UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song ·
Feb 22, 2025 ·
Catchweight (175 lb) ·
Completed
Career Averages - Austin Vanderford
3.04
SLpM
59.0%
Str. Acc.
2.71
SApM
48.0%
Str. Def.
3.08
TD Avg
35.0%
TD Acc.
100.0%
TD Def.
1.2
Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Nikolay Veretennikov
2.69
SLpM
56.0%
Str. Acc.
3.3
SApM
45.0%
Str. Def.
0.42
TD Avg
16.0%
TD Acc.
62.0%
TD Def.
0.4
Sub. Avg
Austin Vanderford
Moneyline
FanDuel
+102
KO/TKO
FanDuel
+600
Submission
BetRivers
+750
Decision
FanDuel
+220
Nikolay Veretennikov
Moneyline
Caesars
-105
KO/TKO
FanDuel
+230
Submission
FanDuel
+1300
Decision
BetRivers
+425
Austin Vanderford - Fight History
LOSS
vs
Ramiz Brahimaj
Submission
R2
2:24
·
UFC 320 ·
Oct 04, 2025
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramiz Brahimaj | 0 | 21 of 35 | 60% | 46 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:37 |
| Austin Vanderford | 0 | 5 of 16 | 31% | 13 of 24 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramiz Brahimaj | 0 | 4 of 13 | 30% | 16 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Austin Vanderford | 0 | 4 of 12 | 33% | 12 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:30 | |
| 2 | Ramiz Brahimaj | 0 | 17 of 22 | 77% | 30 of 36 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:37 |
| Austin Vanderford | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramiz Brahimaj | 21 of 35 | 60% | 18 of 29 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 9 of 23 | 8 of 8 | 4 of 4 |
| Austin Vanderford | 5 of 16 | 31% | 4 of 14 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ramiz Brahimaj | 4 of 13 | 30% | 2 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Austin Vanderford | 4 of 12 | 33% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Ramiz Brahimaj | 17 of 22 | 77% | 16 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 10 | 8 of 8 | 4 of 4 |
| Austin Vanderford | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Hesitant
picked Sep 28, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
Angelo sees this as a grappler vs grappler matchup. He believes Austin Vanderford is the better wrestler, which is the key factor since both have similar jiu-jitsu and striking. He notes that Ramiz Brahimaj can get stuck on his back and that his jiu-jitsu off his back is not as good as on top. He expects Vanderford to get takedowns and control the fight, but is not very confident in a finish.
"Austin Vanderford's going to be the pick. Not the most confident pick I have on this card though."
BI
Big Brady
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 2, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
Big Brady acknowledges that Ramiz Brahimaj is live in the first round, as he typically wins early. However, he believes Vanderford can survive the early storm, extend the fight, and mix in takedowns as the fight goes on. He notes that Brahimaj has slowed down in longer fights and that Vanderford is a good grappler. He predicts Vanderford by decision.
If you like Brahimaj, take him to win in round one.
"I think the more likely scenario is Vanderford survives an early storm ... starts mixing the takedowns as the fight goes on ... give me Vanderford here. I'm going to take Vanderford to win this fight by decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch
Expert
Hesitant
picked Oct 3, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Ramiz Brahimaj
Connor picks Brahimaj hesitantly, noting that while both fighters are similar, Brahimaj will bring an aggressive fight and is more likely to push the pace. He acknowledges that Vanderford is vulnerable and that Brahimaj has power, but admits there is not much to separate them.
Brahimaj opened at +210, currently +250; Vanderford opened at -250, currently -300
"I'll take my, I think I'm still not sold on Vanderford, but yeah, I kind of agree. I'm in Vanderford."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 4, 2025 (fight day)
Austin Vanderford
The host believes Vanderford will utilize his grappling excellence to stay out of Brahimaj's submission danger and eventually secure a second or third round TKO finish.
second or third round TKO finish
"I think this is a great fight for Vanderford to utilize his grappling excellence to stay out of the submission danger of Brahimaj and eventually lead to a second or third round TKO finish."
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 1, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
The MMA Guru picks Austin Vanderford, believing his size, wrestling, and durability will be too much for Ramiz Brahimaj. He notes Brahimaj's inconsistency and poor performances against solid competition, while Vanderford has shown grit and improving grappling. He predicts a decision win for Vanderford.
"I'm going to go with Austin Vanderford getting this one done and I'm actually going to say that he gets this done by decision over Ramiz Brahimaj."
ZA
Zane Simon
Expert
Hesitant
picked Oct 3, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Austin Vanderford
Zane picks Vanderford hesitantly, noting that both fighters are similar: good grapplers but not slick strikers. He gives Vanderford the edge because he can lay on opponents better and is more likely to control the fight, though he is also more likely to get knocked out when he screws up. Zane admits it's a coin flip.
Brahimaj opened at +210, currently +250; Vanderford opened at -250, currently -300
"I'll take my, I think I'm still not sold on Vanderford, but yeah, I kind of agree. I'm in Vanderford."
WIN
vs
Nikolay Veretennikov
KO
R2
4:13
·
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song ·
Feb 22, 2025
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Vanderford | 0 | 5 of 19 | 26% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 39 of 52 | 75% | 102 of 121 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 7:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Vanderford | 0 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 12 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 56 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:56 | |
| 2 | Austin Vanderford | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 31 of 41 | 75% | 46 of 59 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Vanderford | 5 of 19 | 26% | 0 of 12 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 39 of 52 | 75% | 37 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 36 of 44 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Vanderford | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 of 8 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 8 of 11 | 72% | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 6 | |
| 2 | Austin Vanderford | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 31 of 41 | 75% | 30 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 30 of 38 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogAustin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Round 1
On late notice, Vanderford (12-2, 0-0 UFC), famously known as the husband of Paige VanZant, will be making his organizational debut. Due to short training camp, this fight will be contested at a pre-arranged 175-pound catchweight. He faces fellow LFA vet Veretennikov (12-5, 0-1 UFC), whose 83% finish rate is nothing to sneeze at. Before chins are tested, the fighters touch ‘em up while referee Kevin MacDonald watches on. Vanderford moves to the center of the cage with the crowd loudly on his side, but the first strikes come from his opponent in the form of a jab and a low kick. They lean in and out looking for strikes, and Veretennikov leaps forward suddenly with a Superman punch that misses by a matter of inches. Veretennikov lunges again, catching Vanderford with a left up top and a right to the ribs. When he loads up on more strikes, Vanderford scoops his man up and deposits him gingerly to the mat. In his foe’s guard, Vanderford nevertheless starts opening up with strikes, grinding with elbows on the jaw and staying tight to not let Veretennikov buck or force a scramble. The strikes from above shred open a cut on the top of the Kazakhstan native’s forehead, and Vanderford targets that wound with additional sporadic strikes. Vanderford attacks with more elbows, causing more blood to flow from the gash. The activity of the newcomer is enough to stave off referee intervention, and he shifts gears to lock up an arm-triangle choke from across the body. The submission is on the wrong side, and Veretennikov does not panic and protects himself from it effectively. This excites Vanderford, who wants to wrap up the submission after all. Jumping into full mount, Vanderford squeezes with all his might for the arm-triangle choke, and he does not get the tap he is seeking even after shifting over to side control. Instead of burning his arms out, Vanderford lets it go and moves back to mount, where he rides out the round landing strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, with the crowd already at Vanderford’s back with “USA” chants. Veretennikov walks his foe down with long jabbing kicks, hoping to utilize his range and not let Vanderford get his hands on him. Vanderford slings a head kick and is dinged with a reaching strike, but he allows Veretennikov to overswing so he can wrap him up. Vanderford clasps his hands from behind, searching for a level change and lifting Veretennikov off his feet with a double-leg takedown. Veretennikov’s long legs keep him upright for the time being, but the second attempt puts him on his back. Vanderford is quick to open up with elbows as he has Veretennikov jammed up in the awkward spot between the floor and the corner of the cage wall. Vanderford’s elbows split the guard and give Veretennikov something nasty to think about, and he sees that he can land his left hand at will and does just that repeatedly. The open guard where Veretennikov is keeping his foe is not slowing him one iota, and Vanderford elects to step over to half guard while clinging to Veretennikov’s wrist to nullify him. Vanderford slugs away with a long series of left hands, and Veretennikov is moving and swaying while blocking his face but still taking damage.
