Navajo Stirling vs Ivan Erslan

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Navajo Stirling	1	63 of 119	52%	90 of 157	0 of 0	---	0	0	1:31
Bruno Lopes	0	28 of 63	44%	36 of 71	0 of 8	0%	0	0	1:00

Rd	Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Navajo Stirling	0	22 of 54	40%	23 of 57	0 of 0	---	0	0:08
Bruno Lopes	0	16 of 36	44%	23 of 43	0 of 4	0%	0	0:50
2	Navajo Stirling	1	41 of 65	63%	67 of 100	0 of 0	---	0	1:23
Bruno Lopes	0	12 of 27	44%	13 of 28	0 of 4	0%	0	0:10

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Navajo Stirling	63 of 119	52%	30 of 74	21 of 27	12 of 18	43 of 96	2 of 3	18 of 20
Bruno Lopes	28 of 63	44%	15 of 42	6 of 9	7 of 12	23 of 57	5 of 6	0 of 0

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Navajo Stirling	22 of 54	40%	5 of 28	13 of 17	4 of 9	21 of 53	1 of 1	0 of 0
Bruno Lopes	16 of 36	44%	9 of 25	3 of 5	4 of 6	12 of 31	4 of 5	0 of 0
2	Navajo Stirling	41 of 65	63%	25 of 46	8 of 10	8 of 9	22 of 43	1 of 2	18 of 20
Bruno Lopes	12 of 27	44%	6 of 17	3 of 4	3 of 6	11 of 26	1 of 1	0 of 0

Bruno Lopes vs. Navajo Stirling
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Stirling (-500); Lopes (+375)

Round 1
While the two light heavyweights about to hit the stage came into the promotion with high finish rates, neither man can seem to buy a stoppage since getting here. Stirling (8-0, 3-0 UFC) has earned three straight victories under the UFC banner, but they all came after 15 minutes of combat apiece. Standing across the cage from him will be Lopes (14-2, 1-1 UFC), who had only before gone to a decision twice prior to beating Magomed Gadzhiyasulov in his promotional debut last year—Dustin Jacoby punched him out a few months later. The third man in the Octagon will be referee Keith Peterson, who will keep nonsense to a minimum.
They do not touch gloves, as Stirling wants to start off with long, reaching kicks. Lopes chambers his own leg kick that lands with an audible thud, and he tries to offer another but does not put his hips into it. Stirling cannot say the same, slamming his shin into the Brazilian’s calf and welting it up already. They trade these kicks until Stirling mixes up one upstairs, and Lopes is wise to it and parries a jab that follows. They clash together with big swings, with Lopes landing a right hand on the outside. Lopes keeps working the lead leg, and he allows Stirling to come at him so he can lob a counter. Stirling pops Lopes in the chops with a clean left hand, and he pushes out a front kick that gets caught. When he retrieves his leg, he boots Lopes in the face with the other. Lopes catches that one too, and he tries to take the fight down. Stirling retains his balance, so Lopes elbows him in the face.
Lopes chooses to disengage, and he shoots for a double that Stirling sees coming. Stirling elbows him in the face to break off, and he slings a right hand that is ducked in the nick of time. Stirling bullies Lopes to the cage, finding him with his hard swings including a powerful one-two. Lopes ties him up to stop from getting punched in the face for a moment, and Stirling separates and resets. Lopes tries a spinning back elbow when Stirling advances, and he gets kicked in the guts and catches the kick. Stirling springs away to not get taken down, and he lobs a pair of right hands to the head and body. Lopes takes a left hand on the chin before circling, and he catches another kick but lets it go because he cannot do anything with it. Lopes tries to pursue a double, and when that fails, he spins with an elbow and gets kicked in the face. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirling

Round 2
Lopes strikes first to start off the round, and this results in both men smacking one another around with calf kicks. Stirling breaks the chain with one to the body, and he leans back as the Brazilian loops a left hand at him. Lopes is out of range, slugging at air while he takes body shots. Lopes counters a right hand up top when Stirling goes for a step-in knee, and he attempts a single-leg entry but lets the leg go and resets. Stirling advances, and he walks face-first into a right hand. Stirling chews up the front leg with his calf kicks, and he defends a single and leans against the cage. Lopes wraps an elbow over the top, and he goes for another and is kneed when they break up. As Lopes kicks the leg, Stirling jabs the body, and they clash together. Lopes goes to the well with a spin, but the elbow is out of range. Stirling drives him back with body shots, and he rifles a right hand up top that stings Lopes.
Lopes has to gather his thoughts as a left hand sets him down, and when he gets to his knees, Stirling punishes him with elbows to bowl him back over. Lopes sits up, and Stirling snatches up a guillotine choke, but this only allows Lopes to stand. Stirling knocks Lopes back down, and Lopes survives but is taking serious punishment. Stirling unleashes a flurry of punches but cannot put Lopes away, with Peterson watching on closely. Stirling holds on to the back of Lopes’ right ankle while busting Lopes in the face with his left hand, and he does not punch himself out but is slowly while Lopes’ face is increasingly bloody.
Stirling falls into a high mount, and he beats on the Brazilian with a nasty elbow and a prolonged barrage of punches and hammerfists. An elbow from the Kiwi further slashes Lopes’ face open, and blood sprays from the gash as Stirling drums the wounded man out with a few more punches. Peterson has no choice but to step in
, with Lopes’ visage quickly transforming into that of a horror movie. Not the artsy type either, but rather an 80s slasher where there is more blood than sense. Stirling walks off and shrugs to the camera as if he knew this was going to happen the whole time, and he is now a perfect 9-0 while registering his first stoppage as a UFC athlete.

