TLDR
- Navajo Stirling (9-0) faces Ion Cutelaba (20-11-1) in the UFC Vegas 119 co-main event Saturday
- Stirling is the -325 favorite after winning his first four UFC fights in 2024
- Cutelaba has won three of his last four fights, including two by submission
- The bout takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET
- Stirling could earn a top-15 ranking with a victory over the veteran opponent
Sources: clutchpoints.com | cbssports.com
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Navajo Stirling will put his perfect record on the line against veteran Ion Cutelaba in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 119 on Saturday. The fight card takes place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas with the main card beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Stirling enters the bout with a 9-0 professional record and has won all four of his UFC fights since joining the promotion in 2024. His most recent victory came against Bruno Lopes via knockout, marking his first promotional finish after three consecutive unanimous decision wins.
The New Zealand fighter stands 6-foot-4 with a 79-inch reach, giving him a three-inch height advantage and four-inch reach advantage over his opponent. Stirling is listed as the -325 favorite according to DraftKings odds, while Cutelaba comes in as a +260 underdog.
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Cutelaba’s Recent Resurgence
Ion Cutelaba has compiled a 20-11-1 professional record and has fought in the UFC since 2016, going 9-10-1 with the promotion. The Moldovan fighter recently snapped a three-fight losing streak and has won three of his last four appearances.
His most recent performance came as a +235 underdog against Oumar Sy, where he secured a first-round guillotine choke submission. That victory marked his second consecutive submission win, showing a shift in his fighting style.
Cutelaba stands 6-foot-1 with a 75-inch reach. He has recorded 13 knockout victories and four submission wins over his career, with 17 of his 20 wins coming by finish.
Style Matchup and Fight Analysis
Experts consider Stirling the superior striker with better control of distance and range. He uses his jab effectively to set up power shots and has shown proficiency with low leg kicks that have troubled opponents.
Cutelaba brings explosive power in his punches, particularly with his overhand and straight right. His recent success has come through grappling, where he uses physical strength and top pressure to hunt for submission opportunities.
Stirling has defended 82% of takedown attempts in his UFC career, but observers note he has limited experience fighting off his back. Cutelaba has shown the ability to find submission openings quickly when fights hit the mat.
The betting lines favor a finish, with the over 1.5 rounds priced at -210 and the under at +160. Both fighters have strong finishing rates in their careers.
Saturday’s event is headlined by a flyweight bout between second-ranked Manel Kape and fifth-ranked Kyoji Horiguchi. The card features six main card bouts with Cutelaba-Stirling serving as the co-main event.
A victory for Stirling could potentially earn him his first top-15 ranking in the light heavyweight division. For Cutelaba, another upset win would continue his recent trend of defeating rising prospects in the division.