MacDonald watches on asking for Veretennikov to fight back, and Vanderford keeps punching. As the dozens of strikes mount, MacDonald determines that Veretennikov is no longer intelligently defending himself and stops the fight.
Veretennikov is incensed at the referee intervention, shouting at MacDonald and his opponent. Veretennikov gets to his feet, marches over to Vanderford and angrily shoves him after the fight has been stopped, and a UFC security staff member leaps in to prevent any further nonsense. Vanderford presents the double bird before getting the microphone, where he is all smiles and shouts out his wife, who will be getting slapped soon. Meanwhile, this may be the last we see of Veretennikov in the Octagon, although the promotion has allowed a blatant eye gouger in Priscila Cachoeira to keep fighting so anything is possible.
The Official Result
Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov R2 4:13 via TKO (Punches)
Round 1
On late notice, Vanderford (12-2, 0-0 UFC), famously known as the husband of Paige VanZant, will be making his organizational debut. Due to short training camp, this fight will be contested at a pre-arranged 175-pound catchweight. He faces fellow LFA vet Veretennikov (12-5, 0-1 UFC), whose 83% finish rate is nothing to sneeze at. Before chins are tested, the fighters touch ‘em up while referee Kevin MacDonald watches on. Vanderford moves to the center of the cage with the crowd loudly on his side, but the first strikes come from his opponent in the form of a jab and a low kick. They lean in and out looking for strikes, and Veretennikov leaps forward suddenly with a Superman punch that misses by a matter of inches. Veretennikov lunges again, catching Vanderford with a left up top and a right to the ribs. When he loads up on more strikes, Vanderford scoops his man up and deposits him gingerly to the mat. In his foe’s guard, Vanderford nevertheless starts opening up with strikes, grinding with elbows on the jaw and staying tight to not let Veretennikov buck or force a scramble. The strikes from above shred open a cut on the top of the Kazakhstan native’s forehead, and Vanderford targets that wound with additional sporadic strikes. Vanderford attacks with more elbows, causing more blood to flow from the gash. The activity of the newcomer is enough to stave off referee intervention, and he shifts gears to lock up an arm-triangle choke from across the body. The submission is on the wrong side, and Veretennikov does not panic and protects himself from it effectively. This excites Vanderford, who wants to wrap up the submission after all. Jumping into full mount, Vanderford squeezes with all his might for the arm-triangle choke, and he does not get the tap he is seeking even after shifting over to side control. Instead of burning his arms out, Vanderford lets it go and moves back to mount, where he rides out the round landing strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, with the crowd already at Vanderford’s back with “USA” chants. Veretennikov walks his foe down with long jabbing kicks, hoping to utilize his range and not let Vanderford get his hands on him. Vanderford slings a head kick and is dinged with a reaching strike, but he allows Veretennikov to overswing so he can wrap him up. Vanderford clasps his hands from behind, searching for a level change and lifting Veretennikov off his feet with a double-leg takedown. Veretennikov’s long legs keep him upright for the time being, but the second attempt puts him on his back. Vanderford is quick to open up with elbows as he has Veretennikov jammed up in the awkward spot between the floor and the corner of the cage wall. Vanderford’s elbows split the guard and give Veretennikov something nasty to think about, and he sees that he can land his left hand at will and does just that repeatedly. The open guard where Veretennikov is keeping his foe is not slowing him one iota, and Vanderford elects to step over to half guard while clinging to Veretennikov’s wrist to nullify him. Vanderford slugs away with a long series of left hands, and Veretennikov is moving and swaying while blocking his face but still taking damage.
MacDonald watches on asking for Veretennikov to fight back, and Vanderford keeps punching. As the dozens of strikes mount, MacDonald determines that Veretennikov is no longer intelligently defending himself and stops the fight.
Veretennikov is incensed at the referee intervention, shouting at MacDonald and his opponent. Veretennikov gets to his feet, marches over to Vanderford and angrily shoves him after the fight has been stopped, and a UFC security staff member leaps in to prevent any further nonsense. Vanderford presents the double bird before getting the microphone, where he is all smiles and shouts out his wife, who will be getting slapped soon. Meanwhile, this may be the last we see of Veretennikov in the Octagon, although the promotion has allowed a blatant eye gouger in Priscila Cachoeira to keep fighting so anything is possible.
The Official Result
Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov R2 4:13 via TKO (Punches)
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
The host acknowledges Vanderford is on short notice and three years removed from a title fight loss, but believes his wrestling and power striking will keep Veretennikov on the defensive. He expects a dirty, ugly fight with Vanderford winning on the scorecards.
"look for him to keep verit tanov on the defensive by using his wrestling and keeping him up against the cage it might be dirty it might be ugly and it might be boring but I think vanderford will win …"
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 21, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The Guru picks Veretennikov by TKO early, citing a skill difference in setting up strikes. He notes Vanderford is known as Paige VanZant's boyfriend, lost to Mousasi, and seems 'chiny'. He rates Veretennikov's losses (to Danny Barlow, Michael Morales) higher than Vanderford's wins, and expects a first or second round finish.
TKO first or second round
"I'm going to go with Nikolai vernikov by TKO early into the fight I think this is going to be a first round KO from vernikov"
Nikolay Veretennikov - Fight History
LOSS
vs
Khaos Williams
KO/TKO
R1
3:31
·
UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa ·
May 16, 2026
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khaos Williams | 0 | 13 of 25 | 52% | 20 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 1 | 21 of 56 | 37% | 36 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khaos Williams | 0 | 13 of 25 | 52% | 20 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 1 | 21 of 56 | 37% | 36 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khaos Williams | 13 of 25 | 52% | 8 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 21 of 56 | 37% | 9 of 35 | 7 of 9 | 5 of 12 | 20 of 52 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khaos Williams | 13 of 25 | 52% | 8 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 21 of 56 | 37% | 9 of 35 | 7 of 9 | 5 of 12 | 20 of 52 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Lean
picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Angelo picks Nikolay Veretennikov, considering him the better technical striker. He notes Khaos Williams has no takedown attempts in the UFC, so if Veretennikov has success striking, Williams has no backup plan. He expects Veretennikov's forward pressure to disrupt Williams. He calls it a crazy close fight.
"I actually think Nikolai is the better striker between the two. ... I'm actually going to pick Nikolai here."
BI
Big Brady
Expert
Lean
picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Big Brady picks Nikolay Veretennikov as a slight underdog, citing his striking tools and durability. He notes that Khaos Williams has not completed a takedown in the UFC, so the fight will likely stay standing, where Veretennikov has the edge. He predicts a decision win but is not confident enough to bet.
"I'm going to take the slight dog here in Veritin."
CO
Cody Saftic
Expert
Lean
picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Cody picks Nikolay Veretennikov, noting that Khaos Williams has looked disinterested and reluctant to engage in recent fights. Veretennikov is a versatile striker with good body work and durability, while Williams relies on power but has low volume. Cody believes Veretennikov's higher work rate and shot selection will allow him to outwork Williams over three rounds.
"I got Verikov to edge this thing out."
CO
Connor Ruebusch
Expert
Hesitant
picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Khaos Williams
Connor picks Williams but with hesitation, noting that Veretennikov could win if he circles away and throws one-twos, but Veretennikov doesn't circle. He emphasizes that Williams is a power-based fighter with no technique and has been brutally bullied in recent fights, but Veretennikov is not good enough to exploit that.
