Ion Cutelaba’s manager is in the process of filing an appeal with Virginia’s Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation in an effort to overturn a TKO loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Norfolk.
The UFC light heavyweight’s rep, Tiago Okamura, told MMA Fighting he is required to be licensed as a manager with the DPOR, which oversees the state’s athletic commission, before he’s able to file the appeal.
The dispute centers around referee Kevin MacDonald’s stoppage in the ESPN+ bout at Chartway Arena this past Saturday. Cutelaba, 26, contends he was faking out Ankalaev when he visibly wobbled after an exchange of punches.