- Ion Cutelaba is a 31-year-old Moldovan mixed martial artist
- The Former National Champion in combat sambo began his career at a young age and has since made his UFC debut in 2016
- Aside from this, Cutelaba is married to Olguta and together, they have two daughters
Over the years, Ion Cutelaba has become one of the most popular names in combat sports. He gained this acclaim as a fighter in the light heavyweight division of the UFC. The Moldovan native who is also known as The Hulk has won more than 15 out of over 20 professional fights. Through this, he sealed his name in the hearts of many mixed martial arts aficionados worldwide.
Away from Cutelaba’s bouts in the octagon which generates so much attention, the 6ft 1inch tall fighter has been married to Olguta Cutelaba since 2014 and together they have two daughters, Amelia and Leea. While this may seem like so much about the mixed martial artist, there is so much about his life that is quite fascinating.
The Background and Early Life of Ion Cutelaba
Ion Cutelaba was born on December 14, 1993, in Chisinau, Moldova. From the available details, Ion, or the Hulk as he is professionally has a brother named Sergiu Cutelaba. Aside from this, he is known to keep a tight leash on the identities of his parents and other family members. As you would easily find, he had a passion for combat sports and from a young age, he started training in Greco-Roman wrestling. Through this, Ion participated in several competitions but still did not receive the attention that will launch him as a top wrestler.
When he turned 18, Ion switched to mixed martial arts in 2011. His reason for changing the course of his combat sports career is unclear, nonetheless, it is just as well that he stuck to what he is doing now.
He started his Professional Career in 2012
Having chosen to stick with mixed martial arts, Ion fought under Eastern European MMA promotions. During this period, he gained wide admiration for his fighting prowess which earned him a record of 11-1 fights and a draw at that initial stage.
Also, Ion participated in numerous competitions including the European combat Sambo Championships 2012 as a representative of his native Moldova. Thankfully, he emerged as the winner in the 90kg division.
Ion Cutelaba Made His UFC Debut in 2016
The Chisinau native made his way to the UFC in June 2016 after years of honing his skills. In his first match at UFC Fight Night 89, he faced off with Misha Cirkunov. However, he could not win the match as he lost via submission. Like his first match, he soon lost another match against Jared Cannonier through a unanimous decision in December of the same year. Despite losing the fight, his impressive performance earned him the recognition of being the Fighter of the Night honors alongside Cannonier.
Moving on, he did not allow this initial setback to stop him from pursuing his dreams. In his next match, The Hulk registered his presence when he won his faceoff against Henrique da Silva. With this win, he regained his footing and faced off with other big names.
While there were expectations that his career would have led to many wins, this is not the case as of this writing. His UFC statistics show he has lost 8 fights and won 5 fighters while one ended in a draw. Nonetheless, the Hulk has an opportunity to change this record if he wins his fight against Tanner Boser on April 15, 2023.
See Also: Who Is Azamat Murzakanov? 7 Unknown Facts About The MMA Fighter
He was Suspended Due to a Potential Anti-Doping Case
Over time, governing bodies of different sports have continually frowned against the use of drugs by athletes. Thusly, it is not surprising that Cutelaba’s involvement in a potential anti-doping scandal led to his suspension for six months as well as cost him a bout on November 4, 2017.
The experienced fighter had weighed in for his faceoff with Michal Olesiejczuk when USADA canceled it. It turns out that his samples had been collected as far back as October 18 and 19 which led to an investigation. While the ban restricted his fight time, he later returned in 2018 after the ban was lifted.
Ion Cutelaba’s Marriage and Children
The fighter has been married to a woman named Olguta Cutelaba, (28) since February 14, 2014. The fighter revealed this in a February 2023 Instagram post. With regards to how they met, it is unclear even though their social media loved-up images suggest that they have been together since when Olguta was about 17 years old while Ion was about 20 years old.
Aside from his marriage, the 6ft 1inch tall fighter may be a ferocious fighter in the octagon but when it comes to his tender side, he is the father of two adorable children whom he shares with his wife. His oldest child, Amelia was born on July 30, 2014, the same year he tied the knot with his wife.
We gathered that Amelia was named after the oldest daughter of Llily Ojovan, a TV host, blogger, ecologist, and friend of Cutelaba’s family. Away from this, the 10-year-old is also passionate about combat sports if her training sessions with her father is anything to go by.
His second child, Leea was born on February 25, 2021. Ever since she joined the family, the Chisinau-bred fighter and his wife have continued to share family moments with her and their older child.
How Much is Ion Cutelaba’s Net Worth?
The Hulk has an estimated net worth of $250 thousand which is the generally accepted amount. Though there are sources that quote amounts as high as $1 million. Reportedly, Cutelaba made this amount from his combat sports career which he started more than a decade ago.
Considering he is just 31 years old at the moment, one may wonder how he spends his money. A look at his social media updates gives a hint of this. Starting from his car collection, it is gathered that he drives a Bentley to meetings, yet, it is likely that it is not the only car he owns.
Also, Ion leaves no dime untouched when it comes to spending on his family and the vacation they take around the world. They have visited places like Turkey and the UAE.
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