The Official Result
Navajo Stirling def. Bruno Lopes R2 4:05 via TKO (Elbows and Punches)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 22, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Angelo picks Navajo Stirling despite previously being a vocal hater. He acknowledges Stirling's kickboxing skills, mobility, and takedown defense, and believes he is the better striker. He expects Stirling to avoid takedowns and win a straightforward decision, though he is not confident in a finish.

"Navajo Sterling should win this. He's going to be the pick, and I think it's a showcase fight."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Mar 23, 2026 (5 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Big Brady picks Navajo Stirling to win by second-round knockout. He notes that Bruno Lopes is very hittable and has a poor chin, having been knocked out by Heber and Dustin Jacoby. Stirling is a good kickboxer with elite volume, landing over six significant strikes per minute. Brady believes Stirling will touch Lopes up and finally get his first UFC knockout.

Stirling by KO round 2

"I think he knocks out Bruno Lopes. I just don't trust the chin at all of Bruno Lopes here."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Cody sees Stirling as a rising prospect with improving skills, while Lopes has been knocked out recently. He expects Stirling to win, possibly by KO.

"Navajo Sterling is the side for me."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Connor also picks Stirling, agreeing that Lopes is a front runner and that Stirling's wrestling and size will be enough. He notes that Stirling is still raw but has the tools to win.

"I'm happy with steps down lateral moves, prelim card fights."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Daniel expects Stirling to use his speed and length to outpoint Lopes, though he doubts a knockout. He notes Lopes's chin issues and confidence questions after a KO loss.

"I'm definitely going to pick him to win this fight so give me Nawaz Sterling to come out here and win another decision."

Half the Battle

Diary of a Pro Gambler Expert Confident picked Mar 28, 2026 (fight day)

Bruno Lopes

The host sees massive value on Lopes as a +471 underdog, giving him a 35-40% chance to win. He believes Lopes' relentless grappling and cardio can wear down Sterling, who has shown vulnerability to wrestling and fades in later rounds. Footage shows Sterling getting taken down and controlled by lesser grapplers, while Lopes commits fully to takedowns and has excellent chain wrestling. The host acknowledges Lopes is likely to lose but insists the odds are far too wide.

Also likes Lopes +3.5 fight spread and over 1.5 rounds as prop bets.

"These odds are crazy... I personally feel it's more than reasonable to give Lopez a 35 to 40% chance of winning this fight, which again gives you an absolutely massive margin of value over the bookies."

Diary of a Pro Gambler

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Mar 24, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

The host is high on Stirling's well-rounded game, noting his kickboxing background and improving grappling. He believes Stirling's defensive grappling will force Lopes to strike, where Stirling will pick him apart and eventually land a knockout. He references Lopes' recent knockout loss to Dustin Jacoby as evidence that Stirling can replicate that success.

knockout

"I'm going to go Navajo Sterling here. I'm going to go Sterling by knockout."

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 25, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Paul agrees, noting Stirling's development and Lopes' chin issues. He thinks Stirling will get the job done.

"I got Navajo Sterling, for sure."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Navajo Stirling

The MMA Guru picks Navajo Stirling, noting his size, reach, and undefeated record. He believes Stirling's striking combinations and takedown defense will be key. He mentions that Bruno Lopes has some grappling ability but thinks Stirling's athleticism and system will keep the fight standing. He predicts a finish in the second or third round by TKO.

TKO in round 2 or 3

"I think Navajo Sterling's going to win this fight in that combination in the pocket type of range."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 27, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Zane picks Stirling because Lopes is a front runner who gets run over when not in front, and Stirling has shown good defensive wrestling and ability to get up. He notes that Stirling is still developing but this is a good step-back fight.

"This is a really good booking to me. Like just low down on cards, give him guys about the level he's already fighting."

