hurt Nzechukwu, and he suddenly grabs a takedown even though his right hand stung the Fortis MMA fighter. Cutelaba elevates and drops Nzechukwu to his knees, and Nzechukwu climbs back up to absorb several crisp uppercuts. Nzechukwu breaks the grip around his waist and blocks a high knee just in the nick of time. Cutelaba secures a trip, and Nzechukwu nearly grabs the top of the cage to stop it from succeeding. “The Hulk” falls straight into full mount, and he drops down a few punches until Nzechukwu drags him back to half guard. The defensive grappling of Nzechukwu allows him to bring Cutelaba back to the guard, and he kicks off and fights to his feet. Cutelaba grabs him from behind and considers lifting and slamming Nzechukwu again, but that does not succeed on a second attempt. Cutelaba hits a throw and lands in scarf hold position, and he isolates Nzechukwu’s arm while slamming his left hand into Nzechukwu’s face. Cutelaba cannot get the armlock, and Nzechukwu does enough to fight out of the position and stand back up. Cutelaba defends with a standing kimura effort, in which he plans on taking the fight back down to the mat again. Cutelaba stomps the toes several times with his heel, doing so until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 2
Fists are bumped to commence Round 2, and the strikes come fast and furious from both fighters. Nzechukwu reaches with a left hand, and Cutelaba loads up on power punches. Cutelaba rushes forward for a takedown, and Nzechukwu times a perfect knee that busts into Cutelaba’s chin. Cutelaba eats it like a platter of friptura and somehow is not completely out from the devastating blow. Nzechukwu looks hammer the nail, but Cutelaba works his way back up to his feet and swings for the fences. As they wildly continue striking, a foot from Cutelaba comes up and smacks into the cup. Nzechukwu bellows but takes a couple seconds before Peterson can even pause the fight to wave him off and say he wants to continue fighting. Cutelaba strikes, and
Nzechukwu lashes back with a flying knee that cracks the Moldovan’s chin. When Nzechukwu plants both feet on the ground, he shoves Cutelaba back, and Cutelaba is in big trouble as his legs go splayed like a baby deer on a frozen pond. Nzechukwu loads up and smashes “The Hulk” with several punches, punctuated by a ruthless uppercut that practically separates Cutelaba from his senses. While Nzechukwu beats on him, Cutelaba reaches one knee while leaned up against the fence, but the assault is not slowing. “African Savage” swings his fists like wrecking balls, and the damage is insurmountable as Peterson intervenes to rescue Cutelaba from any further harm.
That is one more comeback victory for Nzechukwu, who woke up this morning and chose violence, earning what should register as the biggest win of his career. The man who can unleash great vengeance and furious anger is soft-spoken on the microphone, giving his love to his mother suffering from illness and praising his training partners and team for the end result. That’s it. There are no more fights tonight after this one. With luck, Derrick Lewis will recover from his illness soon and get back to action. The UFC takes next week off for Thanksgiving, and it will return in Orlando in December. We will be here for it, and we hope you are too.
The Official Result
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cutelaba R2 1:02 via TKO (Flying Knee and Punches)
Ivan Erslan - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuco Tokkos | 0 | 54 of 123 | 43% | 57 of 126 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:09 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 37 of 66 | 56% | 118 of 166 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 8:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuco Tokkos | 0 | 40 of 84 | 47% | 42 of 86 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:09 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 25 of 40 | 62% | 42 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:05 | |
| 2 | Tuco Tokkos | 0 | 10 of 25 | 40% | 11 of 26 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 37 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:25 | |
| 3 | Tuco Tokkos | 0 | 4 of 14 | 28% | 4 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 5 of 6 | 83% | 39 of 53 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuco Tokkos | 54 of 123 | 43% | 40 of 100 | 8 of 16 | 6 of 7 | 52 of 120 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 37 of 66 | 56% | 35 of 64 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 28 of 52 | 4 of 6 | 5 of 8 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuco Tokkos | 40 of 84 | 47% | 30 of 72 | 5 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 39 of 83 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 25 of 40 | 62% | 24 of 39 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 20 of 32 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Tuco Tokkos | 10 of 25 | 40% | 8 of 21 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 7 of 20 | 35% | 6 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 | |
| 3 | Tuco Tokkos | 4 of 14 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 5 of 6 | 83% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Angelo picks Tuco Tokkos, noting he expected Tuco to be the favorite. He believes Tuco can take a beating and get the fight to the ground, where he has an advantage. He views Ivan Erslan as KO or bust and doubts Erslan gets the KO, leading to a loss. He bet on Tuco at +165.
