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- Ion Cutelaba's finishing rate is the number that matters against Magomed Tuchalov
Ion Cutelaba's finishing rate is the number that matters against Magomed Tuchalov
Does Magomed Tuchalov's 3 inches of reach decide the range against Ion Cutelaba? Tale of the tape, recent form and the markets connected to the answer at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Magomedov on Dec 5, 2026.
- WBrendson RibeiroU-DEC R3 · Jul 26
- LNavajo StirlingKO/TKO R2 · Jun 26
- WOumar Sy
The setup
Magomed Tuchalov (7-0-0) and Ion Cutelaba (20-12-1 (1 NC)) meet at light heavyweight on the prelims when UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Magomedov arrives at ANB Arena in Riyadh on Saturday, December 5, 2026, scheduled for three rounds.
Our schedule tables list 12 bouts on the card; this one is filed under the prelims. The bout is listed as announced in the PropBetEdge schedule.
The question this preview works through is whether Magomed Tuchalov's 3 inches of reach translates into control of range against Ion Cutelaba, or whether the archive says Cutelaba closes distance regardless. Career-to-date round statistics are on file for both fighters, which sets the limit on how far that read can go.
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Tale of the tape
- Record: Magomed Tuchalov 7-0-0 · Ion Cutelaba 20-12-1 (1 NC)
- Age: Magomed Tuchalov 26 · Ion Cutelaba 32
- Height: Magomed Tuchalov 6'5" · Ion Cutelaba 6'1"
- Reach: Magomed Tuchalov 78" · Ion Cutelaba 75"
- Stance: Magomed Tuchalov Orthodox · Ion Cutelaba Southpaw
- Listed weight: Magomed Tuchalov 205 lbs · Ion Cutelaba 205 lbs
The 3-inch reach gap in Magomed Tuchalov's favour (78" to 75") is the tape's headline number; it defines the range each man is working from. A reach edge matters most when the longer fighter also sets the pace, and here the numbers cut the other way: Ion Cutelaba out-lands Tuchalov 4.13 to 2.33 per minute, so the shorter fighter is the busier one and has to cross the gap to do it. That is a different fight from a long fighter picking apart a passive one. Magomed Tuchalov is the younger by 6 years (26 to 32). Age on its own tells you little at this level; it reads better alongside the layoff figures in the form section. It is an orthodox-versus-southpaw pairing: lead legs line up on the outside, which rewards the rear straight and the rear kick and makes the calf-kick battle a live one.
Recent form
Magomed Tuchalov has 1 completed UFC bout in the PropBetEdge archive: 1 win. That win went the distance. Most recently he beat Brendson Ribeiro by unanimous decision in round 3 on Jul 25, 2026. That puts him 133 days out by fight night.
- W vs Brendson Ribeiro — unanimous decision, R3 (Jul 25, 2026, UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov)
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