Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev competed at UFC Fight Night Norfolk, which was a bout Ankalaev won via first round TKO, but it was under controversial circumstances in Cutelaba’s opinion.
The fighter filed and lost an appeal to have the result overturned, which is why Cutelaba doesn’t think he’ll ever fight in the state of Virginia ever again.
“I wasn’t expecting something like this,” Cutelaba said to Sherdog. “Everyone saw with their own eyes that it was a mistake. There was a ruckus on social media. This stoppage will go down in the history books as the worst stoppage ever. But I get it. They can’t admit their own mistake. It’s politics. I’m considering not to compete ever again in Virginia if this will be their final decision. I don’t like it at all. We were fighting at the highest level. There was a lot at stake.”
Cutelaba and Ankalaev were supposed to have their rematch at UFC 249, but the bout was canceled after Ankalaev had issues getting to the United States due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Even though UFC 249 and Cutelaba’s potential future bout with Ovince St. Preux were both canceled, one thing Cutelaba wants is to still get paid by the UFC.
“They haven’t paid me yet,” he said. “But I expect to be paid since I traveled to the U.S., I trained there and I was ready to fight. As far as I know, they haven’t paid anyone yet.”
There is no word yet on when Cutelaba will return to action, as the fighter is back with his family right now in Chisinau as the coronavirus pandemic rages on.
