UFC Matchmaking Bulletin (8/28-9/3): Ion Cuțelaba Returns, Two Cancellations

MMA News has you covered with this week’s UFC matchmaking bulletin, featuring fights for Ion Cuțelaba and Iasmin Lucindo.

With UFC cards being held most weekends, Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby have their matchmaking work cut out if they’re to fill them, meaning new bouts are confirmed each and every week.

In recent days, just one big-name fight was made official by the UFC, with ranked middleweights Brendan Allen and Paul Craig scheduled to headline UFC Vegas 82 on November 18.

However, a number of lower-profile matchups did come together. For those, check out this week’s quick hits:

• Iasmin Lucindo vs. Josefine Knutsson – Noche UFC (September 16)
• Daniel Santos vs. Daniel Marcos – UFC São Paulo (November 4)
• Eduarda Moura vs. So Yul Kim – UFC São Paulo (November 4)

But it wasn’t all positive, with some fights falling through or being adjusted in recent days. For those failed pairings and any confirmed replacements, see the list below: 

• Sam Hughes (OUT, Elise Reed IN) vs. Lupita Godinez – Noche UFC (September 16)
• Iasmin Lucindo (OUT, Lupita Godinez IN) vs. Elise Reed -Noche UFC (September 16)

And for more detailed information on one other notable fight that may have flown under your radar between August 28 and September 3, scroll down and check out this week’s highlighted matchup.

Philipe Lins vs. Ion Cuțelaba – UFC Vegas 80 (October 7)

Ion Cuțelaba will look to make it two wins from two in 2023 when he makes his return at October’s first event.

Cuțelaba (17-9-1, 1 NC), a 15-fight UFC veteran, entered this year on the back of a difficult three-fight losing skid that saw him drop submissions to Ryan Spann and Johnny Walker, as well as a TKO at the hands of Kennedy Nzechukwu. The Moldovan returned to winning ways for the first time since 2021 this past April at UFC Kansas City, where he stopped Tanner Boser in one round.

In pursuit of his first win streak since 2018, “The Hulk” will look to stall the charge of Philipe Lins (17-5) at UFC Vegas 80. After starting his Octagon career with two defeats at heavyweight, the Brazilian has found strong form at 205 pounds, where he’s recorded a trio of victories over Marcin Prachnio, Ovince Saint Preux, and Maxim Grishin.

This light heavyweight fight was first reported by Resenha UFC.

Philipe Lins will fight Ion Cutelaba at #UFCVegas80 on October 7th. (per Resenha UFC) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 pic.twitter.com/1YbR1dwTSs

— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) September 1, 2023