UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- May 22
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 215: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba took place on November 19, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas — UFC Vegas 65. The card was originally headlined by a heavyweight bout between Derrick Lewis and Serghei Spivac, but Lewis was hospitalized on fight day due to illness and the bout was scrapped. Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cuțelaba was elevated to main event status — though the bout remained a three-round contest.
Nzechukwu rose to the occasion, finishing Cuțelaba with a beautifully-timed knee and follow-up punches at 1:02 of round two. The card also featured standout performances from Jack Della Maddalena, Muslim Salikhov, and Natalia Silva — all of whom earned Performance of the Night bonuses.
Contents
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, November 19, 2022
📍 Venue: UFC Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, USA (UFC Vegas 65)
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 73)
🏆 Main Event: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Ion Cuțelaba — Light Heavyweight (3 rounds) | Originally Lewis vs. Spivac
✅ Result: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cuțelaba via TKO (Knee + Punches) (Round 2, 1:02)
⭐ Notable: Lewis hospitalized — main event scrapped on fight day | Nzechukwu’s first main event | Jack Della Maddalena R1 KO PoN | Salikhov wheel kick TKO PoN | Natalia Silva spinning back kick TKO PoN
The Build-Up
The card was designed around a heavyweight headliner between fan favourite Derrick Lewis and rising contender Serghei Spivac. But on the morning of the event, Lewis was reportedly hospitalized due to illness, and the main event was cancelled. The Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba light heavyweight bout was elevated to headline status, though it remained a three-round contest.
Despite losing its marquee attraction, the card still featured several interesting matchups: Australian welterweight prospect Jack Della Maddalena vs. Danny Roberts, Muslim Salikhov vs. Andre Fialho, and Jack Shore vs. Timur Valiev. The fighters left on the card had no choice but to step up.
Main Event: Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba
Round one belonged to Cuțelaba. ‘The Hulk’ swarmed Nzechukwu with heavy strikes and took the fight to the ground twice, maintaining mount and threatening with a kimura. Nzechukwu survived the round but appeared to be in trouble.
Round two was a completely different story. Nzechukwu came out firing, landing hard strikes that put Cuțelaba on the back foot. When Cuțelaba changed levels for a takedown attempt, Nzechukwu timed a devastating knee to the head that buckled him. Cuțelaba somehow survived the initial blow, but Nzechukwu followed with another knee and a barrage of ground-and-pound punches that sealed the TKO at 1:02. It was the first main event win of Nzechukwu’s career.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Jack Della Maddalena continued his spectacular rise at welterweight, stopping Danny Roberts via TKO (punches) at 3:24 of round one — earning his third PoN bonus. Muslim Salikhov put on a masterclass against Andre Fialho, connecting with spinning backfists, body kicks, and a finishing wheel kick for a third-round TKO that earned him his second PoN.
Natalia Silva opened the card with a TKO of Tereza Bleda via spinning back kick at 1:27 of round three — a rare and spectacular finish that earned the opening fight a PoN bonus. Waldo Cortes-Acosta stayed unbeaten with a UD over Chase Sherman in the co-main event.
Full Results
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Ion Cuțelaba — TKO (Knee + Punches) (Round 2, 1:02) — PoN | Nzechukwu’s first main event
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Chase Sherman — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 3) | 30-27, 29-28, 29-28
Muslim Salikhov def. Andre Fialho — TKO (Wheel Kick) (Round 3, 1:03) — PoN
Jack Della Maddalena def. Danny Roberts — TKO (Punches) (Round 1, 3:24) — PoN | 3rd career bonus
Jack Shore def. Timur Valiev — Decision (Split) (Round 3) | 29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Jennifer Maia def. Maryna Moroz — UD R3; Miles Johns def. Vince Morales — UD R3; Ricky Turcios def. Kevin Natividad — SD R3; Vanessa Demopoulos def. Maria Oliveira — UD R3; Brady Hiestand def. Fernie Garcia — UD R3; Natalia Silva def. Tereza Bleda — TKO (Spinning Back Kick) R3 (PoN)
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded
🏆 Performance of the Night: Kennedy Nzechukwu ($50,000) — TKO (Knee) of Cuțelaba R2 | 3rd career bonus
🏆 Performance of the Night: Jack Della Maddalena ($50,000) — TKO of Danny Roberts R1 | 3rd career bonus
🏆 Performance of the Night: Muslim Salikhov ($50,000) — TKO (Wheel Kick) of Andre Fialho R3 | ‘The Kung Fu King’
🏆 Performance of the Night: Natalia Silva ($50,000) — TKO (Spinning Back Kick) of Tereza Bleda R3 | Opening fight of card
Records & Milestones
🥊 Derrick Lewis being hospitalized and pulled from the main event on fight day was one of the most high-profile same-day cancellations of 2022. The card lost its biggest draw but the remaining fighters delivered.
🥊 Jack Della Maddalena earned his third PoN bonus in just his third UFC fight, maintaining a 100% bonus rate to that point. The Australian welterweight was emerging as one of the most exciting prospects in the 170-lb division.
🥊 Muslim Salikhov’s wheel kick finish was his first stoppage in over three years and showcased his full array of spinning attacks — earning the 38-year-old ‘Kung Fu King’ his second PoN.
Legacy & Impact
FN 215 was a card that could have crumbled when it lost its main event, but instead delivered four PoN-worthy performances. Nzechukwu made the most of his first UFC main event opportunity, Della Maddalena reinforced his status as the most exciting welterweight prospect in the division, and Salikhov’s wheel kick was one of the most visually stunning finishes of the year.
FAQ
Why was the Lewis vs. Spivac fight cancelled?
Derrick Lewis was reportedly hospitalized on the morning of the event due to illness. The UFC pulled the heavyweight main event from the card and elevated the Nzechukwu vs. Cuțelaba light heavyweight bout to headline status. The fight remained a three-round contest despite its elevation.
Who is Jack Della Maddalena?
Jack Della Maddalena is an Australian welterweight who made his name through Dana White’s Contender Series and quickly became one of the most exciting prospects in the 170-lb division. At FN 215, he earned his third consecutive PoN bonus — a 100% bonus rate through his first three UFC fights. He went on to build one of the most impressive winning streaks in welterweight history.
What was Salikhov’s wheel kick finish?
Muslim Salikhov, known as ‘The Kung Fu King,’ put on a striking masterclass against Andre Fialho. He landed spinning backfists, body kicks, and a finishing wheel kick that led to the TKO stoppage at 1:03 of round three. It was his first stoppage victory in over three years and one of the most aesthetically impressive finishes of 2022.
References
Comments