The youngest of four siblings in a Filipino family, with his mother from Boracay while his father is from Pampanga,[3][4] he was given the nickname "Kuya", a familial term used in a respectful manner to address an older male relative, brother, or friend, by his teammates at the Sydney-based Igor MMA, since he calls everyone in the gym by the Filipino kin endearment.[5] Having practised taekwondo in his childhood, Culibao eventually started training mixed martial arts in order to lose weight in his adolescent years.[2][6][7]
Before signing with the UFC, Culibao was a full-time electrician doing 40-plus-hour workweeks with training on top.[8]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Starting his professional MMA career in 2016, Culibao compiled a perfect 8–0 record on the regional Australian scene, capturing three titles during this time. He won his debut at Superfight MMA 2 on February 19, 2016, by stopping Paul Traish in the first round via TKO.[9] He would win his next two fights in the Urban Fight Night promotion; winning via majority decision against Brad Shortland at UFN 7 on May 7, 2016[10] and via TKO against Simon Arentz at UFN 8 on August 27, 2016.[11] Culibao would fight his next two bouts in the Hex Fight Series promotion, winning the HEX Featherweight Championship against Raphael Berthet at HFS 7 after dropping his with a body shot and finishing him with soccer kicks.[12] He defended this title at HFS 8 against Jordan Cameron, who he beat in a close bout via split decision.[13] After returning to Urban Fight Nights for one bout which he won via majority decision against James McGlashan,[14] Culibao won the DFC Featherweight Championship against Rodolfo Marques at DFC 7 on November 10, 2018, via head kick and ground and pound.[15] He would then capture the Superfight MMA Featherweight championship against Josh Payne at Superfight MMA 10 on March 1, 2019, winning the bout via TKO in the first round.[16]
Culibao was scheduled to face Damon Jackson on March 12, 2022 UFC Fight Night 203.[24] However, Culibao was pulled from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by Kamuela Kirk.[25]
Culibao faced Seung Woo Choi on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275.[26] After knocking his opponent down multiple times during the fight, Culibao won the bout via split decision.[27]
Culibao faced Melsik Baghdasaryan on February 12, 2023, at UFC 284.[28] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[29]
Culibao faced Danny Silva on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239.[32] At the weigh-in, Silva weighed in at 148.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Silva was fined 20% of his purse which went to Culibao.[33] He lost the bout via split decision.[34]
Culibao faced Ricardo Ramos on August 17, 2024, at UFC 305.[35] He lost the fight by split decision.[36] 8 out of 12 media outlets scored the bout for Culibao.[37]