Big Brady leans toward Ivan Erslan, believing his boxing and power will be too much for Tuco Tokkos. He expects Erslan to stuff takedowns and land a first-round knockout, as Tokkos has shown poor striking defense and durability.
Cody is confident in Ivan Erslan, despite his 0-3 UFC record. He notes that Erslan has good get-up abilities, a decent gas tank, and durability, which are kryptonite to Tuco Tokkos's grinding style. Tokkos relies on takedowns but has poor top control and gasses. Cody expects Erslan to survive early takedowns, return to his feet, and eventually hurt Tokkos for a TKO in the later rounds.
Connor picks Tokkos, agreeing with Zane. He notes that Erslan is undercooked and not durable, while Tokkos is a decent fighter who can wrestle. He emphasizes that Erslan's only finishes are early, and if he doesn't finish quickly, he loses.
Lucrative James picks Ivan Erslan to win by knockout, believing Erslan is a level above Tokkos on the feet. He notes Erslan's better boxing and Tokkos's grappling is not high-level. He predicts Erslan will maintain his UFC roster spot with an inside-the-distance finish.
The host picks Ivan Erslan over Tuco Tokkos, expecting Erslan's power and improved grappling defense to allow him to pick apart Tokkos and find a finish within two and a half rounds.
The host respects Erslan's power and believes his defensive grappling is good enough to avoid Tokkos' submissions, leading to a knockout win. However, he is hesitant to bet Erslan at -200 due to his recent submission loss and the risk of Tokkos catching him. He prefers the under 2.5 rounds.
Paul does not make a clear pick for this fight, as he discusses the odds and the difficulty of betting on Ivan Erslan at -160. He mentions that Erslan is 0-3 in the UFC and has been finished, but also notes that Tokkos has cardio issues. He does not express a strong opinion.
Zane picks Tokkos because Erslan is bad and has only won one fight outside the first two minutes; almost all his finishes are sub-one-minute. Tokkos is not athletic but can wrestle and grapple, and Erslan was immediately outgrappled by Jimmy Crute. Zane expects Tokkos to wrestle and grapple Erslan.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Crute | 0 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 12 of 16 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 2:08 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 10 of 14 | 71% | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Crute | 0 | 12 of 16 | 75% | 12 of 16 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 1 | 2:08 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 10 of 14 | 71% | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Crute | 12 of 16 | 75% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 | 9 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Ivan Erslan | 10 of 14 | 71% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Crute | 12 of 16 | 75% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 | 9 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Ivan Erslan | 10 of 14 | 71% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Jimmy Crute over Ivan Erslan, believing Crute is the better fighter everywhere except one-punch knockout power. He notes Crute's wrestling and submissions, and that Erslan is knockout-or-bust. He is surprised by the line tightening and attributes it to Crute's mullet, not his skills. He may bet on Crute if the line continues to collapse.
Big Brady picks Ivan Erslan to win by first-round KO. He criticizes Crute's poor striking defense and worries about his chin. He notes Erslan has solid power and striking, and if Crute refuses to grapple, Erslan can knock him out. He acknowledges Crute could get a submission if he gets top position.
Cody picks Crute but acknowledges his inconsistency and durability issues. He believes Crute's wrestling and jiu-jitsu are good enough to take down Erslan, who is rudimentary and low-output. He worries about Crute's chin and tendency to tire, but thinks Erslan won't push a pace to exploit that.
Connor picks Crute on the slim hope that his submission grappling will be the difference if the fight goes past the first round. He acknowledges that both fighters are first-round specialists, but Crute has a more complete game with submission wins. Connor is hesitant because Crute's cardio and tendency to fall apart are major concerns, but he thinks Crute's grappling could catch Erslan off guard.