MMA Vivisection

WIN vs Rodolfo Bellato

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes · Sep 28, 2025

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Navajo Stirling	0	81 of 158	51%	101 of 193	1 of 4	25%	0	0	3:53
Rodolfo Bellato	0	43 of 89	48%	62 of 111	2 of 6	33%	0	0	2:23

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Navajo Stirling	37 of 62	59%	41 of 67	0 of 2	0%	0:58
1	Rodolfo Bellato	15 of 33	45%	20 of 38	0 of 0	---	0:40
2	Navajo Stirling	16 of 39	41%	31 of 68	1 of 1	100%	2:52
2	Rodolfo Bellato	6 of 19	31%	19 of 34	1 of 1	100%	0:19
3	Navajo Stirling	28 of 57	49%	29 of 58	0 of 1	0%	0:03
3	Rodolfo Bellato	22 of 37	59%	23 of 39	1 of 5	20%	1:24

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Navajo Stirling	81 of 158	51%	44 of 102	35 of 53	2 of 3	70 of 145	10 of 12	1 of 1
Rodolfo Bellato	43 of 89	48%	21 of 60	12 of 19	10 of 10	39 of 81	4 of 6	0 of 2

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Navajo Stirling	37 of 62	59%	21 of 37	15 of 23	1 of 2	32 of 56	5 of 6	0 of 0
1	Rodolfo Bellato	15 of 33	45%	4 of 17	5 of 10	6 of 6	13 of 30	2 of 3	0 of 0
2	Navajo Stirling	16 of 39	41%	11 of 29	5 of 10	0 of 0	12 of 34	3 of 4	1 of 1
2	Rodolfo Bellato	6 of 19	31%	5 of 17	1 of 2	0 of 0	6 of 17	0 of 0	0 of 2
3	Navajo Stirling	28 of 57	49%	12 of 36	15 of 20	1 of 1	26 of 55	2 of 2	0 of 0
3	Rodolfo Bellato	22 of 37	59%	12 of 26	6 of 7	4 of 4	20 of 34	2 of 3	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Navajo Stirling vs. Rodolfo Bellato
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Stirling (-240); Bellato (+200)

Round 1
Two light heavyweights who prefer the knockout will square off in the preliminary headliner. Stirling (7-0, 0-0 UFC) out of City Kickboxing has never tasted defeat, while Bellato (12-2-1, 1 NC; 1-0-1, 1 NC UFC) is unbeaten in the Octagon with a fairly unusual three-fight stretch in it. Referee Mike Beltran dons his proverbial hard hat ahead of what should be a striker’s delight, one that commences with no sight of a glove touch.
With Bellato coming at him, Stirling is prepped and ready with long push kicks and straight punches. Bellato swipes at him with a left hook, using it to close the distance between them and tie them up. Bellato stalls out the position in the clinch, getting off a knee or two but finding himself taking some solid elbows up close. The elbows from Stirling allow him to turn the tables and put Bellato’s back to the wall, where he starts beating on his foe with right hands. Stirling tries for a spinning elbow on the break, but it bounces off the shoulder. They trade heavy leg kicks, and it is Bellato who follows with a front kick. Stirling wings a right hand that skims the top of the head, and he plants a one-two down the pipe right after. The City Kickboxing prospect rips the body a few times with his fists, and then aims his kicks to the same spot.
Bellato unloads with power strikes, one of his winging kicks brushing the cup, and nothing happens other than Bellato getting close enough to clinch again. Stirling breaks out of it and resets, reaching a right hand behind the ear. Bellato checks a kick, but a liver kick that follows lands flush. Stirling stays committed to body work even with Bellato headhunting him, and his own offense reminds Bellato that he too can attack the midsection. A few punches to the torso from Bellato lead into a clinch, and like the previous times, Stirling frees himself. Two body shots lead to a pair upstairs, and Stirling opens up with power punches to all targets. Bellato counters with a powerful knee on the jaw, and Stirling reels and then comes back firing with more blows. Before punching himself out, Stirling calms himself down and engages a clinch on his own accord. Bellato sees an opening and spins with a back fist that just misses, and they both flail at one another until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling

Round 2
Bellato practically sprints out of his corner to engage, but it is Stirling who has the offense locked and loaded. In rapid succession, the Kiwi fires off a pair of head kicks, and he works the body and ducks when Bellato hurls a counter right hand his way. In a brief clinch, Stirling strings a knee into several power punches up top, and his forward pressure results in him considering a takedown. When Stirling goes for it, he wrenches the Brazilian off his feet and plops him down on the canvas. Landing in half guard, Stirling starts landing strikes, and Bellato complains about a foul he feels he sustained. Beltran tells him to fight on. Stirling slowly but effectively drops down a number of left hands, and Bellato defends himself by gripping hold of Stirling’s wrist.
Bellato recovers full guard, and his own few attacks off his back open up Stirling’s nose and start the blood flowing. Stirling stacks his opponent up to open the guard, and he winds up with a fierce elbow that slashes off the top of the dome. Bellato sits up and explodes to his feet, with Stirling still holding him tightly. Bellato knees the body to break free, and he aims a few more strikes to the midsection to give Stirling something to think about. Stirling, meanwhile, wipes his nose and unloads with massive power punches. Stirling backs off and jams the body with a few kicks, and Bellato loads up on a heavy right hand. Bellato rips a left to the body and a right to the head, and he dodges the Stirling offense and counters with a left up top. When Stirling sells out for a big strike, Bellato takes him to the floor. The tepid round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bellato
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Bellato
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Bellato