Same odds as Zane. Connor calls it a 'wasted matchup' and suggests better opponents for Williams.
"I'm going to still pick him, but it has to be noted. Like if Veritenikoff just shows up and like I said, it's like, Oh, what if I circle away and throw one tooth or just ones?"
DI
Diary of a Pro Gambler
Expert
Lean
picked May 16, 2026 (fight day)
Khaos Williams
Williams lands harder shots and has better cardio. Veretennikov slows down and has poor takedown offense. However, Williams can be passive and head-hunts. The fight spread is a better bet than the moneyline.
Khaos Williams +3.5 at 1.60 is a great bet.
"I'm very tempted to bet on Khaos Williams in this matchup."
LU
Lucrative James
Expert
Confident
picked May 10, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Lucrative James picks Nikolay Veretennikov to win by KO, citing Veretennikov's Muay Thai clinch and knees against a striker like Williams. He notes Williams's recent losses and potential lack of focus, while Veretennikov is all-in on MMA. He predicts a second-round finish via knee to the body.
win by KO in round 2
"I'm picking Nikolai Veritenov to get this one done via knee to the body in the clinch in round two."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked May 12, 2026 (4 days before fight)
Khaos Williams
The host believes Williams' defensive grappling is good enough to keep the fight standing, where he has the striking advantage. He expects Williams to pull away in the later rounds and win by decision, though a knockout is possible. He is confident in Williams at -130.
"I think his grappling defense will be good enough to keep Veritanikov away from trying to grind this fight out. And in terms of striking, I think Williams is the more dangerous striker."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Khaos Williams
The host picks Khaos Williams over Nikolay Veretennikov, expecting Williams to thwart Veretennikov's approach and land big power shots early and often, leading to a decision win.
"I fully expect Williams to thwart whatever approach Veretennikov is taking and then start to battle back with big power of his own, and I think he'll be able to touch up Veretennikov early and often, and I think that …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy
Expert
Lean
picked May 13, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Paul hesitantly picks Nikolay Veretennikov at plus 110, noting that both fighters' opponents usually try to take them down. He hopes that Veretennikov's training camp with high-level wrestlers may have improved his offensive wrestling, allowing him to steal close rounds. He acknowledges it's a volatile fight and is not heavily invested.
"Give me the ever so slight plus money on Nikolai. Um, hesitantly."
ZA
Zane Simon
Expert
Confident
picked May 15, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Khaos Williams
Zane picks Khaos Williams because Veretennikov is low-output, can't wrestle, and doesn't use his length effectively. He notes that Williams is powerful and should be able to blitz Veretennikov, though he acknowledges Williams has never beaten a really good fighter and his last two fights were brutal losses.
Odds: Williams opened -150, now -120; Veretennikov opened +130, now +100. Zane calls it a 'stupid fight' and a 'wasted matchup'.
"So yeah, he'll probably beat Nikolai Veritenikov. Yeah, probably scare him at least."
WIN
vs
Niko Price
KO
R1
1:42
·
UFC Fight Night: Bautista vs. Oliveira ·
Feb 07, 2026
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 19 of 30 | 63% | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Niko Price | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 19 of 30 | 63% | 20 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Niko Price | 0 | 9 of 23 | 39% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 19 of 30 | 63% | 12 of 22 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 21 | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Niko Price | 9 of 23 | 39% | 7 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 19 of 30 | 63% | 12 of 22 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 21 | 9 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Niko Price | 9 of 23 | 39% | 7 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 9 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogNikolay Veretennikov vs. Niko Price
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Veretennikov (-225); Price (+185)
Round 1
A pink slip derby at 170 pounds comes next as Kazakhstan native Veretennikov (13-7, 1-3 UFC) looks to get back in the win column at the expense of the similarly skidding Price (16-9, 2 NC; 8-9, 2 NC UFC). Referee Chris Tognoni will know first who ends up prevailing, and he stands guard until needed. Late replacement Price offers a sporting tap of gloves, and it is accepted.
Price leads off with a sweeping low kick, and he leaps forward to engage, throwing hands. Veretennikov meets him in the pocket with his fists, and he ends a combo with a low kick that makes Price wince. Veretennikov lands on the Floridian cleanly upstairs, knocking him back and winding up in a clinch. Veretennikov’s lumps up the midsection with knees, setting them up when an opening presents itself to unleash them. He frames off with right hands, and Price beats him to the punch on the way to a reset. Price wades into the fray, and Veretennikov busts him in the chops with his counters. Veretennikov’s heavy hands back Price against the fence after blocking a front kick, and he smashes Price in the face with a right hand that shakes him up badly. Veretennikov appears surprised that Price’s hands dropped from the first blow, and he delivers a concussive knee to the jaw that puts Price on ice skates.
Veretennikov stands Price back up with an elbow that partially shut his lights off, and he knocks a semi-conscious Price’s head around with huge swings until an intervening Tognoni realizes that Price is completely out on his feet with one finger stuck in the cage the only thing keeping him from collapsing.
The mighty knockout is a huge feather in the cap of Veretennikov, whose roster spot might have been terminated with a defeat. Price comes to, and he does not know what happened, upset that the fight has been stopped but unsure why. He manages to come around, and he gives it up for the fighter named “Gladiator” who just deprived him of his consciousness.
The Official Result
Nikolay Veretennikov def. Niko Price R1 1:42 via KO (Elbow and Punches)
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Veretennikov (-225); Price (+185)
Round 1
A pink slip derby at 170 pounds comes next as Kazakhstan native Veretennikov (13-7, 1-3 UFC) looks to get back in the win column at the expense of the similarly skidding Price (16-9, 2 NC; 8-9, 2 NC UFC). Referee Chris Tognoni will know first who ends up prevailing, and he stands guard until needed. Late replacement Price offers a sporting tap of gloves, and it is accepted.
Price leads off with a sweeping low kick, and he leaps forward to engage, throwing hands. Veretennikov meets him in the pocket with his fists, and he ends a combo with a low kick that makes Price wince. Veretennikov lands on the Floridian cleanly upstairs, knocking him back and winding up in a clinch. Veretennikov’s lumps up the midsection with knees, setting them up when an opening presents itself to unleash them. He frames off with right hands, and Price beats him to the punch on the way to a reset. Price wades into the fray, and Veretennikov busts him in the chops with his counters. Veretennikov’s heavy hands back Price against the fence after blocking a front kick, and he smashes Price in the face with a right hand that shakes him up badly. Veretennikov appears surprised that Price’s hands dropped from the first blow, and he delivers a concussive knee to the jaw that puts Price on ice skates.
Veretennikov stands Price back up with an elbow that partially shut his lights off, and he knocks a semi-conscious Price’s head around with huge swings until an intervening Tognoni realizes that Price is completely out on his feet with one finger stuck in the cage the only thing keeping him from collapsing.
The mighty knockout is a huge feather in the cap of Veretennikov, whose roster spot might have been terminated with a defeat. Price comes to, and he does not know what happened, upset that the fight has been stopped but unsure why. He manages to come around, and he gives it up for the fighter named “Gladiator” who just deprived him of his consciousness.
The Official Result
Nikolay Veretennikov def. Niko Price R1 1:42 via KO (Elbow and Punches)
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 1, 2026 (6 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Angelo picks Nikolay Veretennikov, reasoning that he is a powerful striker who hits hard, while his opponent Jose Henrique (Niko Price) is very hittable. He acknowledges that Veretennikov has trouble with takedowns but thinks if he doesn't worry about that and just moves forward, he can win or finish the fight. He calls it a low-level fight and uses simple math: good striker vs guy who gets hit.
"I'm going to pick Nikolai here. He is the slight underdog. Neither one of these guys are very good, but let's just simple math it."
