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Tag: marvin vettori

  • Marvin Vettori Pulls Out Of UFC Baku Fight

    Marvin Vettori Pulls Out Of UFC Baku Fight

    Marvin Vettori has pulled out of his fight against Ismail Naurdiev at UFC Baku on June 27 after suffering a broken rib in training.

    Vettori revealed the injury on his Instagram Stories, explaining the timeline and what comes next.

    “Unfortunately, I am here to tell you that a few days ago I got hurt on my rib. I did an MRI and it came back today showing that the rib is broken. So I won’t be fighting on June 27. I was really looking forward to this fight. I moved from Florida to California for this camp. I wanted to get back to my roots, train with Beneil Dariush. I was feeling good. Sometimes sh*t happens and you can’t do nothing about it. Now I’m just gonna focus on my recovery. Hopefully it doesn’t take too long. Four to six weeks I am good to train again. For everybody that supported me, I am thankful for that. I promise you that I will be back.”

    Vettori has gone 2-5 in his last seven fights since challenging Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title at UFC 263 in 2021. He is winless since beating Roman Dolidze in London three years ago.

    UFC Baku takes place June 27 at the National Gymnastics Arena in Azerbaijan. The event is headlined by Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres.

  • Marvin Vettori Saddened To Get Kicked Out of Group Chat with Khamzat Chimaev, Darren Till, and Sean Strickland

    Marvin Vettori Saddened To Get Kicked Out of Group Chat with Khamzat Chimaev, Darren Till, and Sean Strickland

    Marvin Vettori was once in a middleweight super group online with the likes Khamzat Chimaev, Darren Till, and Sean Strickland until ‘The Italian Dream’ got the boot from it. This was situation was touched on by the former UFC middleweight title challenger during an interview with Helen Yee Sports. Vettori was covering several subjects ahead of his looming clash with Brunno Ferreira which is set for UFC 323 on December 6th.

    Part of the reason for his group chat removal seems to be tied somewhat to his recent work at Beneil Dariush‘s Kings MMA Anaheim and prioritizing being in California more than Nevada, as of late, as Vettori said,

    ā€œWe even have a group that Sean Strickland did on Instagram, and we were talking all kinds of stuff in that groupā€”Darren Till and Khamzat were in it too. And even right after the fight, I said, ā€˜Listen, Darren, just stop it. You look horrible holding those pads.ā€™ But he never answered. We used to bully Darren a little bit in that group. Sean kicked me out. Itā€™s so funny. Like, people just sending videosā€¦ Sean never told you about it?”

    “It was supposed to be a sparring group, and then they kicked me out since Iā€™m not in Vegas all the time, and I didnā€™t show up. Khamzat even said it: ā€˜Oh, I didnā€™t show up for the sparring that time.ā€™ But I was like, bro, am I going to drive five hours just to spar and then come backā€¦ I didnā€™t plan it. Plus, I got my own stuff going on, and I want to fight this guy, so Iā€™m not going to spar him.ā€ā€‹

    Marvin Vettori receives flak for controversial online remarks

    Marvin Vettori is someone who clearly does not mince words, and this was reflected in relatively recent online comments he made that many saw as antisemitic. In an aggressive retweet that took place on his personal X account, Vettori stated,

    ā€œF* all these people, this s* is getting out of hand, they control everything, f*** these ashkenazi Jews that wants control over the world. Here I said it.ā€

    Vettori demonstrably does not care who his comments rub the wrong way, and it seems like all kinds of speech is on the table in this Dana White “free speech” era of the UFC.

    Sean Strickland, Khamzat Chimaev & Darren Till, Marvin Vettori
  • Marvin Vettori comes under heavy fire for controversial tweet

    Marvin Vettori comes under heavy fire for controversial tweet

    UFC fighter Marvin Vettori has come under fire for an antisemitic tweet that he posted to social media platform X.

    One thing we know to be true about Marvin Vettori is that he’s never afraid to speak his mind. While he’s best known for his accomplishments inside the cage, the Italian also has a tendency to voice his thoughts on social media, in interviews, and in back and forth exchanges with his rivals.

    Of course, for a lot of fans and media members, there are lines that you simply don’t cross. Marvin Vettori tends to get quite close to the line, but in the eyes of many, he stepped over it with the following statement.

    Marvin Vettori lashes out

    ā€œF*** all these people, this s*** is getting out of hand, they control everything, f*** these ashkenazi Jews that wants control over the world. Here I said it.ā€

    At this point, we shouldn’t be surprised by any kind of statement made by a UFC fighter – especially in the “free speech” age that we appear to be living through. Dana White isn’t the kind of boss who is going to punish his fighters for what they say, and as such, we can’t imagine there are going to be many repercussions for Vettori with respect to these comments.

    Whether it be Vettori, Bryce Mitchell, Sean Strickland or any number of other fighters, tweets like this are going to continue happening.

    Will things change in the future? It certainly doesn’t seem overly likely.

  • “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    “Diabolical” – Fight Fans Question Brendan Allen’s Post-Fight Speech After Defeating Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen’s grudge seemed to come to an end at UFC 318, as the two clashed on the preliminary card, with Allen scoring a decision win.

    The two began to trade right away, with each making the other stumble in the fight’s opening minute. Allen, however, pressured and brought the fight to the ground, threatening a bloodied Vettori with a rear-naked choke. Vettori survived the attempts, however, and rolled his way on top. Vettori threatened his own choke before Allen got back to his feet with 90 seconds left in the round.