James picks Ivan Erslan as an underdog, citing Crute's tendency to fade after round one and Erslan's superior cardio and boxing. He notes Erslan has been competitive in his UFC losses and that the line was favorable at +200 when he bet. He believes Erslan can win by outworking Crute in later rounds.
James picks the underdog Ivan Erslan, believing he is the better boxer with superior cardio. He criticizes Jimmy Crute's recent performance, calling him overrated and noting his wrestling is overrated and his takedowns are poor. He also mentions Crute's mental health issues and past damage as concerns. James thinks Erslan can defend takedowns and outwork Crute on the feet, making him a live dog at +200.
The host notes Crute finally won after five years and thinks this is a perfect matchup for him to gain momentum. He expects Crute to use his reckless striking to set up a takedown and then snatch a submission.
The Guru picks Jimmy Crute, despite his past struggles, because he sees no talent in Ivan Erslan. He believes Crute's grappling will be the difference, allowing him to take Erslan down and secure a submission in round one or two.
Zane picks Erslan, believing that Erslan's ability to stay on his feet and throw punches later in the fight will be key. He notes that Crute tends to fall apart after the first round, often flopping to his back in desperation. Zane thinks Erslan is more likely to survive the early onslaught and then outwork Crute in the later rounds, as Crute's cardio and composure are questionable.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Stirling | 1 | 110 of 225 | 48% | 124 of 243 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 36 of 100 | 36% | 63 of 129 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:41 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navajo Stirling | 0 | 31 of 76 | 40% | 31 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Navajo Stirling | 0 | 19 of 40 | 47% | 27 of 51 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 11 of 34 | 32% | 27 of 50 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:41 | |
| 3 | Navajo Stirling | 1 | 60 of 109 | 55% | 66 of 116 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 13 of 36 | 36% | 24 of 49 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Stirling | 110 of 225 | 48% | 54 of 147 | 26 of 40 | 30 of 38 | 84 of 181 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 40 |
| Ivan Erslan | 36 of 100 | 36% | 28 of 90 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 36 of 100 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navajo Stirling | 31 of 76 | 40% | 2 of 31 | 11 of 20 | 18 of 25 | 31 of 76 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 12 of 30 | 40% | 11 of 29 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Navajo Stirling | 19 of 40 | 47% | 4 of 22 | 8 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 19 of 39 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 11 of 34 | 32% | 7 of 29 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Navajo Stirling | 60 of 109 | 55% | 48 of 94 | 7 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 34 of 66 | 3 of 3 | 23 of 40 |
| Ivan Erslan | 13 of 36 | 36% | 10 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Stirling (-298), Erslan (+240)
Round 1
A pair of strikers at 205 pounds will lead off the ESPN portion of the prelims, when unbeaten Kiwi Stirling (6-0, 1-0 UFC) runs into Croatian demolition man Erslan (14-4, 1 NC; 0-1 UFC). The two celebrate 14 knockouts across their 20 combined victories, and referee Erick Philippeaux is well aware that this could end with one crushing blow. Before they try to lop one another’s head off—figuratively, of course—they bump their large fists together. Stirling strikes first with a half-hearted low kick to find his distance, and Erslan comes out firing with two swiping punches that miss the mark. Stirling pitches out a few more kicks to the leg and body, and he aims one high but is out of range. Erslan catches him at the end of a right hand, and the Croatian backs off and surges forward with another pair of punches. Stirling comes up short on a spinning wheel kick, and he settles down and chips away with kicks from both legs. Erslan walks him down calmly, parrying a few punches to get one over the top. Stirling kicks his man in the ribs, and he has a trio of punches not land flush. Stirling does score another body kick, and he jabs and reaches with a lead hook. The body kick is the best weapon for the unbeaten fighter, who keeps Erslan at bay with his longer legs. Erslan whiffs on a big right hand, and Stirling hammers his front leg a few times as Erslan stands awkwardly on it. Erslan swings for the fences with a monster right hand, but it is his more measured hooks that connect. Sterling again cannot find a home for his spin kick, with Erslan in too close range to let it hit him. Erslan’s left hand opens a cut on the inside corner of Stirling’s eyebrow. Stirling goes to the body, and Erslan responds in kind. Stirling keeps chipping away with kicks, and Erslan’s right bicep start to welt up. Stirling jabs from afar a few times, and his leg kick scores more. Erslan pushes him away and backs to the wall, looking for his left hook but not finding it. They both swing hard, and Erslan connects with it better and backs his man off. Stirling kicks his man in the ribcage and has a low kick checked, and Erslan goes to the body and head with counters. Stirling kicks and bangs into the arm that is turning red in a hurry, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erslan
