Navajo Stirling defeated Ion Cutelaba by TKO via punches at UFC Vegas 119. The stoppage came in the second round at the 3:23 mark.
Navajo Stirling remained unbeaten in professional mixed martial arts with a second-round TKO finish of Ion Cutelaba at UFC Vegas 119 on June 21, 2026. The New Zealand light heavyweight stopped Cutelaba via punches at the 3:23 mark of round two.
Stirling, who trains out of City Kickboxing in Auckland, improved to a perfect 10-0 with the victory. The 28-year-old stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and has built his undefeated record on a high-volume striking game, landing 6.24 significant strikes per minute at a 54 percent accuracy rate. Those numbers rank among the more efficient outputs in his division.
Cutelaba, known as "The Hulk," drops to 20-13-1 with the defeat. The 32-year-old Moldovan southpaw entered the bout with a reputation as a dangerous grappler, averaging 4.02 takedowns per 15 minutes across his UFC career, along with a physical frame that measures six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach. Despite those tools, he was unable to keep the fight away from Stirling's fists long enough to survive the second round.
Why it matters
- Stirling's perfect record and elite striking output position him as a rising name in the light heavyweight division.
- The win came against a seasoned opponent with 33 UFC appearances worth of experience, adding credibility to the finish.
- Cutelaba's inability to convert his takedown threat against a tall, accurate striker highlights a recurring vulnerability for the Moldovan veteran.
- The result strengthens Stirling's case for a ranked opponent in his next outing.
