Feb 29, 2020; Norfolk, Virginia, USA; Ion Cutelaba (red gloves) reacts to losing against Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Chartway Arena. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba rematch added to UFC 252 lineup
A light heavyweight rematch between Magmoed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba will finally take place at UFC 252. MMA Fighting was first to report the upcoming bout.
The first fight between the two took place in February and it ended in controversy. The whole fight lasted 38 seconds with Ankalaev earning a TKO win. Cutelaba immediately protested the stoppage and his team appealed the decision in the state of Virginia where the fight was held. The appeal was denied and win the stood in favor of Ankalaev.
Ankalaev and Cutelaba agreed to a rematch at UFC 249 on April 18, bu the event was postponed to May 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two were not able to fight in May because Ankalaev was unable to leave his home country of Russia due to travel bans that were imposed from the pandemic. Cutelaba was then scheduled to fight Ovince Saint Preux, but that fight also never happened.
Ion Cutelaba (15-5, 1 NC) is 4-4 in the UFC. He holds a knockout win over Khalil Rountree and a 22-second finish over Luis Henrique da Silva. He is known for taking his nickname of “The Hulk” seriously as he paints his body green for the weigh-ins of his fights.
Magomed Ankalaev (13-1) is riding a four-fight winning streak since Sept. 2018, with wins over Marcin Prachino, Klidson Abreu, Dalcha Lungiambula and Cutelaba. His only loss came by a last-second submission during his UFC debut in March 2018 to Paul Craig.
UFC 252 will be headlined by a heavyweight championship trilogy fight between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. The fight is expected to be the last of Cormier’s career.
Earlier today it was reported Felice Herrig and Virna Jandiroba will also fight on the card. It will be Herrig’s first fight since tearing her ACL last April.
MMA Fighting also has Livinha Souza vs. Ashley Yoder as part of the lineup.