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Erslan
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Erslan
Round 2
Erslan rushes out of his corner to engage, and he stings his foe with a right hand but eats one back in response. Erslan suddenly shoots in for a double-leg takedown, and the fans in the building respond by booing loudly. Erslan manages to circle around to the back of his foe, but he cannot keep him there as Stirling turns him about. Stirling lifts Erslan’s leg up and drags him to the floor awkwardly, and it is Erslan who has to fight off the wrestling. Stirling hits a mat return, putting Erslan down lightly and smacking him with a free right hand. Erslan gets to a knee and hits a switch, and suddenly it is him again controlling the grappling. The Croatian fighter gets in a few knees to the side while holding on from the back, leaning heavily on Stirling against the cage. Stirling once more turns him around and this time breaks free, where Erslan quickly punches him square in the face. Stirling responds with body kicks, and he aims a few punches to the ribs for good measure. Erslan comes back over the top with a right hand, and then misses with two subsequent looping hooks. Erslan swings hard but is not able to find his target, and Stirling dances back and kicks him. Stirling shoots, and Erslan pushes him away and nails him with an overhand right. Erslan finds another on the same spot, and a third when Stirling tries to slide to the side. Erslan rips a few body shots and opens up a left hand to the chin, and he backs off when Stirling starts to kick at him. Stirling lunges but misses with a flurry, and he kicks the lead leg and backs off as the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Round 3
The fighters meet in the center of the cage, and Stirling leads off with slapping kicks to the front leg and side. Erslan looks to sway and avoid jabs, but Stirling still reaches him a few times. Erslan looks for an overhand right counter when the kick comes, and Stirling is wise to it and slides back in the nick of time. Erslan wraps a right hand around the guard as Stirling is ducking, and Stirling gathers himself and kicks a few more times to the lead leg. Erslan plods forward behind his overhand right, and he clips Stirling with one and does not care when Stirling hits him back. Erslan lands a right hand, and Stirling steps in with a knee to the body in a clinch. Stirling surprises Erslan with an uppercut, and he eats a counter but did far more damage with his own blow. Stirling fights behind his jab, and Erslan connects with an overhand right. Stirling crashes the pocket looking for a single, and he bullies the Croatian fighter to the fence. Stirling transitions to a double, and Erslan tosses him aside and catches him with a flush right hand. Stirling shakes it off and comes back at him, only to get tagged with another right up top. Stirling rails his opponent with a one-two that shakes Erslan to his core, who shoots in for a single out of desperation. Stirling stops the takedown attempt and smashes him in the face with an elbow. Erslan is loving this, and he raises his arms in to the air to call on more. Stirling obliges him with several more punches, and he knocks Erslan down to his face. Philippeaux allows things to play out even though Erslan face-planted, and Stirling punches his man in the back of the head and then leaps on top looking for the finish. He pushes Erslan to his back and starts bombarding him with punches, stepping into mount and trying to punch his man out. Time expires before Stirling gets the job done.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Stirling (29-27 Stirling)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Stirling (29-27 Stirling)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (29-28 Stirling)
The Official Result
Navajo Stirling def. Ivan Erslan via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Angelo picks Navajo Sterling but with caution, noting his grappling is not good (taken down three times in last fight) and he was a -1000 favorite who went to decision. He thinks this should be a striking-only matchup where Sterling is the better striker, but warns about betting on him. He criticizes the hype around Sterling and the 'Kiwi bias'.