    The second round was closer, with both men having their moments — though Allen’s strikes may have had a little more impact behind them. The two continued their back-and-forth battle into the third round, with Allen eventually taking a unanimous decision on the scorecards.

    Allen’s post-fight speech brought a lot of cheers in the Smoothie King Center, considering Allen is a native of Louisiana. However, Allen’s tribute to his own brother was brought about some dispute from some in the MMA community.

    Vettori recently lost his own brother in a house fire.

    Brendan Allen Scores Victory Over Rival Marvin Vettori At UFC 318

    Allen and Vettori have had bad blood since a scheduled bout between the two last year fell through. The two later went on to have a physical altercation in Florida following a PFL card.

    This win allows Allen to rebound following back-to-back losses against Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    Vettori has now lost three straight and four of her last five.

  • Marvin Vettori Doesn’t Like Brendan Allen and Explains Precisely Why: “His Face”

    Marvin Vettori doesn’t like Brendan Allen.

    Last year, a run-in at a casino in Florida resulted in a full-fledge brawl between Vettori and Allen. Now, the two middleweight contenders will square off this Saturday night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to New Orleans for a loaded UFC 318 card inside the Smoothie King Center.

    In the time since their viral encounter, Vettori has had plenty of negative things to say about Allen, but his hatred for the American boils down to Vettori simply not liking the cut of Allen’s jib.

    ā€œItā€™s a long story. But Iā€™m gonna tell you this, just by the look of his face, I donā€™t like him,ā€ Vettori told TMZ Sports. ā€œDoesnā€™t take much. Fā€”k man, this guy, heā€™s just unlikable. But I mean there is reason but I donā€™t want to say it hereā€¦ The way he carries himself, heā€™s just a whiny little guy.”

    Marvin Vettori Promises a Big Finish in ‘The Big Easy’

    With that said, ‘The Italian Dream’ is determined to deliver a highlight-reel finish in NOLA and climb his way back into the win column for the first time since 2023.

    “Itā€™s not gonna go the distance, Iā€™m just gonna tell you that,” he added. “Iā€™m gonna go all out, itā€™s gonna be like now or never, itā€™s gonna be kill or dieā€¦ Iā€™m looking to run through him, completely fā€”ing dismantle this guy.”

    Vettori goes into the bout riding back-to-back losses, coming up short against Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze. Similarly, Allen has also lost his last in his two outings, falling to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez.

    With Vettori and Allen holding things down as the 10th and 11th-ranked fighters in the division, respectively, a win is unlikely to gain either one much momentum at middleweight. However, it will give the winner and opportunity to once again fight their way up the rankings rather than simply trying to maintain their position.

  • Marvin Vettori Ready To Kill or Die in His Next UFC Bout In Memory of His Brother

    Marvin Vettori Ready To Kill or Die in His Next UFC Bout In Memory of His Brother

    UFC star Marvin Vettori has a kill or be killed mentality ahead of his UFC 318 collision with Brendan Allen this weekend.

    On Saturday night, Marvin Vettori will once again step into the cage to battle Brendan Allen. While it may be just another fight in the eyes of some fans, many know that this is far more important for the Italian sensation. That’s because he will be fighting for the first time since the death of his brother earlier this year.

    Marvin Vettori is an absolute warrior and we all know that to be true, but something as devastating as this is bound to impact you in unspeakable ways. He is a veteran in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and he always goes out there with the intention of putting on a show, but this is different.

    In a recent video, Marvin Vettori opened up about his mentality ahead of this contest.

    Marvin Vettoriā€™s mentality ahead of UFC 318

    “It’s now or never. It’s a kill or be killed. That’s my mentality.

    “It’s not just for me. This fight is for everybody that is very close to me and for my brother, obviously, and he would have wanted me to do this, you know.

    “It’s the example that I set for him since the beginning and I refuse to be just miserable and just stay at home and just don’t do nothing.”

    Hopefully, we get the very best version of Vettori as he attempts to go out there and make a statement.

  • Marvin Vettori Mourns Loss Of His Younger Brother Due To Devastating House Fire

    Marvin Vettori Mourns Loss Of His Younger Brother Due To Devastating House Fire

    Marvin Vettori has recently endured an unimaginable loss.

    On Tuesday morning, reports emerged in Italian media revealing the heartbreaking news that Patrick Vettori, the younger brother of former UFC middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, sadly passed away in a house fire at his residence in Mezzocorona, Italy.

    The fire is believed to have started after Patrick accidentally left a pan on the stove and fell asleep on the couch. Although emergency services were alerted by neighbors, police, and firefighters arrived at scene too late ā€” he had already succumbed to smoke inhalation.

    ā€œThe Italian Dreamā€ took to Instagram to confirm the unfortunate demise of his 30-year-old brother. In a deeply emotional tribute, Vettori shared a series of poignant childhood photos and penned a heartfelt message for Patrick.

    “You were and always will be No. 1 my little brother! You left us leaving an unfillable void, I will love you until my last breath. I donā€™t think Iā€™ll be the same after today because maybe I never told you but youā€™ve always been my strength. You were the smartest and smartest of the 2, you were creating a wonderful future for yourself and I canā€™t get over it.”

    “It is said that Jesus calls back the most beautiful souls prematurely to have them with him in heaven and then I hope that you are there with him looking and watching over us with that goodness that has always set you apart. I love you my brother, and even though it wonā€™t be easy to continue life without you, it gives me heart to know that one day Iā€™ll be buried next to you.”

