Ion Cutelaba vs Navajo Stirling

Ion Cutelaba

Pro 20-12-1 (1 NC)  |  UFC 9-11-1
VS

Navajo Stirling

Pro 11-0-0  |  UFC 6-0-0
Age
32|28
Height
6'1"|6'4"
Reach
75"|79"
Stance
Southpaw|Orthodox

Career Statistics

Statistic Ion Cutelaba Navajo Stirling Edge
Striking
Sig. Strike Accuracy43.6%54.2%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min4.16.4
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min3.42.5
Strike Differential0.7/min3.9/min
Grappling
Takedown Accuracy51.1%36.4%
Takedown Defense76.2%69.7%
Takedowns Landed/15min4.00.9
Submission Attempts/15min0.30.0
Control Time/15min3:282:48
Finishing Ability
KO/TKO % of Wins44.4%50.0%
Submission % of Wins22.2%0.0%
Decision % of Wins33.3%50.0%
Avg Fight Time8:0010:54
Secondary Stats
Knockdowns/15min0.20.5
Reversals/15min0.20.5
Edges243 even

Fight Dynamics

Career Striking Volume
Ion Cutelaba   Navajo Stirling   League median
StatisticIon CutelabaNavajo StirlingEdge
Fight Shape
Fight Completion Rate53.3%72.7%
Avg Fight Time8:0010:54
% Fights Inside the Distance66.7%50.0%
Strength of UFC Schedule
Opponent UFC Win % (all)63.7%52.3%
Opponent UFC Record (all)72-41 (63.7%)23-21 (52.3%)
Opponent Record (among wins)24-16 (60.0%)23-21 (52.3%)
Positional Profile
% Time at Distance (approx.)58.5%63.3%
% Time in Control23.2%18.8%
% Time Controlled18.3%18.0%
Control Rate of Clinch/Ground Time55.9%51.1%
Distance Striking
Distance Sig. Landed / Min4.237.56
Distance Sig. Absorbed / Min4.533.46
Distance Striking Differential / Min-0.29+4.11
Distance Strike Accuracy34.4%49.7%
Distance Strike Defense49.9%60.7%
Power & Pressure
KDs per 100 Power Strikes0.430.73
Knocked Down per 100 Absorbed0.680.00
TD Attempts per 5 Distance Min4.471.33
TDs Faced per 5 Distance Min2.143.99
Fade Index (R3 / R1 pace)0.591.41
UFC fights only. Metrics with insufficient data show "—" and award no edge. Methodology →

Last 5 Fights (Averages)

Statistic Ion Cutelaba Navajo Stirling Edge
Sig. Strike Accuracy43.0%55.2%
Sig. Strikes Landed/min3.36.8
Sig. Strikes Absorbed/min3.42.6
Takedown Accuracy37.9%36.4%
Takedown Defense75.0%70.8%
Control Time/Fight2:102:16
Edges033 even

Last 3 Fights

Ion Cutelaba

LOSS
vs. Navajo Stirling
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi • Jun 2026Light Heavyweight
KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 2, 3:23
Ion Cutelaba19/4840%TD 5/7Ctrl 3:01
Navajo Stirling52/7074%TD 0/1Ctrl 1:53
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Oumar Sy
UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Vallejos • Mar 2026Light Heavyweight
Submission (Guillotine Choke) • Rd 1, 4:24
Ion Cutelaba14/2070%TD 1/2Ctrl 2:27
Oumar Sy5/1145%TD 0/1Ctrl 0:18
▼ Rounds
LOSS
vs. Modestas Bukauskas
UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena • May 2025Light Heavyweight
Decision (Split) • Rd 3, 5:00
Ion Cutelaba58/13045%TD 0/4Ctrl 2:21
Modestas Bukauskas44/9248%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:26
▼ Rounds

Navajo Stirling

WIN
vs. Jan Blachowicz
UFC Fight Night: Medic vs. Rodriguez • Aug 2026Light Heavyweight
KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 1, 2:56
Navajo Stirling35/4676%TD 0/1Ctrl 1:04
Jan Blachowicz3/743%TD 0/0Ctrl 0:04
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Ion Cutelaba
UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Horiguchi • Jun 2026Light Heavyweight
KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 2, 3:23
Navajo Stirling52/7074%TD 0/1Ctrl 1:53
Ion Cutelaba19/4840%TD 5/7Ctrl 3:01
▼ Rounds
WIN
vs. Bruno Lopes
UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer • Mar 2026Light Heavyweight
KO/TKO (Punches) • Rd 2, 4:05
Navajo Stirling63/11953%TD 0/0Ctrl 1:31KD 1
Bruno Lopes28/6344%TD 0/8Ctrl 1:00
▼ Rounds

Common Opponents

vs. Ivan Erslan
Ion Cutelaba
WIN
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis • Sep 2024Light Heavyweight
Decision (Split) • Rd 3, 5:00
Ion Cutelaba45/12038%TD 3/12Ctrl 1:59
Ivan Erslan39/6957%TD 1/2Ctrl 5:19
▼ Rounds
Navajo Stirling
WIN
UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena • May 2025Light Heavyweight
Decision (Unanimous) • Rd 3, 5:00
Navajo Stirling110/22549%TD 3/5Ctrl 3:01KD 1
Ivan Erslan36/10036%TD 0/3Ctrl 1:41
▼ Rounds

Analysis Summary

Striking Volume: Navajo Stirling is the busier striker, landing 6.4 significant strikes per minute vs 4.1. Their opponent absorbs 3.4 strikes per minute on average — Navajo Stirling's output should find a target.

Striking Accuracy: Navajo Stirling connects on 54.2% of significant strikes compared to 43.6%. The 11pp accuracy gap compounds over the rounds.

Grappling: Ion Cutelaba shoots at 51% accuracy but Navajo Stirling stops 70% of attempts — the takedown path looks difficult. Navajo Stirling shoots at 36% accuracy against Ion Cutelaba's 76% defense — Ion Cutelaba should keep it standing.

Finish Threat: Ion Cutelaba finishes 67% of wins (44% KO/TKO, 22% sub). Navajo Stirling finishes 50% of wins (50% KO/TKO, 0% sub).

Fight Length: Navajo Stirling's fights average 10:54 vs 8:00 for Ion Cutelaba. If this reaches the championship rounds, Navajo Stirling's conditioning history becomes a factor.

Last updated: 2026-08-22 | Data source: UFCStats.com