Latest news with #TheItalianDream
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 72 full fight: Roman Dolidze avenges loss to Marvin Vettori
Roman Dolidze evened out the score. Roman Dolidze killed multiple bids with one stone in his last outing. Back in March, Dolidze defeated former UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori in the main event of UFC Fight Night 254. Not only was Dolidze able to extend his winning streak to three and get the biggest win of his career, but he was also able to avenge a 2023 loss, as he had previously fallen short against "The Italian Dream." You can watch Dolidze avenge his 2023 loss to Vettori in the video above. Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 72 (ESPN, ESPN+) – which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He takes on fellow contender Roman Anthony Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in a five-round contest.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Marvin Vettori can't wait to hurt Brendan Allen at UFC 318: 'I don't like the guy'
UFC 318 is personal for Marvin Vettori. NEW ORLEANS – UFC 318 is not just any regular bout for Marvin Vettori. It's personal. "The Italian Dream" takes on bitter rival Brendan Allen on the preliminary card of Saturday's UFC pay-per-view event at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) and Allen (24-7 MMA, 12-4 UFC) have plenty of history, more infamously getting into a brawl on the casino floor of the Hard Rock Hotel in South Florida. "It is what it is. It's nothing," Vettori said at the UFC 318 media day on Wednesday, recalling his run-in with Allen. "I was kind of pissed because nothing really happened, and I haven't seen him since. He lives around there, but I don't see him. It's alright at the end of the day. It is what it is. But when you run your mouth, some people think nothing is going to happen. But if you run your mouth, you have to move differently because if I see you, it's on sight." Vettori didn't elaborate exactly elaborate on the root of their feud, but Allen claims it is because he was critical of one of his performances – comments he doesn't think warrant fighting each other outside a professional context. Yet, Vettori assures its personal between the two. "For sure, (it's personal)," Vettori said. "I definitely don't like the guy. I don't like the guy." Vettori enters UFC 318 on the back of a personal tragedy. In April, Vettori's brother passed in a house fire. Understandably so, it's not something the former UFC title challenger expects to ever get over, but he wanted to return to UFC 318 to honor his brother and be an example for others. "You're never going to get over something like that, but you have to do something purposeful and meaningful and something that gets you going in the morning, and you know, be an example of resilience for him and for everybody around me," Vettori said. "I feel like at this time, this is what I was put to do, so I'm going to keep doing for that. Physically, I'm good, and I just can't' wait to get into the cage and hurt him."
USA Today
13-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC Fight Night 254 headliner Marvin Vettori aiming for career resurgence after major surgery
LAS VEGAS – Former UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori returns to the octagon this Saturday after almost two years away from competition. The last time Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) was seen in the cage was back in June 2023 when he lost a unanimous decision to fellow veteran Jared Cannonier. Since that bout, a lot has changed for 'The Italian Dream.' For starters, Vettori moved from Las Vegas to South Florida to train at American Top Team in Coconut Creek – which was a much-needed change for his career. 'I changed gyms because I felt I had to do something different – so yeah, I'm definitely not the same,' Vettori said at Wednesday's UFC Fight Night 254 media day. 'I found a home at ATT, and I'm happy that I'm representing them for the first time this time around. I've been there for a while, and it's amazing, to be honest. A lot of growth. I'm going to show it. Talk is talk at the end of the day.' Not long after, Vettori unfortunately suffered a bad shoulder injury. He tried recovering with just physical therapy, but the injury got worse. In June 2024, Vettori had to undergo surgery. It was a rough patch in his career. 'There were times when I was like, 'F*ck, is it going to be back to normal?,' because it takes so f*cking long,' Vettori explained. 'The shoulder, man, every angle you have to train because otherwise you'd be good here, but out here is weak. I'm pretty stubborn, I'm able to get after it, but I had moments, I was like, 'F*cking hell, is it going to be back to normal? Do I have to figure some other way to fight?' But sure enough, people around you and doctors tell you that eventually you'll see. People get injured all the time and come back. I was always trying to be opposite.' Vettori headlines Saturday's UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+) at the UFC Apex in a rematch against Roman Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who's on a two-fight winning streak. Vettori is eager to return, and just wants to get the ball rolling again in his career. He's 2-2 since challenging then champion Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title. He's not focused at rankings or title contention, just wants to return. 'I just see it as me getting back,' Vettori said regarding his fight against Dodlidze. 'The rest is extra. That's what I see, me getting back and feeling good, putting all the pieces together. It's been a while. The rest is extra. We'll see.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.