    While details about Patrick Vettoriā€™s personal life remain limited, his Instagram profile offers a glimpse into his professional ventures. He was the owner of a real estate firm called Vettori Homes and the co-founder of Padel Hall, a paddle tennis facility based in Trento.

  • ‘Angry Marvin Vettori’ Back After Loss In UFC Return ‘Sparked The Fire Again’

    ‘Angry Marvin Vettori’ Back After Loss In UFC Return ‘Sparked The Fire Again’

    According to former UFC middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, something good came out of his loss this past weekend.

    Vettori returned to action for the first time in almost two years, running it back with Roman Dolidze in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex.

    While the Georgian marked the last man Vettori has beaten, the Italian was unable to repeat his 2023 feat in London when they squared off in a rematch, instead falling to a convincing decision defeat.

    Having now lost three of his last four, Vettori is firmly out of the championship conversation at 185 pounds. But although that will no doubt be a disappointment for him, it isn’t all negative.

    In a recent social media post, “The Italian Dream” claimed his latest setback has “sparked the fire again.”

    Vettori will now look to prove as much when he makes the walk again, and he seemingly has a name in mind for his second outing of 2025.

    “Saturday sparked the fire again, 21 months out was a bit,” Marvin Vettori wrote on X. “Angry Vettori might be back lol. Time to win some fights. Allen before I see you outside, what you doing next? Who is gonna retire who?”

    Brendan Allen also started this year on the wrong foot, having fallen to a two-fight losing skid courtesy of Anthony Hernandez in Seattle last month.

    After consecutive losses to Nassourdine Imavov and “Fluffy,” Allen sits one place below Vettori in the UFC middleweight rankings at #11.

  • Marvin Vettori: Trilogy With Roman Dolidze ‘Has To Happen’ After UFC Vegas 104

    Marvin Vettori: Trilogy With Roman Dolidze ‘Has To Happen’ After UFC Vegas 104

    UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori sees only one option following Saturday’s UFC Vegas 104 result.

    Vettori’s plan to ascend back into the championship conversation at 185 pounds took a hit this weekend at the Apex, where he suffered a third loss in the space of four fights.

    In his first outing since a setback against Jared Cannonier in June 2023, “The Italian Dream” ran it back with the man he last defeated, Roman Dolidze.

    Vettori was unable to repeat his feat from London two years ago, instead falling on the wrong side of a decision in their five-round rematch.

    Like their first contest, Saturday’s main event wasn’t among the most enthralling and entertaining of the year to date. With that in mind, it would seem that not many are pandering to see the 1-1 feud get settled in a trilogy.

    The Italian former title challenger, however, sees it as essential.

    “I guess we’ll need a trilogy,” Marvin Vettori wrote on X. “The most nonsense trilogy, I agree with you bastards lol. But at this point it has to happen.”

    While Vettori returns to the drawing board and looks to bounce back next time out, Dolidze can expect to return to the middleweight top 10 come Tuesday’s rankings update.

  • Fighters React As Roman Dolidze Avenges Marvin Vettori Loss In UFC Vegas 104 Rematch

    Fighters React As Roman Dolidze Avenges Marvin Vettori Loss In UFC Vegas 104 Rematch

    After falling short in their original encounter at UFC 286, Roman Dolidze exacted revenge when he and Marvin Vettori were placed into a five-round rematch, scoring a unanimous decision win in the UFC Vegas 104 main event.

    Both men put their striking on display in the opening frame. While Vettori landed more in terms of quantity, it seemed Dolidze was landing the powerful, more effective strikes. The Georgian managed to pull away in activity with a clear second round, though he appeared to get lucky when a pair of fouls did not result in a point deduction from referee Herb Dean.

    The two were even in terms of strikes in round three, but the Italian former title challenger had the better activity around this time. Dolidze, however, seemed to turn things up in the main event/championship rounds. “The Caucasian” established control with his strikes and was the one bringing the pressure in the fight’s final 10 minutes.

    This led to the judges giving Dolidze the nod 49-46 across the board.

    Roman Dolidze Gets Revenge On Marvin Vettori With Clear Five-Round Decision Victory

    https://twitter.com/BorrachinhaMMA/status/1901082659432133116

    Dolidze has now won three straight and may be in position for a potential top-five opponent in his next outing.

    Vettori, meanwhile, has now lost three of his last four and is 2-3 since falling short in a middleweight title shot against Israel Adesanya in 2021.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights:Ā Roman Dolidze Decisions Marvin Vettori

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights:Ā Roman Dolidze Decisions Marvin Vettori

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Ā 

    In the main event, middleweights Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze clashed. While in the co-main event,Ā Chidi NjokuaniĀ facedĀ Elizeu Zaleski dos SantosĀ in a welterweight matchup.Ā 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight: Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori via unanimous decisionĀ (49-46×3)
    • Welterweight: Chidi Njokuani def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos via TKO: R2, 2.19
    • Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2) 
    • Bantamweight: Daā€™Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson via submission: R2, 4.09
    • Light Heavyweight: Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay via submission: R2, 1.28
    • Featherweight: Kevin Vallejos def. SeungWoo Choi via TKO: R1, 3.09

    Preliminary Card

    • Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann via TKO: R2, 4.48
    • Bantamweight: SuYoung You def. AJ Cunningham via unanimous decision (30-27×3)  
    • Bantamweight: Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa via submission: R1, 3.16  
    • Womenā€™s Strawweight: Sam Hughes def. Stephanie Luciano via split decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-29)
    • Flyweight: Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez via submission: R3, 3.05
    • Womenā€™s Bantamweight: Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes via KO: R1, 2.46

    Womenā€™s Flyweight: Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben via TKO: R1, 1.40

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Carli Judice def. Yuneisy Duben

    Carli Judice earned a first-round TKO of Yuneisy Duben in their women’s flyweight bout.

