Next up in the UFC light heavyweight division, we have Modestas Bukauskas vs Ion Cutelaba at UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena, taking place on May 11, 2025, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, with the fight scheduled for 00:00 GMT. Expect a clash of styles, with The Baltic Gladiator’s calculated striking facing off against The Hulk’s aggressive power and grappling.
Our Fighters
- Nickname: The Baltic Gladiator
- Born: 2/10/1994 (31)
- Country: Lithuania
- Height: 6’3” (190.5 cm)
- Weight: 203 lbs (92 kg)
- Reach: 78” (198 cm)
- Stance: Switch
- Professional Record: 17-6-0
Modestas Bukauskas comes into this fight riding strong momentum. Since returning to the UFC, he’s won four of his last five bouts, including an emphatic first-round knockout over Raffael Cerqueira. Bukauskas is a four-time British kickboxing champion, and it shows in his striking: long, technical, and powerful. He uses his reach well, keeps opponents at distance, and punishes them with kicks and straight punches. While striking is his primary strength, he’s also demonstrated improved grappling, as seen in his win over Marcin Prachnio where he secured takedowns and accumulated control time. However, one concern is his tendency to let striking rounds stay close; he’s not always dominant on the scorecards, which could be risky in a fight that goes the distance.
- Nickname: The Hulk
- Born: 12/14/1993 (31)
- Country: Moldova
- Height: 6’1” (185.4 cm)
- Weight: 205 lbs (92.9 kg)
- Reach: 75” (190.5 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Professional Record: 19-10-1
Ion Cutelaba is known for his aggressive, high-pressure style. A background in Greco-Roman wrestling and combat sambo gives him solid takedown skills, and when he’s on top, his ground-and-pound is brutal. Cutelaba is coming off a two-fight win streak, showing improved composure in recent performances. However, he still relies heavily on his early aggression, and historically, if he’s unable to secure takedowns or an early finish, his output declines, and his defensive gaps start to appear. On the feet, his striking is powerful but lacks polish, and defensively he’s often open when charging forward.
Gladiator vs Hulk: The Verdict
The key to Modestas Bukauskas vs Ion Cutelaba is whether Cutelaba can impose his wrestling early. If he can close the distance, get Bukauskas down, and work from top position, he can rack up control time and wear Modestas out. But if Bukauskas maintains distance, uses his kicks to manage range, and avoids prolonged grappling exchanges, he should have the advantage in the striking department, especially as the fight progresses and Cutelaba slows down.
Given Bukauskas’ solid takedown defense, sharper striking, and recent form, we lean toward him controlling the pace and winning either by decision or a late stoppage once Cutelaba’s pressure starts to fade. Thus, we suggest to those that register at the best betting software, to back Modestas Bukauskas, either by decision or a late TKO.