CO
Cody Saftic
Expert
Lean
picked Feb 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Niko Price
Cody leans towards Niko Price as a dog, noting Veretennikov's unimpressive record and Price's toughness. He admits Price is a shell of his former self but sees a path via takedowns or durability. Cody is not confident and will wait for weigh-ins.
"I'm tempted to take a dog shot on Nico Price. I don't know if I'm going to have the balls to actually click that button."
CO
Connor Ruebusch
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Connor agrees with Zane, calling the fight terrible but picking Veretennikov. He notes that Price is a glass cannon who no longer has the speed or willingness to pull the trigger, and that Veretennikov should have this in the bag even if he doesn't press. Connor emphasizes that Price will walk onto shots.
Veretennikov opened at -325, currently -275; Price opened at +275, currently +235
"I'm picking Veretennikov, but God damn it."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 4, 2026 (3 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Paul picks Nikolay Veretennikov, citing Price's decline in durability and cardio. He notes Veretennikov's power and body work, and Price's poor takedown defense. Paul expects Veretennikov to win by knockout or decision, though the price is high.
"I think Nikolai Rednikov gets him out of there."
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 7, 2026 (fight day)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The host picks Nikolay Veretennikov over Niko Price. He notes Veretennikov took Michael Morales to a split decision, though he looked iffy against Prado. He thinks Price has lost too many times, moves slow, and despite some power and athleticism, Veretennikov should win a competitive 29-28 decision.
29-28 competitive decision
"I'm going to go with Nikolay Veretennikov getting this one done by 29-28 competitive decision."
ZA
Zane Simon
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 6, 2026 (1 day before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Zane picks Veretennikov despite calling the fight awful. He argues that Niko Price is washed up, slower, and more hittable, and that Veretennikov should win by using his reach and straight punches. Zane notes that Price can't do anything without running into a straight punch, and Veretennikov could also take him down.
Veretennikov opened at -325, currently -275; Price opened at +275, currently +235
"You gotta pick Veretennikov. You have to pick Veretennikov. Niko price can't do anything without running into a straight punch."
LOSS
vs
Punahele Soriano
Decision
R3
5:00
·
UFC 320 ·
Oct 04, 2025
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punahele Soriano | 0 | 39 of 54 | 72% | 163 of 200 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 1 | 1 | 12:35 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 9 of 12 | 75% | 34 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punahele Soriano | 0 | 21 of 30 | 70% | 82 of 105 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 4:05 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 6 of 7 | 85% | 21 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 | |
| 2 | Punahele Soriano | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 34 of 44 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 | 1 | 4:13 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 3 | Punahele Soriano | 0 | 7 of 11 | 63% | 47 of 51 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 4:17 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 2 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punahele Soriano | 39 of 54 | 72% | 38 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 37 of 49 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 9 of 12 | 75% | 2 of 2 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punahele Soriano | 21 of 30 | 70% | 21 of 28 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 27 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 6 of 7 | 85% | 1 of 1 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Punahele Soriano | 11 of 13 | 84% | 11 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 12 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Punahele Soriano | 7 of 11 | 63% | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 10 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogPunahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Soriano (-245), Veretennikov (+200)
Round 1
Two knockout-inclined welterweights will ply their trades against one another with continued preliminary action. A win for Soriano (11-4, 5-4 UFC) would keep him above the dreaded .500 line in the promotion, while Kazakhstan’s Veretennikov (13-6, 1-2 UFC) needs to get past “Story Time” to reach that level. If a brawl ensues, referee Marc Goddard will keep a lid on it as best he can. Before that prospective slugfest, they tap gloves.
Soriano takes right to the center of the cage, hopping back to avoid a stomp kick to the knee and springing ahead to fire off a body kick. He aims a second to the same spot, and when Veretennikov counters, Soriano charges with a double and takes Veretennikov off his feet. Veretennikov bounces off and up in the air, and with Soriano on his knees, he measures and blasts the Hawaiian with a mighty knee to the ribs. Veretennikov settles down and wraps up a guillotine choke with his left arm, and when Soriano lifts him up and slams him down, the choke briefly tightens. Soriano sits up and breaks out of the choke, and he starts raining down left hands. Veretennikov attacks back with his own offense from below, but the power differential is drastic from that position. Soriano keeps pounding on his opponent, briefly trapping his foe’s right arm beneath his knee to open up more shots.
Soriano switches to hammering Veretennikov with elbow after unanswered elbow, and his position tying Veretennikov up while not keeping him flat is pinning Veretennikov to the floor. Soriano’s left hands continue to bludgeon the Kazakhstan native, and even though Goddard is not anywhere close to considering stepping in, these consistent blows are draining him. Soriano holds Veretennikov down with his left arm and beats on his ribs with his right, and the ground-and-pound may not be devastating but it is effective as can be. He continues to drive punches down, developing a pattern similar to iambic pentameter in that he lands a soft blow and then a powerful one, and alternates them like ba-dum ba-dum as the sound of the impact echoes around the ring. The one-sided round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Soriano
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Round 2
It takes Soriano 15 seconds to commit to a takedown, and he lifts Veretennikov up in the air and deposits him gingerly to the mat. Veretennikov defends instinctively with a guillotine choke, and Soriano uses this opportunity to trap him with a Von Preux shoulder choke. Veretennikov offers a thumbs-up to show he is fine, and he slowly manages to wriggle his neck out of danger. Soriano reintroduces himself with a blistering elbow from above, and even though he has his own leg stuck between Veretennikov’s, he seems to prefer this position lording over his adversary with ground strikes galore. Veretennikov does what he can to tie up Soriano and slow the beating, and Soriano lowers himself down to pursue an arm-triangle choke.
Veretennikov does not fall victim to the submission, so Soriano hacks at him with a pair of mean-spirited elbows. Soriano’s left hand keeps landing until Veretennikov wills himself to his feet, through sheer horsepower. Soriano trips and Veretennikov pounces, wrapping up a rear-naked choke and tightening it quickly. Soriano explodes out of the bad position and turns the Kazakh over, where he gets back into his groove of methodical ground attacks. Veretennikov flirts with an armbar to keep Soriano honest, but this only allows Soriano to hammer him with four or five long punches. Veretennikov sits up and gets in a position to aim a knee to the sternum, and he drives one or two in before the round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Round 3
Hands are clapped to open Round 3, and Veretennikov strikes first with a punch to the body. That one strike is all he gets off before Soriano darts in to pursue a takedown. The two twirl around while Soriano hangs onto the single, and Veretennikov grips a guillotine around the side of the head to further threaten. Soriano lifts and slams Veretennikov with an exclamation point, freeing himself from the choke and pushing his hand off Veretennikov’s face. One of Veretennikov’s coaches claims that Soriano is out from the guillotine that Veretennikov is still holding, and Goddard tells that coach to knock it off as Soriano is fine. In fact, the Hawaiian postures up a moment or two later to get out of the sub, and he works the body and head when establishing himself. Goddard asks for more, so Soriano punches Veretennikov in the face.
Soriano stacks Veretennikov up, who is searching for an armbar or otherwise using a high guard to control or attack something. Soriano steps over easily to the side to break up the setup, and he pounds an elbow down on the jaw. As Soriano slows down, Goddard asks for more activity from the fighters. Not wanting to let them just sit around and smooch—figuratively speaking, of course—he stands the fighters up. Soriano takes a deep breath and shoots for a single from afar, and Veretennikov jumps for a guillotine choke and wraps it up while standing. Soriano’s eyes go wide as he is pulled down on top of the Kazakh, and Veretennikov squeezes the choke with all his might. Soriano signals thumbs-up as he slithers his neck out of danger, and he concludes the match with emphatic elbows.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-26 Soriano)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-27 Soriano)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-27 Soriano)
The Official Result
Punahele Soriano def. Nikolay Veretennikov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Soriano (-245), Veretennikov (+200)
Round 1
Two knockout-inclined welterweights will ply their trades against one another with continued preliminary action. A win for Soriano (11-4, 5-4 UFC) would keep him above the dreaded .500 line in the promotion, while Kazakhstan’s Veretennikov (13-6, 1-2 UFC) needs to get past “Story Time” to reach that level. If a brawl ensues, referee Marc Goddard will keep a lid on it as best he can. Before that prospective slugfest, they tap gloves.