    Priscila Cachoeira def. Josiane Nunes

    Priscila Cachoeira earned a first-round KO of Josiane Nunes in their women’s bantamweight fight.

    Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez

    Andre Lima submitted Daniel Barez in the third round of their flyweight bout.

    Carlos Vera def. Josias Musasa

    Carlos Vera got it done with a first-round submission of Josias Musasa.

    Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Ryan Spann

    Waldo Cortes-Acosta earned a second round TKO in his heavyweight bout with Ryan Spann.

    Main Card Highlights:

    Kevin Vallejos def. SeungWoo Choi

    Kevin Vallejos stopped SeungWoo Choi in the first round of their featherweight matchup.

    Brendson Ribeiro def. Diyar Nurgozhay

    In this light heavyweight bout, Brendson Ribeiro submitted Diyar Nurgozhay in the second round.

    Daā€™Mon Blackshear def. Cody Gibson

    Daā€™Mon Blackshear submitted Cody Gibson in the third round of their bantamweight fight.

    Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh

    Alexander Hernandez got it done on the scorecards against Kurt Holobaugh.

    Chidi NjokuaniĀ def. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

    In the co-main event, Chidi NjokuaniĀ earned a TKO of Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in the second round of their welterweight bout.

    Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori

    In the main event, Roman Dolidze got it done on the scorecards against Marvin Vettori.

  • UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze 2 takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results.

    After staging its latest pay-per-view event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena last weekend, the mixed martial arts leader is back at its home base of the Apex to continues its March schedule.

    Headlining will be former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori. The Italian will return from a near-two-year layoff to run it back with Roman Dolidze, whom he previously outpointed in a lackluster three-round clash in 2023.

    Elsewhere, Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Alexander Hernandez, Cody Gibson, SeungWoo Choi, and Ryan Spann will be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 takes place on Saturday, March 15, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

    See above for a replay of the weigh-ins viaĀ MMA Junkie, and check out the results below.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Marvin Vettori (186lbs) vs. Roman Dolidze (186lbs)
    • Welterweight: Chidi Njokuani (172.25lbs)* vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (171lbs)
    • Lightweight: Alexander Hernandez (156lbs) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (155.5lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Daā€™Mon Blackshear (136lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (136lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Diyar Nurgozhay (120.5lbs)** vs. Brendson Ribeiro (205.5lbs)
    • Featherweight: SeungWoo Choi (146lbs) vs. Kevin Vallejos (145.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Heavyweight: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (261.5lbs) vs. Ryan Spann (249lbs)
    • Bantamweight: SuYoung You (136lbs) vs. AJ Cunningham (136lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Carlos Vera (136lbs) vs. Josias Musasa (136.5lbs)*
    • Women’s Strawweight: Stephanie Luciano (116lbs) vs. Sam Hughes (116lbs)
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez (126lbs) vs. Andre Lima (126lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Josiane Nunes (136lbs) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (135lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Yuneisy Duben (125.5lbs) vs. Carli Judice (125lbs)

    *Chidi Njokuani missed the welterweight limit by 1.25 pounds, fine TBA

    **Diyar Nurgozhay missed the light heavyweight limit by 4.5 pounds, fine TBA

    ***Josias Musasa missed the bantamweight limit by 0.5 pounds, fine TBA

  • UFC Vegas 104 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Card

    UFC Vegas 104 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Card

    UFC Vegas 104 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekendā€™s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, March 15, at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. The main card begins at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be a pair of ranked middleweights, with former title challenger Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze running it back two years on from their lackluster three-round clash in London, which was won by the Italian.Ā 

    And also making the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos, Alexander Hernandez, and Ryan Spann.

    UFC Vegas 104: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Vegas 104 (as of 3/11), courtesy ofĀ DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Marvin Vettori (-170) vs. Roman Dolidze (+142)
    • Chidi Njokuani (+154) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (-185)
    • Alexander Hernandez (-205) vs. Kurt Holobaugh (+170)
    • Da’Mon Blackshear (-455) vs. Cody Gibson (+350)
    • Diyar Nurgozhay (-345) vs. Brendson Ribeiro (+275)
    • SeungWoo Choi (+410) vs. Kevin Vallejos (-550)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-166) vs. Ryan Spann (+140)
    • SuYoung You (-600) vs. AJ Cunningham (+440)
    • Carlos Vera (+500) vs. Josias Musasa (-700)
    • Stephanie Luciano (-230) vs. Sam Hughes (+190)
    • Daniel Barez (+280) vs. Andre Lima (-355)
    • Josiane Nunes (-185) vs. Priscila Cachoeira (+154)
    • Yuneisy Duben (+295) vs. Carli Judice (-375)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VekL1KtzFzY
  • Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Rematch Set For UFC Fight Night Headliner In March

    Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Rematch Set For UFC Fight Night Headliner In March

    Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze are reportedly on track to run it back.

    According to a recent report by @MagicM_MMABets on X, former UFC middleweight title challenger Vettori is set to make his Octagon return after nearly two years on the sidelines. He will face his former opponent, Dolidze, in a rematch headlining a UFC Fight Night event scheduled for March 15 at the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The news was corroborated by Eurosport Nederland’s Marcel Dorff.

