Modestas Bukauskas
Lithuania
Runs winning streak to four
Bukauskas defeated Paul Craig via KO (elbow) at 5:00 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Paris.
ANALYSIS
The UFC did Bukauskas a huge favor here, giving up a layup fight against an opponent clearly at the end of the line, and to Bukauskas' credit, he took full advantage. He kept things simply on the feet, damaging Craig with power shots and closing the opening frame with a 22-6 edge in significant strikes landed. It was an elbow at the literal buzzer which knocked Craig brief unconscious, ending the fight. Modestas' second run with the UFC has gone light years better than the first. He's won four in a row and six of seven dating back to February 2023.
The UFC did Bukauskas a huge favor here, giving up a layup fight against an opponent clearly at the end of the line, and to Bukauskas' credit, he took full advantage. He kept things simply on the feet, damaging Craig with power shots and closing the opening frame with a 22-6 edge in significant strikes landed. It was an elbow at the literal buzzer which knocked Craig brief unconscious, ending the fight. Modestas' second run with the UFC has gone light years better than the first. He's won four in a row and six of seven dating back to February 2023.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Will aim for four
Bukauskas is scheduled to compete against Paul Craig in a light heavyweight fight at UFC Paris on Sept. 6, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Bukauskas is on a three-fight win streak, having defeated Marcin Prachnio (arm-triangle), Raffael Cerqueira (punches) and Ion Cutelaba (decision) in succession. Up next is Craig, on a war path to redeem himself after going 1-5 (1) in his last seven fights, his latest a no-contest.
Bukauskas is on a three-fight win streak, having defeated Marcin Prachnio (arm-triangle), Raffael Cerqueira (punches) and Ion Cutelaba (decision) in succession. Up next is Craig, on a war path to redeem himself after going 1-5 (1) in his last seven fights, his latest a no-contest.
Secures third straight win
Bukauskas defeated Ion Cutelaba via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28) at UFC 315 on Saturday in Montreal.
ANALYSIS
It's a massive result for Bukauskas -- whether it was deserved or not -- in a fight which went off as a pick 'em. Neither man was able to create any real separation from the other. Modestas actually did fine when he went first, but those moments were few and far between. His best round was the third. The 31-year-old Lithuanian was released from the UFC back in late 2021 following a three-fight losing streak. He returned in February 2023 and has won three straight and five of six since. Bukauskas has matched up against lower-level competition, and there's zero reason to believe this run would continue against better opponents, but he's unquestionably one of the hotter fighters in the light heavyweight division at the moment.
It's a massive result for Bukauskas -- whether it was deserved or not -- in a fight which went off as a pick 'em. Neither man was able to create any real separation from the other. Modestas actually did fine when he went first, but those moments were few and far between. His best round was the third. The 31-year-old Lithuanian was released from the UFC back in late 2021 following a three-fight losing streak. He returned in February 2023 and has won three straight and five of six since. Bukauskas has matched up against lower-level competition, and there's zero reason to believe this run would continue against better opponents, but he's unquestionably one of the hotter fighters in the light heavyweight division at the moment.
Taking on Cutelaba
Bukauskas will take on Ion Cutelaba in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 315 in Montreal on May 10, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Bukauskas is coming off two straight victories, most recently disposing of Raffael Cerqueira via KO (punches) in Round 1 of a fight back in February. That pushed his UFC record to 5-4, and he'll look for that sixth win against an opponent in Cutelaba who is also a winner of two straight but currently holds a losing record in the UFC at 8-9-1. Bukauskas is two inches taller and has five more inches of reach than Cutelaba.
Bukauskas is coming off two straight victories, most recently disposing of Raffael Cerqueira via KO (punches) in Round 1 of a fight back in February. That pushed his UFC record to 5-4, and he'll look for that sixth win against an opponent in Cutelaba who is also a winner of two straight but currently holds a losing record in the UFC at 8-9-1. Bukauskas is two inches taller and has five more inches of reach than Cutelaba.
Stoppage win in Seattle opener
Bukauskas defeated Raffael Cerqueira via KO (punches) at 2:12 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Seattle.
ANALYSIS
Entering with victories in three of four fights since returning to the UFC in February 2023, Bukauskas was given a favorable matchup here against Cerqueira, and he took advantage as a -275 favorite. Modestas has durability issues, but he also has legitimate power, as he showed here. He clipped Cerqueira with one huge blow which dropped him. A few follow-up shots later and referee Jeff Hoiby was stepping in. Nothing in Bukauskas' history would suggests he can keep this up against better competition, but he makes for nice depth in a division that needs all the quality fighters it can find.
Entering with victories in three of four fights since returning to the UFC in February 2023, Bukauskas was given a favorable matchup here against Cerqueira, and he took advantage as a -275 favorite. Modestas has durability issues, but he also has legitimate power, as he showed here. He clipped Cerqueira with one huge blow which dropped him. A few follow-up shots later and referee Jeff Hoiby was stepping in. Nothing in Bukauskas' history would suggests he can keep this up against better competition, but he makes for nice depth in a division that needs all the quality fighters it can find.
Draws Cerqueira in February
Bukauskas will take on Raffael Cerqueira in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC Seattle on Feb. 22, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Bukauskas made the most of his lone UFC opportunity in 2024, defeating Marcin Prachnio via submission back in July -- it's his third win in his last four trips to the cage after going 2-1 in 2023. He now takes on a relative newcomer in Cerqueira, who was well-respected on the South American regional scene but didn't even last a minute in his company debut, getting finished by Ibo Aslan via TKO.
Bukauskas made the most of his lone UFC opportunity in 2024, defeating Marcin Prachnio via submission back in July -- it's his third win in his last four trips to the cage after going 2-1 in 2023. He now takes on a relative newcomer in Cerqueira, who was well-respected on the South American regional scene but didn't even last a minute in his company debut, getting finished by Ibo Aslan via TKO.