Soriano takes right to the center of the cage, hopping back to avoid a stomp kick to the knee and springing ahead to fire off a body kick. He aims a second to the same spot, and when Veretennikov counters, Soriano charges with a double and takes Veretennikov off his feet. Veretennikov bounces off and up in the air, and with Soriano on his knees, he measures and blasts the Hawaiian with a mighty knee to the ribs. Veretennikov settles down and wraps up a guillotine choke with his left arm, and when Soriano lifts him up and slams him down, the choke briefly tightens. Soriano sits up and breaks out of the choke, and he starts raining down left hands. Veretennikov attacks back with his own offense from below, but the power differential is drastic from that position. Soriano keeps pounding on his opponent, briefly trapping his foe’s right arm beneath his knee to open up more shots.
Soriano switches to hammering Veretennikov with elbow after unanswered elbow, and his position tying Veretennikov up while not keeping him flat is pinning Veretennikov to the floor. Soriano’s left hands continue to bludgeon the Kazakhstan native, and even though Goddard is not anywhere close to considering stepping in, these consistent blows are draining him. Soriano holds Veretennikov down with his left arm and beats on his ribs with his right, and the ground-and-pound may not be devastating but it is effective as can be. He continues to drive punches down, developing a pattern similar to iambic pentameter in that he lands a soft blow and then a powerful one, and alternates them like ba-dum ba-dum as the sound of the impact echoes around the ring. The one-sided round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Soriano
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Round 2
It takes Soriano 15 seconds to commit to a takedown, and he lifts Veretennikov up in the air and deposits him gingerly to the mat. Veretennikov defends instinctively with a guillotine choke, and Soriano uses this opportunity to trap him with a Von Preux shoulder choke. Veretennikov offers a thumbs-up to show he is fine, and he slowly manages to wriggle his neck out of danger. Soriano reintroduces himself with a blistering elbow from above, and even though he has his own leg stuck between Veretennikov’s, he seems to prefer this position lording over his adversary with ground strikes galore. Veretennikov does what he can to tie up Soriano and slow the beating, and Soriano lowers himself down to pursue an arm-triangle choke.
Veretennikov does not fall victim to the submission, so Soriano hacks at him with a pair of mean-spirited elbows. Soriano’s left hand keeps landing until Veretennikov wills himself to his feet, through sheer horsepower. Soriano trips and Veretennikov pounces, wrapping up a rear-naked choke and tightening it quickly. Soriano explodes out of the bad position and turns the Kazakh over, where he gets back into his groove of methodical ground attacks. Veretennikov flirts with an armbar to keep Soriano honest, but this only allows Soriano to hammer him with four or five long punches. Veretennikov sits up and gets in a position to aim a knee to the sternum, and he drives one or two in before the round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano
Round 3
Hands are clapped to open Round 3, and Veretennikov strikes first with a punch to the body. That one strike is all he gets off before Soriano darts in to pursue a takedown. The two twirl around while Soriano hangs onto the single, and Veretennikov grips a guillotine around the side of the head to further threaten. Soriano lifts and slams Veretennikov with an exclamation point, freeing himself from the choke and pushing his hand off Veretennikov’s face. One of Veretennikov’s coaches claims that Soriano is out from the guillotine that Veretennikov is still holding, and Goddard tells that coach to knock it off as Soriano is fine. In fact, the Hawaiian postures up a moment or two later to get out of the sub, and he works the body and head when establishing himself. Goddard asks for more, so Soriano punches Veretennikov in the face.
Soriano stacks Veretennikov up, who is searching for an armbar or otherwise using a high guard to control or attack something. Soriano steps over easily to the side to break up the setup, and he pounds an elbow down on the jaw. As Soriano slows down, Goddard asks for more activity from the fighters. Not wanting to let them just sit around and smooch—figuratively speaking, of course—he stands the fighters up. Soriano takes a deep breath and shoots for a single from afar, and Veretennikov jumps for a guillotine choke and wraps it up while standing. Soriano’s eyes go wide as he is pulled down on top of the Kazakh, and Veretennikov squeezes the choke with all his might. Soriano signals thumbs-up as he slithers his neck out of danger, and he concludes the match with emphatic elbows.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-26 Soriano)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-27 Soriano)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Soriano (30-27 Soriano)
The Official Result
Punahele Soriano def. Nikolay Veretennikov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Lean
picked Sep 28, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Punahele Soriano
Angelo trusts that Punahele Soriano will use his wrestling, as a Division III All-American, to win, despite his tendency to sometimes just strike. He notes Soriano has heavy hands but poor takedown defense, while Veretennikov is a powerful striker who can be taken down. His concern is that Soriano might abandon wrestling after a recent knockout win. He is not betting on this fight.
Not betting on this fight.
"I'm going to trust the division three all-American wrestler to wrestle his way to a win... I'm going to pick Punel."
BI
Big Brady
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 2, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Punahele Soriano
Big Brady likes Soriano, especially at welterweight, where he seems like a different animal with improved cardio and strength. He notes that Veretennikov has awful cardio and a poor ground game, and that Soriano can wrestle him, get him tired, and finish him on the mat. He predicts a second-round TKO for Soriano.
Soriano by second round TKO.
"I'm going to take Sorano here. I think he makes this look really easy with the correct game plan ... Give me Soraniano by second round TKO."
CO
Connor Ruebusch
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 3, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Punahele Soriano
Connor agrees with Zane, picking Soriano but noting that it depends on whether Soriano fights well. He hopes to see a more aggressive, active, and wrestling-minded Soriano, as seen in his welterweight debut, but acknowledges that his previous opponents (Miguel Baeza and Eros Medich) were not reliable tests.
Soriano opened at -300, currently -332; Veretennikov opened at +250, currently +272. Connor comments: 'Possibly a bit wide. It's too wide. Soriano lost to Dustin Stoltzfus and Nick Maximov. He should not be a serious favorite over anybody.'
"I'll take Soriano too."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 4, 2025 (fight day)
Punahele Soriano
Soriano is expected to put his power on Veretennikov early, and if he doesn't finish within the first minute and a half, he will resort to wrestling and grind out a decision win.
"I believe Soriano will do a great job in terms of putting his power early on Veretennikov, but if he can't get him out of there within the first minute and a half, he'll start resorting to his wrestling and …"
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 1, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Punahele Soriano
The MMA Guru confidently picks Punahele Soriano, comparing him to Francisco Prado who gave Veretennikov trouble. He notes Soriano's power, pressure, and ability to close distance, while Veretennikov stands too upright and struggles with aggressive fighters. He predicts a first-round KO.
first-round KO
"I'm going to go with Punelle Soriano first-round KO over Nikolai Veretennikov."
ZA
Zane Simon
Expert
Confident
picked Oct 3, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Punahele Soriano
Zane picks Soriano because the welterweight move has made him feel bigger, stronger, and more confident, allowing him to wrestle more effectively. He notes that Veretennikov is a bad wrestler who gave up takedowns to Francisco Prado, and Soriano should be able to exploit that. However, he cautions that Soriano is prone to inactivity and single-idea offense.
Soriano opened at -300, currently -332; Veretennikov opened at +250, currently +272. Zane comments: 'Possibly a bit wide. It's too wide. Soriano lost to Dustin Stoltzfus and Nick Maximov. He should not be a serious favorite over anybody.'
"I got to go with Soriano here."