    The two fighters first crossed paths at UFC 286 in March 2023, where “The Italian Dream” emerged victorious with a gritty unanimous decision.

    Since then, Vettori has stepped into the Octagon just once, suffering a one-sided decision loss to Jared Cannonier in June 2023. The 31-year-old Italian was originally set to make his comeback against Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 90 in April 2024, but had to withdraw from the bout just weeks before the event due to an unfortunate injury.

    “The Italian Dream” currently boasts a UFC record of 9-5-1 and hinted last month that he’s in the twilight of his career, with plans to hang up his gloves after just a few more fights.

    Meanwhile, Dolidze had a mixed yet notable year inside the cage in 2024, securing back-to-back victories over Anthony Smith and Kevin Holland at UFC 303 and UFC 307, respectively. Those wins followed a majority decision loss to Nassourdine Imavov back in February.

  • UFC Middleweight On Brendan Allen – Marvin Vettori Casino Bust Up: ‘Talk Some S**t To The Wrong Person They’ll Punch You In The Mouth’ [Exclusive]

    UFC Middleweight On Brendan Allen – Marvin Vettori Casino Bust Up: ‘Talk Some S**t To The Wrong Person They’ll Punch You In The Mouth’ [Exclusive]

    After a lot of tension between the two men due to their history where they were set to meet inside the Octagon, UFC middleweights Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori were involved in a brawl several weeks ago.

    Sources reported that the Italian fighter had gotten into an altercation with UFC fighter Tuco Tokkos which Allen then intervened in, whilst they were in attendance at a PFL event.

    The fight, which was captured on video, shows Allen going at “The Italian Dream” as both men traded blows.

    They have exchanged comments on social media and in interviews multiple times before so this beef certainly didn’t come out of nowhere.

    Zach Reese Says Online Trash Talking Isn’t For Him

    In a recent interview with MMA News, UFC middleweight Zach Reese gave his thoughts on the viral brawl between Vettori and Allen.

    The 30-year-old has got back-to-back wins in the 185-pound weight class.

    Reese believes that whilst he understands that trash-talking is a big part of the sport today, it’s not something that he likes to partake in.

    “Savage” has no problem saying what he thinks but he isn’t going to say anything that he can’t physically back up in person, as opposed to making comments from the other side of a screen.

    “I don’t believe in jumping, I think that’s what’s gone down the world is that people won’t have one-on-one fist fights anymore and you know dude, if you talk s*** on the internet, I think talking s*** on the internet’s lame as f*** to be honest man. I don’t even know the whole backstory on that or who started it or whatever but there’s something in me as like a man, it’s just I don’t like the idea of talking s*** on the internet dude, it’s kind of weird. I know it’s kind of the name of the game in MMA and it gets the fans excited and stuff but yeah, if you talk crap to somebody man then you better be willing to face the consequences or say it to their face. Talk some s*** to the wrong person, they’ll punch you in the mouth.”

    Read also: Khamzat Chimaevā€™s Former ā€˜Main Sparring Partnerā€™ Caio Borralho Warns Robert Whittaker: ā€˜I Didnā€™t See Any Other Guy In My Lifeā€¦ā€™

  • Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’Ā 

    Darren Till Takes Aim At Top UFC Middleweight Names: ‘Whittaker, I F**king Love You, But I Beat You’Ā 

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Till has been getting vocal about the division he was once a part of, and that continued this week with some opinions on the top middleweight fighters.

    Till hasn’t competed in mixed martial arts since a defeat to then-future champion Dricus Du Plessis in late 2022. The start of the subsequent year saw “The Gorilla” granted his release from the UFC, and he’s since had just one boxing outing.

    All the while, the Liverpool native has vowed to return to the Octagon down the line and hasn’t shied away from giving his assessments of various fighters and matchups, especially at his most recent fighting weight in the UFC of 185 pounds.

    That was on display this month when Till posted numerous tweets about the UFC 305 main event between Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, offering advice to the latter while constantly berating his former opponent.

    That trend has remained this week, but it wasn’t just the South African taking fire…

    Till Berates Some, Praises Others: ‘DDP I Hate Your Guts…Sean I Like’

    In a recent X post, Till gave his honest take on a number of notable names in the middleweight division, expressing somewhat positive thoughts on Marvin Vettori, Sean Strickland, and Robert Whittaker.

    All three still caught some flak, but it was Du Plessis and Adesanya who took the brunt of it.

    “Marvin I really like but ur sh*t. DDP I hate ur guts and ur sh*t. Izzy!!!! Ur gay and ur sh*t. Sean I like and ur ok cos u beat me up in the gym once I boxed ur head off. Whittaker I f**king love u but I beat you, you chose the sh*thouse way and took me down 10 seconds in the last round… ur sh*t.”

    Till also didn’t miss an opportunity to quip at himself.

    “Have I missed anyone out? Oh sh*t yeh… myself, I’m f**king so shit I really am.”

    And newly crowned UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad also briefly entered the Scouser’s crosshairs.

    “Also Belal Muhammad isn’t a real fighter strip him of his title he cheated against Leon!!!!!”

  • Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    Dana White Reacts To UFC Fighters Brawling At PFL Event With Jibe At The Rival Promotion

    A UFC fight appeared to break out at the venue that hosted last night’s PFL Playoffs event, as ranked middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori went at it ā€” just not in the cage.

    The scuffle took place on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, immediately following the PFL card.

