A single-mode optical fiber for use as a stub fiber in an optical fiber connector is disclosed. The optical fiber is configured minimize the adverse effects of multipath interference (MPI) that can arise in a short, single-mode conventional stub fiber that has a large group index difference. The optical fiber is also configured to have a mode-field diameter that is substantially the same as that of single-mode optical fibers intended for use as field fiber in a mechanical splice connector, along with a cutoff wavelength λC≦1200 nm. An optical fiber connector that uses the optical fiber as a stub fiber is also disclosed.