WIN
vs
Francisco Prado
Decision
R3
5:00
·
UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 ·
Jul 19, 2025
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 47 of 77 | 61% | 64 of 94 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 | 0 | 6:49 |
| Francisco Prado | 0 | 56 of 105 | 53% | 84 of 133 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 | 1 | 2:33 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 7 of 9 | 77% | 11 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:59 |
| Francisco Prado | 0 | 17 of 28 | 60% | 36 of 47 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 2:04 | |
| 2 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 24 of 43 | 55% | 32 of 51 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 |
| Francisco Prado | 0 | 26 of 55 | 47% | 32 of 61 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 16 of 25 | 64% | 21 of 30 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 2:55 |
| Francisco Prado | 0 | 13 of 22 | 59% | 16 of 25 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 0:29 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 47 of 77 | 61% | 34 of 58 | 5 of 11 | 8 of 8 | 34 of 62 | 5 of 5 | 8 of 10 |
| Francisco Prado | 56 of 105 | 53% | 32 of 78 | 21 of 24 | 3 of 3 | 34 of 75 | 15 of 17 | 7 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 7 of 9 | 77% | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Francisco Prado | 17 of 28 | 60% | 8 of 19 | 8 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 13 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 9 | |
| 2 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 24 of 43 | 55% | 16 of 31 | 2 of 6 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 41 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Francisco Prado | 26 of 55 | 47% | 15 of 43 | 10 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 18 of 47 | 7 of 7 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Nikolay Veretennikov | 16 of 25 | 64% | 14 of 21 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 7 of 9 |
| Francisco Prado | 13 of 22 | 59% | 9 of 16 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 15 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogFrancisco Prado vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Prado (-148), Veretennikov (+124)
Round 1
Coming to the promotion two years ago with a head full of steam, then-21-year-old Prado (12-3, 1-3 UFC) has largely struggled, earning one victory among three deflating losses. He takes a much-needed step back in level of competition when he faces Veretennikov (12-6, 0-2 UFC), who lost on the 2021 season of the Contender Series and worked his way into the promotion with a trio of stoppages. Since then, not so much for the man fighting out of Kings MMA. The welterweight clash, a historic battle between Argentina and Kazakhstan, will be overseen by referee Jason Herzog. They clap hands to get started.
Prado marches his man down hurling a leg kick, and on the counter, he charges to tackle Veretennikov down to the ground. In the first 15 seconds, Prado has assumed half guard, keeping Veretennikov flat on his back while looping his left arm around the head for an arm-triangle choke setup. Prado is on half guard on the other side, and Veretennikov defends with a guillotine choke off his back. This is not a wise decision, as Prado cinches up the counter in the form of a Von Flue—or as we call it on the play-by-play, Von Preux—which forces a wild scramble. Prado spins around to north-south position, and he winds up taking Veretennikov’s back momentarily. Prado willingly turns over to his back to lace up a triangle choke, while Veretennikov comfortably sits on him landing body shots. Prado keeps his legs high even if they may not be quite long enough to lock it up from this position. He transitions to an armbar, and Veretennikov lifts him in the air and violently slams him on his face to break up the submission.
Prado appears to be stunned from the slam, and Veretennikov stands over him dropping down hammers until moving himself back into Prado’s guard. The strikes from above have caused some damage on Prado’s forehead, and he keeps his guard open until Veretennikov stands. Prado just stands back up to follow him, and he takes two stiff knees to the body when pushing forward. Veretennikov connects with two punches and a body kick, and he walks through ha left hand to work the body with several more strikes. Veretennikov spins with a wheel kick to the side of the dome, and he plants his feet and knees the Argentinian in the midsection once more. Prado looks for a takedown, and Veretennikov breaks out of the first effort. Prado transitions from double to single as he looks for a takedown with Veretennikov’s back on the fence, and Veretennikov defends the attempt and tries to counter-throw his adversary to the mat. Veretennikov gives him a few more knees to think about until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Round 2
The fighters get right to business to start off the second round. Prado appears to already be flagging a bit, while Veretennikov is sharp as a tack. He clips Prado with a short burst of punches, shaking up Prado but not forcing him to back again. Instead, Prado doggedly pursues a double, and he lifts Veretennikov up but cannot ground him. Prado is forced to disengage, and he measures a strong calf kick that forces Veretennikov to recoil his leg. Prado uses that success to land a few more strikes, and he allows Veretennikov to spin with a kick. Prado grabs him from behind and suplexes him, turning himself around to assume half guard while Veretennikov has an arm around his neck. Like the last round, this opens Veretennikov up to a Von Flue shoulder choke again.
Veretennikov release his own grip before getting trapped, and Prado blasts him in the face with an elbow that bounces his head off the canvas. Prado stays heavy, smothering Veretennikov with chest-to-chest pressure. Only lifting himself up to strike or set something up, Prado pursues the arm-triangle once more. Veretennikov explodes to turn out of the sub and power back to his feet, and Prado chases him upright. The ground strikes from Prado open a cut on the side of Veretennikov’s eye, but he pays it no mind as he slams his fist on Prado’s body. Prado retaliates with a six-punch flurry ending with one to the liver. Veretennikov shrugs them off and lets fly a high kick, hopping back to avoid another body shot but still taking some damage on the way. Prado dodges a high kick, eats a right hand and fires one back up top. Veretennikov scores a few knees, trips Prado up but does not ground him. They land blows at the same time, with Prado’s the heavier of the two. Veretennikov scores a single body kick before the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Round 3
There is a glove touch to open the final frame. Prado surges into action, ignoring a low kick to loop a pair of punches over the top. Prado fakes up top to shoot in on the hips, getting hold of a single and lifting Veretennikov in the air. Veretennikov is able to turn him about mid-air to put the Argentinian on his back, but he is quick to bail on the grappling to stand up. Prado follows him with another takedown shot, abandoning to bash Veretennikov with an elbow and a thumping low kick that makes Veretennikov take a turn. Both men crash together letting fists fly, and Veretennikov tries to spin with a wheel kick but is so tired that Prado grips him from behind before the foot comes off the ground. Prado easily gets his foe down and advances to full mount with over three minutes left. Prado slashes down with 12-to-6 elbows, and he allows Veretennikov to turn partially so he can take his back. Prado attacks a choke before he gets a hook in, and he lets it go to drill down another elbow or two.
Veretennikov fights back to his feet, shaking Prado off his back, and he goes to the well with a failed spin kick that results him in getting taken down again. The two scramble, with Prado standing first and trying to get hold of another takedown from the side. Prado settles for a knee to the jaw with Veretennikov leaned over, and he drops down in pursuit of a single. Veretennikov stifles the attempt and looks for his own trip, kneeing Prado in the belly when he does not ground the Argentinian. Veretennikov jumps guard for a guillotine choke, and Prado takes advantage of this play by stepping over to half guard to set up a Von Preux again. Prado pulls his neck out and calms himself down with 20-ish seconds to go. Rather than go for broke and allow Veretennikov to get back up, he wraps up the fight with some moderate ground-and-pound. For the first time tonight, the fighters go the distance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
The Official Result
Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Prado (-148), Veretennikov (+124)
Round 1
Coming to the promotion two years ago with a head full of steam, then-21-year-old Prado (12-3, 1-3 UFC) has largely struggled, earning one victory among three deflating losses. He takes a much-needed step back in level of competition when he faces Veretennikov (12-6, 0-2 UFC), who lost on the 2021 season of the Contender Series and worked his way into the promotion with a trio of stoppages. Since then, not so much for the man fighting out of Kings MMA. The welterweight clash, a historic battle between Argentina and Kazakhstan, will be overseen by referee Jason Herzog. They clap hands to get started.