Round 3
The Brazilian wants to lead the dance, and he walks into a few long punches and ignores them to swing a left hand over the guard. Stirling goes to the body, and Bellato hurls a right hand at his melon. Stirling fakes a takedown, and Bellato does the same thing except he appears to want it after a brief odd clash. They both trade heavy punches, and Stirling gets the worst of it but is not compromised. Bellato takes a jabbing kick to the stomach, and jabs fly from both men. Stirling hunts for a takedown, and Bellato turns him about and rams him into the wall. The two separate, and Bellato keeps after his opponent with jabs and power punches to the ribs. A shot from Bellato follows the left to the body.
Bellato sells out for the takedown, trying several different means including a brief back take where he drags his man down using his own weight against him. “Trator” succeeds in getting Stirling down for a moment or two, but Stirling gets back up. Both men appear quite fatigued, so the action slows to little more than a prolonged, grueling clinch battle. Stirling spins to break, and Bellato awkwardly spins back and has his fist bump off the guard. Bellato shoots, and Stirling shuts it down and lets his hands go. Bellato spins again, eats a counter right hand and then takes a head kick. Stirling nails his foe with a right hand, and Bellato responds with jabs and a failed capoeira kick. The round comes to a close, and scores could be all over the map.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Bellato (29-28 Bellato)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (29-28 Stirling)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (29-28 Stirling)

The Official Result
Navajo Stirling def. Rodolfo Bellato via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Angelo picks Navajo Stirling, acknowledging the local hype but believing Stirling has a higher skill ceiling and has never quit. He notes that Rodolfo Bellato is decent but can be sloppy and has put on weird performances. However, he is not confident enough to bet at the current odds (around minus 300), as he hasn't seen elite takedown defense or power from Stirling.

"I'm going to pick Navajo Sterling. I think he has the higher ceiling as far as skill sets are concerned. I've never seen him quit and put on some [ __ ] weird performance. I've seen Ralpho do that. So, …"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Big Brady picks Navajo Stirling to win by second-round knockout. He praises Stirling's takedown defense, volume, and power, and criticizes Bellato's poor striking defense and tendency to eat punches. He believes Stirling will land a big shot and get his first UFC finish.

second round knockout

"I like Sterling here. I like Sterling to win this fight by knockout. I think he gets that first finish in the U."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2025 (5 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Cody picks Stirling, believing his striking is superior and he can knock out Bellato, who has poor durability. He acknowledges Bellato's wrestling could be a threat but thinks Stirling's length and improving takedown defense will allow him to get back up. He notes Stirling is young and improving, while Bellato is a glass cannon.

"I still feel like Sterling came over with just a kickboxing base. He's got very little experience. Only seven and0 as a pro now."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Lean picked Sep 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Rodolfo Bellato

Connor agrees with Zane, noting that Bellato is a steady, experienced fighter who can pressure and clinch for three rounds. He points out that Sterling has been struggling with lesser opponents and that Bellato's durability and consistency could be too much for the green prospect. He also mentions that Bellato can be caught cold early, but if he survives, he tends to warm up and get harder to hurt.

"I'll slide with you actually... Bellato if he's just going to go out there and be there and put together a physical fight on Sterling round after round, probably will get that chance."

MMA Vivisection

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 15, 2025 (13 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

James picks Navajo Sterling confidently, praising his striking pedigree from City Kickboxing and noting Bellato's poor UFC performances, including being badly hurt in multiple fights. He believes Sterling is a much better striker and will likely hurt Bellato, though he is unsure about the method—predicting a KO but acknowledging Bellato's toughness could lead to a decision.

knockout

"I'm picking Navajo Sterling in this one. I'm picking Navajo Sterling via KO in this one."

Lucrative MMA

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2025 (9 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

James confidently picks Navajo Stirling to win by KO, citing Bellato's poor striking defense and history of being knocked out. He believes Stirling's striking is superior and that he will finally get his first UFC knockout. He acknowledges bias as Stirling trains at City Kickboxing.

by KO

"I predict Navajo Sterling to get a KO in this fight."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

The host believes Stirling will pick apart Bellato with relative ease. He thinks even if Bellato tries to take the fight to the ground, Stirling's defenses are good enough to thwart that and then pick apart Bellato and win by knockout.

win by knockout

"I think Sterling will be able to pick apart Bellato with relative ease here. Even if Bellto looks to take this fight to the ground, I think Sterling's defenses are good enough to thwart that and then from there really …"

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

The Guru picks Navajo Stirling confidently, seeing him as a fundamentally sound striker with underrated grappling. He believes the UFC is feeding him Rodolfo Bellato as a favorable matchup, similar to the Goutierre experiment. He expects a dominant TKO win, possibly earning a $50k bonus.

TKO; 50k bonus

"I'm gonna go with Navajo Sterling. I think he's better, man."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Sep 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Rodolfo Bellato

Zane thinks Bellato's steady pressure and clinch work will be a tough test for the green Sterling. He notes that Sterling has struggled with basic pressure from lesser opponents, and Bellato's consistency could force Sterling to fight back. However, he acknowledges Sterling could catch Bellato early with a big shot.

Odds comment: lines should be very close; Sterling opened -155 now -235, Bellato opened +135 now +200

"I think this might be the point where he takes his first loss... Bellato is the picture of steadiness... I think he might be able to take the win off of Sterling."

