A lot of up-and-coming UFC fighters have been looking for new and innovative ways to increase their profile of late.
There is a sense that, unless you put in the hours to promote yourself outside the Octagon, you’re unlikely to be a big draw when places on high-profile cards are up for grabs.
Not too many people will have been too familiar with Ion Cutelaba before the UFC Portland weigh-ins, but he walked away with more column inches than many of those with higher billing.
That’s because the Moldovan fighter, who holds an 11-2 career record with nine knockouts but lost on his UFC debut in June, showed up as the Incredible Hulk.
Yup, Cutelaba painted himself all green before taking to the stage ahead of his light heavyweight bout against Jonathan Wilson.
At the #ufcportland weigh-ins, one fighter becomes the Incredible Hulk (@ekc) pic.twitter.com/QLFOa80ZRp
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 30, 2016
There were no half-measures from the 22-year-old, who even ripped off his shirt in an effort to live up to his ‘Hulk’ nickname.
Cutelaba’s fight against California’s Wilson (7-1; 1-1 UFC) will be third up on the UFC Fight Pass prelims at the Moda Center on Saturday night, with the first bout getting underway just after midnight UK time.
The main card is headlined by a bantamweight bout between Brazil’s John Lineker and American John Dodson.
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