Prado marches his man down hurling a leg kick, and on the counter, he charges to tackle Veretennikov down to the ground. In the first 15 seconds, Prado has assumed half guard, keeping Veretennikov flat on his back while looping his left arm around the head for an arm-triangle choke setup. Prado is on half guard on the other side, and Veretennikov defends with a guillotine choke off his back. This is not a wise decision, as Prado cinches up the counter in the form of a Von Flue—or as we call it on the play-by-play, Von Preux—which forces a wild scramble. Prado spins around to north-south position, and he winds up taking Veretennikov’s back momentarily. Prado willingly turns over to his back to lace up a triangle choke, while Veretennikov comfortably sits on him landing body shots. Prado keeps his legs high even if they may not be quite long enough to lock it up from this position. He transitions to an armbar, and Veretennikov lifts him in the air and violently slams him on his face to break up the submission.
Prado appears to be stunned from the slam, and Veretennikov stands over him dropping down hammers until moving himself back into Prado’s guard. The strikes from above have caused some damage on Prado’s forehead, and he keeps his guard open until Veretennikov stands. Prado just stands back up to follow him, and he takes two stiff knees to the body when pushing forward. Veretennikov connects with two punches and a body kick, and he walks through ha left hand to work the body with several more strikes. Veretennikov spins with a wheel kick to the side of the dome, and he plants his feet and knees the Argentinian in the midsection once more. Prado looks for a takedown, and Veretennikov breaks out of the first effort. Prado transitions from double to single as he looks for a takedown with Veretennikov’s back on the fence, and Veretennikov defends the attempt and tries to counter-throw his adversary to the mat. Veretennikov gives him a few more knees to think about until the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov
Round 2
The fighters get right to business to start off the second round. Prado appears to already be flagging a bit, while Veretennikov is sharp as a tack. He clips Prado with a short burst of punches, shaking up Prado but not forcing him to back again. Instead, Prado doggedly pursues a double, and he lifts Veretennikov up but cannot ground him. Prado is forced to disengage, and he measures a strong calf kick that forces Veretennikov to recoil his leg. Prado uses that success to land a few more strikes, and he allows Veretennikov to spin with a kick. Prado grabs him from behind and suplexes him, turning himself around to assume half guard while Veretennikov has an arm around his neck. Like the last round, this opens Veretennikov up to a Von Flue shoulder choke again.
Veretennikov release his own grip before getting trapped, and Prado blasts him in the face with an elbow that bounces his head off the canvas. Prado stays heavy, smothering Veretennikov with chest-to-chest pressure. Only lifting himself up to strike or set something up, Prado pursues the arm-triangle once more. Veretennikov explodes to turn out of the sub and power back to his feet, and Prado chases him upright. The ground strikes from Prado open a cut on the side of Veretennikov’s eye, but he pays it no mind as he slams his fist on Prado’s body. Prado retaliates with a six-punch flurry ending with one to the liver. Veretennikov shrugs them off and lets fly a high kick, hopping back to avoid another body shot but still taking some damage on the way. Prado dodges a high kick, eats a right hand and fires one back up top. Veretennikov scores a few knees, trips Prado up but does not ground him. They land blows at the same time, with Prado’s the heavier of the two. Veretennikov scores a single body kick before the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prado
Round 3
There is a glove touch to open the final frame. Prado surges into action, ignoring a low kick to loop a pair of punches over the top. Prado fakes up top to shoot in on the hips, getting hold of a single and lifting Veretennikov in the air. Veretennikov is able to turn him about mid-air to put the Argentinian on his back, but he is quick to bail on the grappling to stand up. Prado follows him with another takedown shot, abandoning to bash Veretennikov with an elbow and a thumping low kick that makes Veretennikov take a turn. Both men crash together letting fists fly, and Veretennikov tries to spin with a wheel kick but is so tired that Prado grips him from behind before the foot comes off the ground. Prado easily gets his foe down and advances to full mount with over three minutes left. Prado slashes down with 12-to-6 elbows, and he allows Veretennikov to turn partially so he can take his back. Prado attacks a choke before he gets a hook in, and he lets it go to drill down another elbow or two.
Veretennikov fights back to his feet, shaking Prado off his back, and he goes to the well with a failed spin kick that results him in getting taken down again. The two scramble, with Prado standing first and trying to get hold of another takedown from the side. Prado settles for a knee to the jaw with Veretennikov leaned over, and he drops down in pursuit of a single. Veretennikov stifles the attempt and looks for his own trip, kneeing Prado in the belly when he does not ground the Argentinian. Veretennikov jumps guard for a guillotine choke, and Prado takes advantage of this play by stepping over to half guard to set up a Von Preux again. Prado pulls his neck out and calms himself down with 20-ish seconds to go. Rather than go for broke and allow Veretennikov to get back up, he wraps up the fight with some moderate ground-and-pound. For the first time tonight, the fighters go the distance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prado (29-28 Prado)
The Official Result
Nikolay Veretennikov def. Francisco Prado via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Confident
picked Jul 13, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Francisco Prado
Angelo picks Francisco Prado despite being too small for welterweight, because he can exploit Veretennikov's wrestling holes. He notes Prado's power and durability, and loves the -140 odds, calling it a discount due to Prado's last loss. He plans to bet on Prado.
Loves the minus 140 odds and says he'll probably throw a bet or two on Francisco Prado.
"Francisco Praau is the pick. I love the minus 140 odds and honestly probably gonna throw a bet or two on Francisco Pra here."
BI
Big Brady
Expert
Confident
picked Jul 15, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
Big Brady picks Nikolay Veretennikov, questioning Francisco Prado's decision to move up to welterweight. He notes Veretennikov's reach, technical striking, and better volume, while Prado is undersized with poor wrestling. He predicts Veretennikov wins by decision, calling the line questionable.
Veretennikov by decision
"I'm going to take Nikolai Veritenikov to win this fight and win it by decision."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The host cites Veretennikov's experience and strength of schedule advantage, and believes he can thwart Prado's power punching approach. He expects a full mixed martial arts performance and a win on the scorecards.
"Look for Vera Tanakov to put together a full mixed martial arts performance here to win this fight on the scorecards."
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Jul 16, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The MMA Guru picks Nikolay Veretennikov over Francisco Prado, arguing that Prado is not a welterweight and is too small for the division. He notes Prado's reach disadvantage (69" vs 74") and lack of power, while Veretennikov is well-rounded, taller, and rangier. The Guru believes Prado's game plan is predictable as a shorter fighter, and Veretennikov will win by decision or TKO.
"I'm going to go with Veretnikov getting this one done over Francisco Prao."