MMA Vivisection

WIN vs Ivan Erslan

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena · May 10, 2025

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 %	Ctrl
1	Navajo Stirling	0	31 of 76	40%	31 of 76	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Ivan Erslan	0	12 of 30	40%	12 of 30	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Navajo Stirling	0	19 of 40	47%	27 of 51	2 of 3	66%	1:16
2	Ivan Erslan	0	11 of 34	32%	27 of 50	0 of 2	0%	1:41
3	Navajo Stirling	1	60 of 109	55%	66 of 116	1 of 2	50%	1:45
3	Ivan Erslan	0	13 of 36	36%	24 of 49	0 of 1	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Ivan Erslan vs. Navajo Stirling
BETTING 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 Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 4, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

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'.

"I'm still gonna pick him because this should be a striking only matchup and he's the better striker. But I would be very careful with your bets."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

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.

Stirling wins by knockout in round 2

"I'm going to take Navajo Sterling to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

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.

Wins by KO

"I think this is a perfect match up for the youngster Sterling to counter and be the more effective striker here against Urslan who's just a little bit too reckless at times."

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

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.

first round TKO

"I'm actually going to go with Navajo Sterling by first round TKO."

THE MMA GURU

WIN vs Tuco Tokkos

Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) R3 5:00 · UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley · Dec 14, 2024

Totals

Fighter	KD	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Rev.	Ctrl
Navajo Stirling	0	78 of 155	50%	99 of 181	0 of 0	---	0	0	0:54
Tuco Tokkos	0	32 of 90	35%	34 of 93	3 of 9	33%	0	0	3:36

Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Ctrl
1	Navajo Stirling	21 of 57	36%	24 of 62	0 of 0	---	0:23
1	Tuco Tokkos	10 of 24	41%	10 of 24	0 of 2	0%	0:00
2	Navajo Stirling	22 of 35	62%	25 of 39	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Tuco Tokkos	10 of 35	28%	12 of 37	3 of 5	60%	2:29
3	Navajo Stirling	35 of 63	55%	50 of 80	0 of 0	---	0:31
3	Tuco Tokkos	12 of 31	38%	12 of 32	0 of 2	0%	1:07

Significant Strikes

Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
Navajo Stirling	78 of 155	50%	33 of 94	37 of 50	8 of 11	70 of 142	8 of 13	0 of 0
Tuco Tokkos	32 of 90	35%	18 of 70	5 of 5	9 of 15	28 of 80	4 of 10	0 of 0

Significant Strikes Per Round

Rd	Fighter	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Head	Body	Leg	Distance	Clinch	Ground
1	Navajo Stirling	21 of 57	36%	8 of 35	9 of 15	4 of 7	20 of 54	1 of 3	0 of 0
1	Tuco Tokkos	10 of 24	41%	3 of 14	3 of 3	4 of 7	9 of 22	1 of 2	0 of 0
2	Navajo Stirling	22 of 35	62%	8 of 19	12 of 14	2 of 2	17 of 28	5 of 7	0 of 0
2	Tuco Tokkos	10 of 35	28%	8 of 31	1 of 1	1 of 3	8 of 30	2 of 5	0 of 0
3	Navajo Stirling	35 of 63	55%	17 of 40	16 of 21	2 of 2	33 of 60	2 of 3	0 of 0
3	Tuco Tokkos	12 of 31	38%	7 of 25	1 of 1	4 of 5	11 of 28	1 of 3	0 of 0

Play-by-Play

View on Sherdog

Navajo Stirling vs. George Tokkos
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Stirling (-500), Tokkos (+380)

Round 1
The first main card fight will be overseen by Dan Miragliotta. Stirling takes the center. Tokkos eats a leg kick and struggles to get into striking distance. The two exchange leg kicks. Stirling works his jab and catches a body kick. Both men are staying patient. Stirling is more active with jabs and leg kicks. Tokkos eats a right hand and tries to charge forward but misses. Stirling hurts Tokkos with a front kick to the gut. A nice knee lands for Stirling. Tokkos is hurt and backing up into the fence. A thudding uppercut lands for Stirling, and Tokkos goes to the floor. Stirling lets his opponent up. Tokkos survives the round, but it looks like he has nothing for his opponent.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirling

Round 2
Tokkos is coming out aggressive to start the second round. Stirling working his jab well. Tokkos goes for a takedown attempt and grabs the back of his opponent while standing. Tokkos is able to ground Stirling but loses the position. Stirling lands a big knee that hurts Tokkos. Standing elbows land for Stirling, who is just leagues better on the feet than his opponent. Tokkos is eating body shots. Stirling gets pushed into the cage by Tokkos, who is looking for another takedown. Stirling is taken down but is able to get back up shortly afterward as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirling

Round 3
Tokkos eats a big left hook. Stirling is the fresher fighter. Tokkos goes for another takedown attempt and pushes Stirling into the cage. Tokkos is deep on a double-leg attempt but loses it. Stirling is now in control as they are clinched. Tokkos reverses but is eating elbows as he attempts to get a takedown. Fans are booing as this has been a dull round. They separate, and Stirling throws a head kick. Stirling is letting his kicks go. Stirling eats two slow leg kicks from Tokkos. A nice head kick from Stirling hurts Tokkos. Stirling hurts Tokkos with a kick to the body. Tokkos looks totally uninterested in fighting and then goes for a takedown as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (30-27 Stirling)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (30-27 Stirling)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Stirling (30-27 Stirling)

The Official Result
Navajo Stirling def. George Tokkos via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27); R3, 5:00.

Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked Dec 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Angelo picks Stirling because the striking gap is wider than the grappling gap, but he is very hesitant due to unknowns about Stirling's grappling. He notes Stirling is a former kickboxer with meaningful strikes and knees, while Tokkos is a grappler with no power. He strongly advises against betting on a 5-to-1 favorite with only five fights, calling it an unnecessary risk.

Do not bet on this fight.

"I'm going to pick Navajo here because the Striking Gap is going to be much wider than what I'm assuming the grappling Gap is but it's an assumption... don't bet on this damn fight."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Big Brady picks Navajo Stirling to win by second-round knockout. He is very confident, calling it a setup spot. He notes Stirling has a kickboxing background with great takedown defense, while Tokkos is hittable and chinny. He expects a vicious knockout.

"should be Sterling I do think he might you know take his time early on uh so I'm thinking of like a second round knockout for Navajo Sterling"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Cody picks Navajo Stirling, citing Tokkos's history of losing as a favorite and his lack of durability. He notes Stirling's striking skills from City Kickboxing and believes he will knock out Tokkos. Cody warns that the line is too high to include in parlays but sees Stirling as a clear winner.

"I got Sterling going out there knocking out Tuco toos."

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Connor agrees with Zane, predicting Stirling will be a ranked light heavyweight soon and potentially a title contender. He notes that Tokkos is not a threat and that Stirling's only potential issue is early jitters, but he expects a dominant performance.

"Navajo Sterling will almost certainly, barring some Johnnie Walker-like insanity, which I do not expect out of city kickboxing."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Daniel Vreeland picks Navajo Stirling to win by knockout, noting his massive reach (82.7 inches) and kickboxing background. He believes Tokkos is not UFC caliber and will be overwhelmed. Vreeland acknowledges the -800 odds are steep but expects a finish.

by knockout

"I'll go Sterling by knockout"

Half the Battle

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Lucrative James picks Navajo Stirling via knockout, citing his knowledge of Stirling's camp and belief that Stirling is a much better fighter. He admits he hasn't studied Tokkos much but is confident in Stirling's ability to win decisively.

"Sterling via knockout I think he's way better than this dude."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Tokkos is not considered a UFC-worthy competitor, and Stirling is expected to make that clear by finding a knockout within the first round.

wins by KO in round 1

"I do not believe tokos is a UFC worthy competitor and I believe Sterling will make that clear once again as he goes up there and finds a knockout within the first round"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Paul picks Navajo Stirling but prefers the prop 'fight doesn't go to decision' under 2.5 rounds. He notes both fighters have finishing ability and expects an early finish. Paul is not keen on the money line due to the high price.

Fight doesn't go to decision (under 2.5 rounds)

"I've just been taken the fight doesn't go to decision under two and a half rounds that's how i' like if I'm going to use a piece from this fight I'll use that instead."

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Dec 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

The MMA Guru picks Navajo Stirling, noting that he has never rated Tuco Tokkos as a prospect. He points to Tokkos' losses to Umar Nurmagomedov and Mingyang Zhang, as well as unimpressive wins on the regional scene. He acknowledges Stirling is not a top contender but believes he is good enough to beat someone like Tokkos. He calls it a logical pick.

"Navajo Sterling should win this fight I've never really rated Taco toos as a prospect"

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Dec 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Zane is very confident in Stirling, calling him the best light heavyweight prospect and noting his size, athleticism, and functional City Kickboxing style. He dismisses Tokkos as a can who was melted by Ming-Yang Zhang and brought in to be a stepping stone. Zane expects an annihilation.

"This is going to be an annihilation. This is a nonsense fight made to bring the best light heavyweight prospect in the world into the UFC."

MMA Vivisection

Ivan Erslan - Fight History

WIN vs Tuco Tokkos

DEC R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa · May 16, 2026

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Sub. Att	Ctrl
1	Tuco Tokkos	40 of 84	47%	42 of 86	0 of 3	0%	1	1:09
1	Ivan Erslan	25 of 40	62%	42 of 59	0 of 0	---	0	1:05
2	Tuco Tokkos	10 of 25	40%	11 of 26	0 of 2	0%	0	0:00
2	Ivan Erslan	7 of 20	35%	37 of 54	0 of 0	---	0	3:25
3	Tuco Tokkos	4 of 14	28%	4 of 14	0 of 1	0%	0	0:00
3	Ivan Erslan	5 of 6	83%	39 of 53	2 of 3	66%	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Tuco Tokkos

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.