Big Brady is confident in Navajo Stirling, citing his City Kickboxing background and superior striking. He expects the fight to stay on the feet, as Erslan doesn't wrestle much and Stirling has good takedown defense. He thinks Erslan is hittable and has poor cardio, and predicts Stirling will land a knockout in the second round.
The host sees this as a perfect matchup for Stirling, who he believes will be the more effective striker against the reckless Erslan. He expects Stirling to stuff Erslan's grappling attempts and land big shots for a knockout victory.
The MMA Guru picks Stirling, praising his composure, frame, and finishing potential. He thinks Erslan is dangerous but will be too aggressive, leaving openings for Stirling's counters. He predicts a first-round TKO, noting Stirling's development and ability to handle deep waters.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 45 of 120 | 37% | 80 of 161 | 3 of 12 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 39 of 69 | 56% | 63 of 101 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 5:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 18 of 72 | 25% | 22 of 77 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 24 of 39 | 61% | 25 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 24 of 43 | 55% | 44 of 66 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:07 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 17 of 31 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 1:26 | |
| 3 | Ion Cuțelaba | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 14 of 18 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Ivan Erslan | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 21 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ion Cuțelaba | 45 of 120 | 37% | 24 of 93 | 9 of 14 | 12 of 13 | 38 of 112 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
| Ivan Erslan | 39 of 69 | 56% | 29 of 59 | 7 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 33 of 61 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ion Cuțelaba | 18 of 72 | 25% | 9 of 57 | 5 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 14 of 68 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 24 of 39 | 61% | 21 of 36 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 21 of 35 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ion Cuțelaba | 24 of 43 | 55% | 13 of 32 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 7 | 21 of 39 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 |
| Ivan Erslan | 14 of 27 | 51% | 7 of 20 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ion Cuțelaba | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ivan Erslan | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
With four losses in his last five outings, “The Hulk” Cutelaba (17-10-1, 1 NC; 6-9-1, 1 NC UFC) has not been smashing much lately. Luckily for him, the UFC has given him a willing dance partner in KSW vet Erslan (14-3, 1 NC; 0-0 UFC), who has seen 10 of his last 11 appearances end inside the distance, win or lose. Before they go ballistic, the two hulking 205ers meet in the middle to share an incredibly intense face-to-face staredown as referee Herb Dean watches closely. There is no glove touch to be shared, as Cutelaba is energized and wants to inflict punishment of some sort. Cutelaba sweeps the leg early, and Erslan does not budge. Cutelaba splits the guard with a front kick, and Erslan sits down on a left hand counter. Cutelaba has a kick checked, and he lets go with two punches that bounce off the guard. Cutelaba lunges and whiffs with a right hand, but his front kicks to get through. Cutelaba overswings, and Erslan ducks under and pushes him to the wall. Cutelaba spins around and smashes Erslan in the face, and Erslan staggers away, regains his footing and shakes his head to signal he is fine. Cutelaba comes up short on a big head kick, and Erslan bets him to the punch with two counters. Cutelaba walks Erslan down and draws him into a brief slugfest, but Erslan is wise to it and does not want to get blasted. Erslan sneaks in an uppercut while Cutelaba blitzes, and he absorbs a low kick and a left hand before stopping a takedown shot. Cutelaba steps in with a body kick, and he whizzes past his target with a spinning back kick. Cutelaba bites down on his mouthpiece to throw hammers, but the head movement of the newcomer keeps him safe. Erslan keeps his guard up high, but the sheer horsepower of Cutelaba’s three punches knock Erslan across the cage and down to his seat. Cutelaba leisurely walks him down rather than sprinting, and instead lets Erslan stand so he can go after a single. Erslan stands, ignores a right hand to his temple and puts his back to the wall. Erslan gains a bit of space thanks to an elbow on the inside, and they reset. Erslan lashes out with a calf kick, and when he throws a second, Cutelaba is on him with a winging right hand. Cutelaba’s big right hooks come up short, and he gets stuck with a right straight. Erslan walks through a power punch to sling leather, and he gets his bell rung once more in a furious exchange. Cutelaba spins with a back fist that goes well wide, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 2
