Ion Cuțelaba VS Navajo Stirling

The co-main event started with fireworks as Ion Cuțelaba came out aggressively, dragging Navajo Stirling to the mat and locking in a tight guillotine choke in the opening moments. The undefeated Stirling remained remarkably calm, surviving the dangerous submission attempt and working his way back to the feet, where he began systematically targeting Cuțelaba's body. In the second round, Cuțelaba sought another takedown to regain control. However, Stirling perfectly timed a brutal left knee to the liver that completely winded the veteran right before he completed the takedown. The debilitating body shot forced Cuțelaba to go limp and collapse to the canvas, allowing Stirling to reverse position, stand over him, and rain down punches until the referee intervened at 03:23 of Round 2, keeping Stirling's perfect record intact.

Ion Cutelaba, a polarising veteran who upset the undefeated Oumar Sy with a submission, now faces one of the most dangerous unbeaten prospects in light heavyweight: Navajo Stirling. Stirling went 4-0 in the UFC, including a second-round TKO of Bruno Lopes in Seattle, and trains out of the decorated City Kickboxing camp in Auckland. A Cutelaba win cracks the rankings; a Stirling win would put him firmly in title contention territory.