Kyle Anthony

THE PLAY: Navajo Stirling wins in round 3 or by decision (+145)

Navajo Stirling stands out as a high-level striker who sharpens his skills at City Kickboxing, a renowned gym that has created champions such as Israel Adesanya and Carlos Ulberg. The facility excels at elevating fighters’ kickboxing precision while strengthening their takedown defense and overall MMA composure. When Navajo entered the UFC, he brought limited professional experience with just four career MMA bouts and was still piecing together his complete game. After four UFC appearances he now boasts an undefeated 9-0 record and has clearly grown into a more polished competitor. He enters this matchup ready for a meaningful step up in competition. As a striker Navajo delivers fast, fluid combinations and possesses a potent kicking arsenal. His slick, rangy jab and intelligent footwork allow him to control distance effectively and dictate the flow of exchanges. While Ion Cutelaba is a seasoned UFC veteran and longtime journeyman fighter with a 9-10-1 record inside the organization. He begins fights with explosive aggression, unleashing heavy overhand strikes that make him dangerous in the opening round. His wrestling and raw physicality serve as his primary weapons. He averages roughly four takedowns per fight, which often creates his clearest path to victory. Yet Navajo’s camp is expected to prepare him thoroughly for this threat focusing on sprawl-and-brawling tactics to neutralize early shots and keep the contest on the feet where his striking edge can shine. The most significant concern for Cutelaba remains his limited gas tank. His early explosiveness fades rapidly if he cannot secure a finish or overwhelm his opponent in the first round. Once his pace drops, he struggles to maintain output or defend against sustained pressure. Navajo and his team will likely bring a disciplined game plan centered on patient defense and strategic distance management. In round one, he should weather Cutelaba’s initial storm while staying mobile and composed at range. Even if taken down, Navajo has shown the ability to scramble back to his feet quickly and avoid prolonged danger. As the fight progresses the advantage tilts further toward Stirling. Since joining the UFC, Navajo is 4-0 with three of those wins coming by decision. Once Cutelaba slows down, Navajo can gradually increase his own tempo. He will land the cleaner more damaging strikes and build momentum through superior volume and accuracy. By round three, Navajo should still have ample energy to push the pace, potentially securing a late finish. If the bout goes the distance, he is well-positioned to point Cutelaba on the scorecards. Ion relies on big moments to steal rounds and often falls behind when fights turn into technical striking battles. Overall, Navajo is expected to stay safe through the early pressure, grow stronger as the rounds unfold and capitalize on his superior conditioning and skill set. At plus money, this represents a strong value opportunity on Stirling to control the fight and emerge victorious.