    There were multiple reports and videos that flooded social media in the immediate aftermath, but MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin brought out the clearest report. According to him, Vettori swung and missed at UFC light heavyweight Tuco Tokkos.

    Michael Johnson tried to step in to move everyone away, but Allen connected with a one-two on Vettori, dropping him to the casino floor.

    Video of the incident can be seen below:

    https://twitter.com/Im565097757086/status/1824685398997520868

    Dana White Takes Shot At PFL In Response To Brendan Allen & Marvin Vettori’s Post-Show Scuffle

    UFC CEO Dana White appeared to see the footage and decided to use the opportunity to take a light-herted jab at his rival promotion.

    “Had to be fight of the night if it was at PFL,” White wrote.

    Allen and Vettori were originally scheduled to square off in the main event of UFC Vegas 90 in April before Vettori pulled out of the fight due to injury. Since then, however, the two have continuously exchanged harsh words to one another.

    Allen instead rematched and defeated Chris Curtis in that main event. The win was Allen’s seventh in a row, and he is scheduled to face Nassourdine Imavov in Paris next month.

    Vettori, a former middleweight title challenger, has lost three of his last five. He has not fought since June of last year, dropping a decision to Jared Cannonier.

  • Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori Targeted For UFC 275

    A UFC middleweight showdown between former champion Robert Whittaker and former title challenger Marvin Vettori is in the works.

    MMA Fighting was the first to report the news of the targeted booking for UFC 275 on June 11.

    Whittaker hinted at a quick turnaround during a recent interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. He also recently teased a fight with Vettori as the fight to make, and it appears that the matchup will come to fruition.

    Whittaker most recently fell to UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 271. It was a competitive fight from start to finish, but Adesanya earned the unanimous decision victory in their title rematch.

    Whittaker had worked his way back to the title shot after getting knocked out by Adesanya at UFC 243. He earned dominant wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Darren Till before getting the second fight with Adesanya.

    Vettori Adesanya
    Marvin Vettori, Israel Adesanya

    Vettori is one of the few top UFC middleweights who Whittaker hasn’t fought to date.

    Vettori rebounded from a loss to Adesanya at UFC 263 with a win over Paulo Costa last October. The fight was originally supposed to take place at middleweight but took place at light heavyweight after Costa showed up on fight week overweight.

    Before the loss to Adesanya, Vettori earned one-sided wins over the likes of Kevin Holland and Jack Hermansson.

    Along with Whittaker vs. Vettori, Adesanya is expected to defend his title later this year against top contender Jared Cannonier. Sean Strickland is also closing in on a title shot after beating Hermansson earlier this year to make it six straight wins.

    Whittaker and Vettori are both vying for another shot at Adesanya and a fight between them would certainly make sense. UFC 275 is set to be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Glover Teixeira and JiÅ™Ć­ ProchĆ”zka.

    What is your prediction for the planned Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori fight?

  • Robert Whittaker Names The Only Fight That Makes Sense For Him Next

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker has named the only contender who makes sense as his next opponent inside the Octagon.

    Whittaker has firmly cemented himself as one of the top-two 185lbers in the UFC. Unfortunately for him, the other man in that equation, reigning titleholder Israel Adesanya, has defeated him twice.

    At UFC 271 last month, “The Reaper,” who lost the gold to Adesanya in 2019, had his chance for redemption. He got there by rebounding with three straight victories over Darren Till, Jared Cannonier, and Kelvin Gastelum.

    Despite going five rounds with “The Last Stylebender” and with some in the MMA community scoring the fight in his favor, Whittaker fell on the wrong side of a unanimous decision verdict inside Houston’s Toyota Center.

    While his first loss to Adesanya left him demotivated and considering calling quits on his in-cage career, Whittaker’s response to his second setback against the champ has been the opposite.

    Having maintained a positive attitude post-fight and in recent interviews, it’s clear Whittaker is eager to fight his way back to contention and secure an “inevitable” trilogy against his Nigerian-New Zealand middleweight counterpart.

    To do so, he’s got his sights set on a fellow top-five contender.

    Whittaker Has An Italian Dream

    During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Whittaker named #3-ranked middleweight Marvin Vettori as “the only fight that makes sense,” not just for him, but for “The Italian Dream” as well.

    “I think my guys are talking. I think that’s the next fight. That’s really the only guy in the top five that I haven’t fought,” said Whittaker. “I think that’s on the agenda. Realistically, it’s the only fight that makes sense for both of us. It’s funny, me and him both have a lot in common, we’re both chasing the third fight with Adesanya. If I can get two fights this year, that would be great. That hits my quota quite well.” (h/t CBS Sports)

    Vettori was most recently in action in the UFC Vegas 41 headliner last October. Having fallen short of the 185-pound throne four months prior at UFC 263, where he suffered a second loss to Adesanya, the 28-year-old was hoping to rebound in style.

    Against Paulo Costa, who arrived to fight week overweight and forced a switch to light heavyweight, Vettori certainly did so. After a five-round war, the Trento native was awarded the unanimous decision verdict. In doing so, he remained in the title conversation and moved closer to a potential third scrap with the middleweight king.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CViXkVCrsEi/

    While the matchup makes sense in the context of the division, Whittaker and Vettori also have a number of things in common, like “The Reaper” said. Both have suffered two losses to Adesanya, took the champ to a five-round decision in their respective rematches, and thought they’d won.

    Sounds like a match made in middleweight heaven.

    Would you like to see Robert Whittaker face Marvin Vettori next?