The light heavyweights lumber towards one another to start off the stanza, and they both measure one another with front kicks from afar. Cutelaba advances rapidly, and Erslan escapes out the side before getting struck. Erslan rolls with a punch, but Cutelaba is on him with three more and a takedown shot. Erslan shoves the Moldovan away, and Cutelaba takes a moment before lashing out with a low kick and a right hand. Cutelaba gets caught with a right hand and wobbles back, but then flashes a huge grin as he was playing possum and hoped to draw Erslan in. When Erslan does not engage, Cutelaba spins with a back kick that slams into his liver. Cutelaba jabs and swings hard behind it, and he clips the Polish fighter with a powerful left hook. Erslan does not like what he is getting, and he shoots in for a single but finds himself facing a wall in “The Hulk.” Cutelaba gives Erslan a taste of his own medicine, grabbing a single and kicking Erslan’s other leg out to put him down dramatically on the canvas. Cutelaba jumps around to take his back, wrapping a body triangle around his waist and hitting him with punches around the side of the head. Cutelaba briefly latches onto a rear-naked choke, and the newcomer fights out of it, breaks the body triangle and muscles back to his feet. Erslan tries to wrangle Cutelaba down to the floor, and when they hit 50/50 position, Cutelaba turns the tables and tosses Erslan effortlessly to the mat. Cutelaba climbs into full mount, and he takes Erslan’s back and slides off of it. Falling to his back, Cutelaba briefly considers a triangle choke, but Erslan keeps himself flat on top of his adversary to ride out the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cutelaba
Round 3
The heavy hitters have reached the third round—as many of the fights tonight have done so far—and it starts off gingerly as neither man wants to overcommit. Erslan walks the favorite down, and he swings for the fences with a monster right hand. Cutelaba counters him brilliantly with a right hand, only for Erslan to duck under a second blow and hit an easy takedown. Erslan gets dragged into the guard when assuming top position, but he finds himself struggling to mount any offense. Cutelaba either holds on tightly or pushes off Erslan enough to get space so that Erslan cannot reach him. When not pushed by Cutelaba’s legs, Erslan utilizes tight chest pressure, smothering rather than attacking. Erslan stands up and drills “The Hulk” with a huge right hand, and it is one-and-done when Cutelaba kicks him off. Erslan lowers himself back to top control, and Cutelaba is flat on his back not entirely sure which way to lean. Cutelaba briefly considers a kimura, and Erslan sees it coming a mile away and wrenches his arm out. Cutelaba looks for an omoplata shoulder lock, which he uses to get enough leverage to work his way to his feet. Erslan controls Cutelaba from behind, dragging the Moldovan to his seat against the fencing to further nullify him. Erslan is warned for hooking his fingers inside of Cutelaba’s gloves, and Erslan lets go and starts slugging Cutelaba in the chops. Cutelaba stands up, and Erslan tries to muscle him back down. Cutelaba turns him around and imposes his weight to attempt to wrench Erslan to the mat, dropping low for a double and tossing the newcomer to the floor. Time runs out, and these two have surprisingly left it in the hands of the judges.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Erslan (29-28 Cutelaba)
The Official Result
Ion Cutelaba def. Ivan Erslan via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Ivan Erslan but does not bet on him. He notes that Cuțelaba is feast or famine and can be knocked out, but Erslan has holes in his grappling defense. If Cuțelaba wrestles early, he can win, but if he stands, he'll likely get knocked out. Angelo is not betting on a UFC newcomer with grappling issues.
Big Brady picks Ivan Erslan by first-round knockout, citing Cuțelaba's tendency to find ways to lose and his poor cardio. He notes Erslan has power and good takedown defense, and if he stuffs takedowns, he could knock out Cuțelaba early. He expects the fight to end in the first round.
Cody picks Erslan as a slight underdog, noting Cuțelaba's inconsistency and poor fight IQ. He believes Erslan has better striking and takedown defense, and can keep the fight standing. However, he acknowledges Cuțelaba's power and explosiveness make this a 50/50 fight, and he's not confident.
Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Cuțelaba is a 'five-tool loser' who has lost every way possible. He notes that Erslan is a back-foot counter striker who may struggle if Cuțelaba doesn't come forward, but ultimately Cuțelaba's tendency to lose makes Erslan the pick.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ivan Erslan to win. He thinks Erslan is a technical striker with good power, speed, and durability, and that he can recover from being dropped. He believes Cuțelaba will gas out or make mistakes, and Erslan will catch him. He notes Erslan's takedown defense looks solid and that Cuțelaba is not at a good camp.
JP picks Ivan Erslan because he doesn't trust Ion Cuțelaba, who is inconsistent and has low fight IQ. He notes Cuțelaba lost to Ryan Spann and Johnny Walker, whom he considers low-IQ fighters. He thinks Erslan has power and is more calculated, and calls it a coin flip but sides with the dog.
Paul leans towards Erslan, citing Cuțelaba's poor takedown accuracy and tendency to gas. He notes that Erslan has good takedown defense and power, but the fight is volatile. He doesn't plan to bet heavily but takes the slight dog.
The MMA Guru picks Ivan Erslan over Ion Cuțelaba, noting Erslan's well-roundedness and experience against good competition. He believes Cuțelaba's reign over lower-level opponents will end. He predicts a second-round TKO for Erslan.
Zane thinks Erslan is a capable, big, powerful athlete who fits the UFC light heavyweight baseline. He notes that Cuțelaba finds ways to lose and has a poor record, while Erslan has a whole host of first-round knockouts. Zane believes Erslan will probably beat Cuțelaba, though he has some long-term concerns about Erslan's style.
Expert Picks (9)
Angelo picks Ivan Erslan but does not bet on him. He notes that Cuțelaba is feast or famine and can be knocked out, but Erslan has holes in his grappling defense. If Cuțelaba wrestles early, he can win, but if he stands, he'll likely get knocked out. Angelo is not betting on a UFC newcomer with grappling issues.
Big Brady picks Ivan Erslan by first-round knockout, citing Cuțelaba's tendency to find ways to lose and his poor cardio. He notes Erslan has power and good takedown defense, and if he stuffs takedowns, he could knock out Cuțelaba early. He expects the fight to end in the first round.
Cody picks Erslan as a slight underdog, noting Cuțelaba's inconsistency and poor fight IQ. He believes Erslan has better striking and takedown defense, and can keep the fight standing. However, he acknowledges Cuțelaba's power and explosiveness make this a 50/50 fight, and he's not confident.
Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Cuțelaba is a 'five-tool loser' who has lost every way possible. He notes that Erslan is a back-foot counter striker who may struggle if Cuțelaba doesn't come forward, but ultimately Cuțelaba's tendency to lose makes Erslan the pick.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ivan Erslan to win. He thinks Erslan is a technical striker with good power, speed, and durability, and that he can recover from being dropped. He believes Cuțelaba will gas out or make mistakes, and Erslan will catch him. He notes Erslan's takedown defense looks solid and that Cuțelaba is not at a good camp.
JP picks Ivan Erslan because he doesn't trust Ion Cuțelaba, who is inconsistent and has low fight IQ. He notes Cuțelaba lost to Ryan Spann and Johnny Walker, whom he considers low-IQ fighters. He thinks Erslan has power and is more calculated, and calls it a coin flip but sides with the dog.
Paul leans towards Erslan, citing Cuțelaba's poor takedown accuracy and tendency to gas. He notes that Erslan has good takedown defense and power, but the fight is volatile. He doesn't plan to bet heavily but takes the slight dog.
The MMA Guru picks Ivan Erslan over Ion Cuțelaba, noting Erslan's well-roundedness and experience against good competition. He believes Cuțelaba's reign over lower-level opponents will end. He predicts a second-round TKO for Erslan.
Zane thinks Erslan is a capable, big, powerful athlete who fits the UFC light heavyweight baseline. He notes that Cuțelaba finds ways to lose and has a poor record, while Erslan has a whole host of first-round knockouts. Zane believes Erslan will probably beat Cuțelaba, though he has some long-term concerns about Erslan's style.
Comments (1)
Ate a big punch from Ivan, Ion has some nice wrestling entries and he defended.
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