UFC Fight Night 252 video: Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan slugfest ends in surprise submission
The featured prelim of UFC Fight Night 252 had knockout written all over it. Ion Cutelaba and Ibo Aslan did not disappoint.
UFC matchmakers knew what they were doing when they booked Cutelaba (19-9-1 MMA, 8-8-1 UFC) to take on Aslan (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a light heavyweight bout on Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Both men came out swinging wild, sloppy shots from the opening bell, but it was the ground game that makes the difference.
Cutelaba shot for the first takedown, and it was effective. He advanced to mount and locked in an arm-triangle choke to get his first submission finish in his nearly nine-year career inside the octagon.
Check out the replay of the final sequence below (via X):
The Hulk by submission @ICutelaba puts on a show in route to a submission victory at #UFCSeattle! pic.twitter.com/vQELAZduBZ
— UFC (@ufc) February 23, 2025
Although he has been in the UFC since July 2016, Cutelaba, now only 31, said this is “just the start” of his best days. It was an important win after losing four of his past six, and Cutelaba was fired up in the aftermath.
“He is a good fighter, but it’s time,” Cutelaba said in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping. “I work in here nine years and I know my job. It’s time to make my time fighting people. I am good guy, but after the cage. I am here to fight like crazy guy.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 252 results include:
- Ion Cutelaba def. Ibo Aslan via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 1, 2:51
- Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:30
- Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Nick Klein via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:24
- Ricky Simon def. Javid Basharat via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:58
- Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:13
- Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 0:33
- Modestas Bukauskas def. Rafael Cerqueira via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:12
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.s