"I think Tuco is gonna be able to get this fight to the ground. ... Ivon Urslon is KO or bust. I don't think he gets the KO. Therefore, he busts."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Lean picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

first round KO

"I'm leaning Erszlon by first round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

Suggests over 1.5 or over 2.5 takedowns for Tokkos, but prefers Erslan by TKO.

"I feel like Urslon's Yeah, maybe maybe has a bad first round. Maybe gets taken down a few times, but inevitably he's going to return to his feet, club him with something, hurt Toast, or doesn't hurt him, but takes …"

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Tuco Tokkos

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.

Same odds as Zane. Connor calls Erslan 'raw chicken' and 'undercooked'.

"I got to take Tuktokos because even with Tuktokos getting smoked, it is, it's, it's never inside a minute. And Yvonne Ersan has won exactly one fight outside of the first two minutes."

MMA Vivisection

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

win by KO

"Ivan Urselin is my prediction here and I'm actually going to say that he gets it done inside the distance via knockout."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

finish under 2.5 rounds

"I believe it's going to be Erslan's power and improved grappling defense that should help him pick apart Tokkos and eventually find the finish under two and a half rounds."

MMA Lock of the Night

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

under 2.5 rounds

"I think Urslan has better defensive grappling than Junior Taffa, albeit not by a lot. But I think that difference in defensive grappling will be enough for Urslan to get out of those bad spots from Tokos."

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)

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.

"I don't want to pay minus 180 on Ursland. Give me a break. He not good."

Bookie Beatdown

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)

Tuco Tokkos

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.

Odds: Tokkos opened +250, now +155; Erslan opened -300, now -180. Zane calls it a 'stupid fucking fight' and 'the height of meaninglessness'.

"So yeah, it's possible, but he also just went in there and got like immediately out grappled by Jimmy crude, which like Tuktokos is definitely going to wrestle and grapple him. Yeah. I got to take Tuktokos, but it's a …"

MMA Vivisection

LOSS vs Jimmy Crute

Submission R1 3:19 · UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes · Sep 28, 2025

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
1	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
1	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 Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2025 (7 days before fight)

Jimmy Crute

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.

May bet on Crute if line continues to tighten.

"Jimmy Croo should win this fight. I am actually surprised by the line tightening. Again, people see the haircut and they're like, 'Nah, dude. a grown man. A grown [ __ ] man. No, not doing that.' That is why …"

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

first round KO

"I'm going to take Erslon here. I'll say Erslon wins this fight by first round KO."

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Sep 23, 2025 (5 days before fight)

Jimmy Crute

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.

"I just think better everywhere. His wrestling is good enough that he should be able to take Urslon down"

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Jimmy Crute

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.

"I'll take Jimmy Crute. Why not on the slim thought that his submission grappling game will be the difference maker?"

MMA Vivisection

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2025 (9 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I'm actually picking the underdog here. I'm actually picking Ivan Urseland here."

Lucrative MMA

Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Sep 15, 2025 (13 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I'm actually going to pick the underdog in this fight, boys. Ivan Ursland is a live dog here."

Lucrative MMA

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Jimmy Crute

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.

win by submission

"Crude finally picking up a win in his first win in five years last time around and I think this is a perfect match up for him to start gaining some momentum. Look for him to utilize his reckless and …"

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 26, 2025 (2 days before fight)

Jimmy Crute

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.

submission in round 1 or 2

"I'm going to go Jimmy Crew."

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I think I'm gonna take Urslan. Sure, just take him away from me."

MMA Vivisection

MMA Vivisection podcast with Zane and Connor Expert 8 months, 1 week ago

**Pick:** Split (Zane picks Jimmy Crute, Connor picks Ivan Urslan) **Analysis:** This is a battle between two fighters who are primarily effective in the first round. Jimmy Crute has a history of getting tired, losing confidence, and mentally breaking down if a fight extends. Ivan Urslan is a nuts and bolts slugger who also hasn't won a fight past the first round since 2018. Zane's pick for Crute is based on the idea that if the fight becomes a sloppy wrestling match after the first round, Crute's submission grappling is the most dangerous skill either man possesses. Connor's pick for Urslan is a bet against Crute's infamous tendency to fall apart. **Props:** No specific props were mentioned.

Half the Battle Daniel Expert 8 months, 1 week ago

**Pick:** Jimmy Crute **Analysis:** While acknowledging Crute's cardio issues and shaky durability past the first round, his high-level BJJ is the key. Urslan's weakness on the ground is evident - he's been taken down and had his back taken in both of his UFC fights. Crute will get the fight to the mat early. **Props:** Crute by first-round submission. The 'Crute by Submission' prop at +265 is recommended over 'Crute in Round 1' as it offers the same odds but covers a submission in any round.