  • Sean Strickland Names The One MW Fighter Heā€™d Rather Not Fight

    UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland is as game as anyone when it comes to fighting, but not when it comes to fighting his friends.

    Strickland passed arguably the biggest test of his fighting career at UFC Vegas 47, outpacing Jack Hermansson en route to a unanimous decision win. His boxing led the dance once again as he overwhelmed Hermansson with his jab and combinations.

    Strickland appears to be just one fight away from a potential title shot at 185 pounds, shortly after making the move from welterweight to middleweight full-time. Israel Adesanya will face Robert Whittaker in a title rematch at UFC 271 and the next title shot is arguably still up in the air.

    Strickland is in a peculiar position in the middleweight division, but there’s one fighter who he’d rather not risk friendship in favor of competition.

    ā€œYeah, Marvin Vettori, heā€™s a good buddy of mine,” Strickland said during his UFC Vegas 47 post-fight presser. “I actually helped him train for Costa and Jack. So I mean, I was his main training partner. Thatā€™s a fight I wouldnā€™t want to fight.

    “They actually asked me when Costa drank too many wine and cookies, they offered me a lot of money to take his fight on a day notice. And I called Marvin and I was like, ā€˜Marvin, theyā€™re offering me a lot of fuckinā€™ money. I have to say yes. Marvin being a good friend, he was like, ā€˜Dude, yes. I canā€™t blame you for saying yes.ā€™ So that situation, I said yes, but if itā€™s just for what Iā€™m making, I would rather bow my head. Iā€™d let Marvin get another title shot before I fight him.ā€

    Marvin Vettori was slated to face Paulo Costa in a middleweight headliner at UFC Vegas 41. However, Costa entered fight week about 30 pounds overweight, and the bout was moved to a light heavyweight fight on short notice.

    Up until then, it was unclear if the UFC was planning to move forward with the bout. According to Strickland, the UFC involved him in their backup plans.

    Strickland has been criticized by some UFC fans and pundits regarding his pre and post-fight verbal banter. But even he has limits when it comes to his desired opponents.

    Who do you want to see Sean Strickland fight next?

  • Marvin Vettori Blasts Paulo Costa After Recent Rematch Comments

    UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori isn’t buying the idea that he owes Paulo Costa a rematch after the Brazilian’s recent comments.

    Vettori defeated Costa in a light heavyweight bout at UFC Vegas 41 last year. It was a back-and-forth war from start to finish, but Vettori was seen as the more active fighter and earned the decision on the judges’ scorecards.

    It was a wild buildup to the fight as well, as Costa came into the pre-fight festivities overweight and unable to make the 185-pound limit. The UFC and Vettori agreed to make it a 205-pound matchup after concerns that the event may fall through.

    Costa has recently come out and said that he only wants a Vettori rematch for his next Octagon appearance. It’s unlikely that the UFC will meet his demands despite Vettori being the only opponent that he seems interested in at the moment.

    Costa’s disdain for Vettori has increased since their first fight, as he’s attacked Vettori and threatened to sideline him for a year in the event a rematch happens. During a recent tweet, Vettori responded to Costa’s recent interview comments.

    “You was in the cage with me 30 pounds heavier and for real I know a b**ch her name Felicia she hits hard than you,” Vettori tweeted.

    It’s unclear who Vettori will face next in his return to the cage. UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will face Robert Whittaker in a rematch at UFC 271, but the #2-ranked Vettori could open the discussion of possibly getting another shot at Adesanya with another win.

    However, UFC President Dana White stated that Costa will need to fight at light heavyweight going forward, a claim that received major pushback from Costa’s management. At present, it seems that Costa seems content in fighting at middleweight, but it’ll have to only happen against Vettori unless he changes his mind.

    Do you want to see Marvin Vettori vs. Paulo Costa again?

  • Costa Only Interested In Vettori Rematch, ‘I Want To End His Life’

    Paulo Costa has a score to settle with Marvin Vettori.

    Paulo Costa is looking for a fight, and there is only one that interests him. Costa is coming off a loss to Marvin Vettori, and that is the man who he is targeting now.

    Costa desperately wants to run it back with Vettori and gain some revenge in the process. Costa is asking the big boss to allow him a rematch against the only man besides the champion Israel Adesanya to hand him a loss.

    ā€œI just said to let [UFC President] Dana White know,ā€ Costa told Ag. Fight via MMA Fighting. ā€œIā€™ll fight him now. Itā€™s the only fight that interests me. No one else interests me. Unless itā€™s for the title, but Iā€™m no fool. Iā€™m not stupid to consider [a title fight] now. I want to fight him. Heā€™s the only viable guy that interests me. If itā€™s not him, Iā€™m not even interested in fighting. I let Dana White know that.ā€

    There is no love lost between these two. Leading up to the fight, there was trash talk exchanged, and then Costa showed up to fight week overweight. During fight week, he asked the UFC to change the bout to light heavyweight, which was granted but not without some criticism from Vettori and his team. Now, Costa is the one calling out Vettori and threatening harm.

    ā€œI donā€™t respect him,ā€ Costa said of Vettori. ā€œI want to end his life. Heā€™s an a-hole, a fool. He had this win over me and thinks heā€™s the man, but heā€™s an a-hole, a child. We see heā€™s a goof, he canā€™t even wear shorts the right way. Thereā€™s a photo of him with his shorts backward, and he still thinks heā€™s the man. But Iā€™ll fight him again. I mean, at least I plan to…

    Paulo Costa Marvin Vettori
    PHOTO: MMA JUNKIE

    ā€œIā€™m not saying I want to fight Vettori because he took my place in the ranking,ā€ he continued. ā€œItā€™s not about that. Itā€™s because heā€™s an a**hole. I have to fight him. I have to erase this loss. I want to leave him sidelined for at least a year after the beating I give him. I want to hurt him. Iā€™m angry.ā€

    In the aftermath of the fight at UFC Vegas 41, Costa dropped to #5 in the rankings and was briefly condemned to fight at 205 pounds going forward. As a result of his win, Vettori now sits in the #2 spot and could be next for the winner of the title fight scheduled at UFC 271.

    It seems unlikely that Vettori will agree to face Costa again so quickly after everything that transpired leading up to the last bout. The only way could be if Robert Whittaker is victorious against Israel Adesanya and the UFC books an immediate rematch between the two.

    Do you think Marvin Vettori should agree to face Paulo Costa again?

  • Marvin Vettori Willing To “Match Any Bet” In Jake Paul Sparring Match

    UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has invited Jake Paul to a private sparring session.

    Jake Paul has made no secret of his preference to face MMA fighters throughout his boxing career. Two of his viral KOs came against former champions of the sport in Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. He has also set his sights on potential boxing matches against Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, and Kamaru Usman, among others.

    One name that isn’t on the list but would like to box Paul is “The Italian Dream” Marvin Vettori. Tuesday, Vettori posted the following challenge to Paul with a video attached of his colleagues discussing the potential session.

    “Hei Fake Paul @jakepaul letā€™s set up a sparring. Iā€™ll match any bet you want. You claim anybody, anytime, anywhere but you wonā€™t go further then 6 rounds I promise you that. Put your nuts on the table, I wanna feel if you can really box.”

    Ironically, it was just last year that Vettori blasted the media for its ongoing coverage of Paul. Yet, surely the outspoken middleweight must know that such a challenge, with Paul’s name directly attached to it, would receive wide attention and go viral.

    In any event, Vettori is not the only person to express an eagerness to spar Jake Paul. In the case of Claressa Shields, not only did she invite Paul to spar with her, she even proposed putting up $100,000 in a winner-take-all encounter. The YouTuber never responded to the “GWOAT’s” challenge, nor has he responded to Vettori’s as of this writing.

    Paul most recently knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematch on December 18 to advance his boxing record to 5-0. Marvin Vettori last competed in October with a unanimous decision victory over Paulo Costa.

    Who do you think would win in a boxing match between Jake Paul and Marvin Vettori?

  • Marvin Vettori Promises Bisping He’ll Dethrone “PED User” Adesanya

    UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has responded to compliments from Michael Bisping about his championship credentials, promising that he’ll be the one to dethrone “PED user” Israel Adesanya.

    Vettori has already failed to strip Adesanya of his gold on one occasion and failed to have his hand raised at two attempts against “The Last Stylebender.” After falling to a split decision to the Nigerian-New Zealander in 2018 when both were relatively new to the UFC, “The Italian Dream” fought his way to the top, earning a title shot following victories over Karl Roberson, Jack Hermansson, and Kevin Holland.

    In the UFC 263 main event in June this year, Vettori re-visited his rivalry with Adesanya. While he was able to take the champ the 25-minute distance, which was more than both Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa had managed, the 28-year-old was comfortably beaten on the scorecards.

    But the Trento native’s hopes of returning to contention couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. After showing his toughness by accepting a light heavyweight clash against an overweight Costa, Vettori put his power and chin on full display across five rounds with “The Eraser” at UFC Vegas 41. Thanks to a pressing volume and some clean lands, Vettori jumped to #2 in the rankings with a unanimous decision victory over the Brazilian.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CViXkVCrsEi/

    Discussing that performance during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, Bisping, a former 185-pound titleholder and current color commentator, suggested Vettori would be the current middleweight king if it wasn’t for the presence of Adesanya.

    ā€œIf it wasnā€™t for Israel Adesanya right now, heā€™d (Vettori) be the champ, definitely… Heā€™s the next best guy at 185 in my opinion, heā€™s doing tremendous things. Iā€™m a friend of Marvinā€™s, I think heā€™s tremendous. That fight he had against Paulo Costa was sensational. I called that fight, I was right there, he won that fight fair and square but Paulo Costa had a lot of success and some of the shots that Marvin ate, some of those kicks and punches and the power that Costa has, Marvin took every single fucking one of them.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Vettori Responds With A Promise

    Upon seeing Bisping’s take, Vettori took to Twitter to respond. After showing his appreciation for “The Count,” the top contender made a promise. He assured Bisping that he’ll still be the one to end Adesanya’s reign, despite failing to do so six months ago.

    He also slammed the reigning titleholder, accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs, a sentiment that began to be shared after Adesanya’s right pectoral muscle became noticeably swollen.

    “Appreciate it @Bisping Im still gonna show you I will dethrone this PED user very soon.”

    While he undoubtedly impressed in his last outing and established himself as one of the top contenders, it’ll likely be a while until Vettori has another chance at having middleweight gold wrapped around his waist.

    Adesanya is next set to run it back with former champ Whittaker at UFC 271 in February. On the same card, Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier are expected to collide to determine the next number one contender.

    With his reluctance to serve as backup for Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2, it seems “The Italian Dream” will be spending 2022 looking to secure another championship opportunity for the following year.

    Do you think Marvin Vettori has what it takes to beat Israel Adesanya if the pair run it back down the line?