Bookie Beatdown Cody Expert 8 months, 1 week ago

**Pick:** Jimmy Crute **Analysis:** Although Crute has inconsistencies, cardio issues, and recent retirement, he's the more skilled fighter everywhere. Crute has a significant advantage in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Urslan is a rudimentary, low-output striker, which is unlikely to pressure Crute enough to cause him to gas out. **Props:** No specific props were mentioned.

brian 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Ivan in his two previous fights has ok people on the feet opting to wrestle. Rd1 he is dangerous hurting both opponents in previous two outings. He seems to be ok atwrestling defense ATT croatia but still can be taken down.

LOSS vs Navajo Stirling

Decision R3 5:00 · UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena · May 10, 2025

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 %	Ctrl
1	Navajo Stirling	0	31 of 76	40%	31 of 76	0 of 0	---	0:00
1	Ivan Erslan	0	12 of 30	40%	12 of 30	0 of 0	---	0:00
2	Navajo Stirling	0	19 of 40	47%	27 of 51	2 of 3	66%	1:16
2	Ivan Erslan	0	11 of 34	32%	27 of 50	0 of 2	0%	1:41
3	Navajo Stirling	1	60 of 109	55%	66 of 116	1 of 2	50%	1:45
3	Ivan Erslan	0	13 of 36	36%	24 of 49	0 of 1	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 4, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

"I'm still gonna pick him because this should be a striking only matchup and he's the better striker. But I would be very careful with your bets."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Stirling wins by knockout in round 2

"I'm going to take Navajo Sterling to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Wins by KO

"I think this is a perfect match up for the youngster Sterling to counter and be the more effective striker here against Urslan who's just a little bit too reckless at times."

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

first round TKO

"I'm actually going to go with Navajo Sterling by first round TKO."

THE MMA GURU

LOSS vs Ion Cuțelaba

Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) R3 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis · Sep 28, 2024

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	Sig. Str.	Sig. Str. %	Total Str.	TD	TD %	Rev.	Ctrl
1	Ion Cuțelaba	18 of 72	25%	22 of 77	0 of 3	0%	0	0:25
1	Ivan Erslan	24 of 39	61%	25 of 40	0 of 0	---	0	0:00
2	Ion Cuțelaba	24 of 43	55%	44 of 66	2 of 5	40%	0	1:07
2	Ivan Erslan	14 of 27	51%	17 of 31	0 of 1	0%	1	1:26
3	Ion Cuțelaba	3 of 5	60%	14 of 18	1 of 4	25%	0	0:27
3	Ivan Erslan	1 of 3	33%	21 of 30	1 of 1	100%	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
1	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
2	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
3	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 Sherdog

Ion Cutelaba vs. Ivan Erslan

Round 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 Bodetti Expert Lean picked Sep 22, 2024 (6 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

maybe under 1.5 rounds when line drops

"I am going to pick Ivan Erslan... I'm not going to bet on him... picks and bets are very different things."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Lean picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

Erslan by first round knockout

"give me erson here uh I'll take erson to win by first round knockout he has 10 Knockouts all of them do come in the first round so I'm thinking it might be him landing something early I think this …"

DFS by the Numbers

Cody Saftic Expert Hesitant picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I'll take uron but like don't be surprised to see this thing right near the bottom"

Bookie Beatdown

Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"This fight, Kudalaba just find so many ways to lose."

MMA Vivisection

Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I think ursan should be the favorite even though you know trying uh level competition on the Caba side"

Half the Battle

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"no shot I'm siding with him uran's the dog we're both on urson give me dog money"

MMA Lock of the Night

Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

"I'll take the ever so slight dog in uh in the newcomer öland here"

Bookie Beatdown

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2024 (4 days before fight)

Ivan Erslan

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.

second round TKO

"I'm going to go of Ivan uran I think he's well-rounded uh I'm going to go with him getting this one done by TKO actually I think he'll catch calaba on the chin at some point and I'm GNA say …"

THE MMA GURU

Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Sep 27, 2024 (1 day before fight)

Ivan 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.

"I think he's probably going to beat Kudalaba."

MMA Vivisection

Expert Picks (4)

Angelo Bodetti Expert Hesitant picked May 4, 2025 (6 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

"I'm still gonna pick him because this should be a striking only matchup and he's the better striker. But I would be very careful with your bets."

We Want Picks

Big Brady Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Stirling wins by knockout in round 2

"I'm going to take Navajo Sterling to win this fight. I'll take him to win this fight by second round knockout."

DFS by the Numbers

MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2025 (3 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

Wins by KO

"I think this is a perfect match up for the youngster Sterling to counter and be the more effective striker here against Urslan who's just a little bit too reckless at times."

MMA Lock of the Night

The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)

Navajo Stirling

first round TKO

"I'm actually going to go with Navajo Sterling by first round TKO."

THE MMA GURU

Comments (1)

brian 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Interesting fight. Who is Ivan, has Navajo wrestling in Rd2. Strong finish from Nav in rd3 again as he stuns his opponent and swarms looking for a finish.

Navajo Stirling

Ivan Erslan

Career Averages - Navajo Stirling

Career Averages - Ivan Erslan

Navajo Stirling - Fight History

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Ivan Erslan - Fight History

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Totals

Per Round

Significant Strikes

Significant Strikes Per Round

Play-by-Play

Expert Picks (4)

Comments (1)