LOSS
vs
Austin Vanderford
KO
R2
4:13
·
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song ·
Feb 22, 2025
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Vanderford | 0 | 5 of 19 | 26% | 21 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 39 of 52 | 75% | 102 of 121 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 7:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Vanderford | 0 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 12 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 8 of 11 | 72% | 56 of 62 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:56 | |
| 2 | Austin Vanderford | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 31 of 41 | 75% | 46 of 59 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Vanderford | 5 of 19 | 26% | 0 of 12 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 39 of 52 | 75% | 37 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 36 of 44 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Vanderford | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 of 8 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 8 of 11 | 72% | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 6 | |
| 2 | Austin Vanderford | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 31 of 41 | 75% | 30 of 40 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 30 of 38 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogAustin Vanderford vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Round 1
On late notice, Vanderford (12-2, 0-0 UFC), famously known as the husband of Paige VanZant, will be making his organizational debut. Due to short training camp, this fight will be contested at a pre-arranged 175-pound catchweight. He faces fellow LFA vet Veretennikov (12-5, 0-1 UFC), whose 83% finish rate is nothing to sneeze at. Before chins are tested, the fighters touch ‘em up while referee Kevin MacDonald watches on. Vanderford moves to the center of the cage with the crowd loudly on his side, but the first strikes come from his opponent in the form of a jab and a low kick. They lean in and out looking for strikes, and Veretennikov leaps forward suddenly with a Superman punch that misses by a matter of inches. Veretennikov lunges again, catching Vanderford with a left up top and a right to the ribs. When he loads up on more strikes, Vanderford scoops his man up and deposits him gingerly to the mat. In his foe’s guard, Vanderford nevertheless starts opening up with strikes, grinding with elbows on the jaw and staying tight to not let Veretennikov buck or force a scramble. The strikes from above shred open a cut on the top of the Kazakhstan native’s forehead, and Vanderford targets that wound with additional sporadic strikes. Vanderford attacks with more elbows, causing more blood to flow from the gash. The activity of the newcomer is enough to stave off referee intervention, and he shifts gears to lock up an arm-triangle choke from across the body. The submission is on the wrong side, and Veretennikov does not panic and protects himself from it effectively. This excites Vanderford, who wants to wrap up the submission after all. Jumping into full mount, Vanderford squeezes with all his might for the arm-triangle choke, and he does not get the tap he is seeking even after shifting over to side control. Instead of burning his arms out, Vanderford lets it go and moves back to mount, where he rides out the round landing strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, with the crowd already at Vanderford’s back with “USA” chants. Veretennikov walks his foe down with long jabbing kicks, hoping to utilize his range and not let Vanderford get his hands on him. Vanderford slings a head kick and is dinged with a reaching strike, but he allows Veretennikov to overswing so he can wrap him up. Vanderford clasps his hands from behind, searching for a level change and lifting Veretennikov off his feet with a double-leg takedown. Veretennikov’s long legs keep him upright for the time being, but the second attempt puts him on his back. Vanderford is quick to open up with elbows as he has Veretennikov jammed up in the awkward spot between the floor and the corner of the cage wall. Vanderford’s elbows split the guard and give Veretennikov something nasty to think about, and he sees that he can land his left hand at will and does just that repeatedly. The open guard where Veretennikov is keeping his foe is not slowing him one iota, and Vanderford elects to step over to half guard while clinging to Veretennikov’s wrist to nullify him. Vanderford slugs away with a long series of left hands, and Veretennikov is moving and swaying while blocking his face but still taking damage.
MacDonald watches on asking for Veretennikov to fight back, and Vanderford keeps punching. As the dozens of strikes mount, MacDonald determines that Veretennikov is no longer intelligently defending himself and stops the fight.
Veretennikov is incensed at the referee intervention, shouting at MacDonald and his opponent. Veretennikov gets to his feet, marches over to Vanderford and angrily shoves him after the fight has been stopped, and a UFC security staff member leaps in to prevent any further nonsense. Vanderford presents the double bird before getting the microphone, where he is all smiles and shouts out his wife, who will be getting slapped soon. Meanwhile, this may be the last we see of Veretennikov in the Octagon, although the promotion has allowed a blatant eye gouger in Priscila Cachoeira to keep fighting so anything is possible.
The Official Result
Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov R2 4:13 via TKO (Punches)
Round 1
On late notice, Vanderford (12-2, 0-0 UFC), famously known as the husband of Paige VanZant, will be making his organizational debut. Due to short training camp, this fight will be contested at a pre-arranged 175-pound catchweight. He faces fellow LFA vet Veretennikov (12-5, 0-1 UFC), whose 83% finish rate is nothing to sneeze at. Before chins are tested, the fighters touch ‘em up while referee Kevin MacDonald watches on. Vanderford moves to the center of the cage with the crowd loudly on his side, but the first strikes come from his opponent in the form of a jab and a low kick. They lean in and out looking for strikes, and Veretennikov leaps forward suddenly with a Superman punch that misses by a matter of inches. Veretennikov lunges again, catching Vanderford with a left up top and a right to the ribs. When he loads up on more strikes, Vanderford scoops his man up and deposits him gingerly to the mat. In his foe’s guard, Vanderford nevertheless starts opening up with strikes, grinding with elbows on the jaw and staying tight to not let Veretennikov buck or force a scramble. The strikes from above shred open a cut on the top of the Kazakhstan native’s forehead, and Vanderford targets that wound with additional sporadic strikes. Vanderford attacks with more elbows, causing more blood to flow from the gash. The activity of the newcomer is enough to stave off referee intervention, and he shifts gears to lock up an arm-triangle choke from across the body. The submission is on the wrong side, and Veretennikov does not panic and protects himself from it effectively. This excites Vanderford, who wants to wrap up the submission after all. Jumping into full mount, Vanderford squeezes with all his might for the arm-triangle choke, and he does not get the tap he is seeking even after shifting over to side control. Instead of burning his arms out, Vanderford lets it go and moves back to mount, where he rides out the round landing strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vanderford
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, with the crowd already at Vanderford’s back with “USA” chants. Veretennikov walks his foe down with long jabbing kicks, hoping to utilize his range and not let Vanderford get his hands on him. Vanderford slings a head kick and is dinged with a reaching strike, but he allows Veretennikov to overswing so he can wrap him up. Vanderford clasps his hands from behind, searching for a level change and lifting Veretennikov off his feet with a double-leg takedown. Veretennikov’s long legs keep him upright for the time being, but the second attempt puts him on his back. Vanderford is quick to open up with elbows as he has Veretennikov jammed up in the awkward spot between the floor and the corner of the cage wall. Vanderford’s elbows split the guard and give Veretennikov something nasty to think about, and he sees that he can land his left hand at will and does just that repeatedly. The open guard where Veretennikov is keeping his foe is not slowing him one iota, and Vanderford elects to step over to half guard while clinging to Veretennikov’s wrist to nullify him. Vanderford slugs away with a long series of left hands, and Veretennikov is moving and swaying while blocking his face but still taking damage.
MacDonald watches on asking for Veretennikov to fight back, and Vanderford keeps punching. As the dozens of strikes mount, MacDonald determines that Veretennikov is no longer intelligently defending himself and stops the fight.
Veretennikov is incensed at the referee intervention, shouting at MacDonald and his opponent. Veretennikov gets to his feet, marches over to Vanderford and angrily shoves him after the fight has been stopped, and a UFC security staff member leaps in to prevent any further nonsense. Vanderford presents the double bird before getting the microphone, where he is all smiles and shouts out his wife, who will be getting slapped soon. Meanwhile, this may be the last we see of Veretennikov in the Octagon, although the promotion has allowed a blatant eye gouger in Priscila Cachoeira to keep fighting so anything is possible.
The Official Result
Austin Vanderford def. Nikolay Veretennikov R2 4:13 via TKO (Punches)
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
The host acknowledges Vanderford is on short notice and three years removed from a title fight loss, but believes his wrestling and power striking will keep Veretennikov on the defensive. He expects a dirty, ugly fight with Vanderford winning on the scorecards.
"look for him to keep verit tanov on the defensive by using his wrestling and keeping him up against the cage it might be dirty it might be ugly and it might be boring but I think vanderford will win …"
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 21, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The Guru picks Veretennikov by TKO early, citing a skill difference in setting up strikes. He notes Vanderford is known as Paige VanZant's boyfriend, lost to Mousasi, and seems 'chiny'. He rates Veretennikov's losses (to Danny Barlow, Michael Morales) higher than Vanderford's wins, and expects a first or second round finish.
TKO first or second round
"I'm going to go with Nikolai vernikov by TKO early into the fight I think this is going to be a first round KO from vernikov"
LOSS
vs
Danny Barlow
Decision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 29–28)
R3
5:00
·
UFC on ESPN: Tybura vs. Spivac 2 ·
Aug 10, 2024
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Barlow | 0 | 47 of 99 | 47% | 52 of 107 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 50 of 92 | 54% | 59 of 101 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danny Barlow | 0 | 17 of 32 | 53% | 18 of 33 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 10 of 15 | 66% | 10 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Danny Barlow | 0 | 11 of 25 | 44% | 15 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 11 of 29 | 37% | 19 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 3 | Danny Barlow | 0 | 19 of 42 | 45% | 19 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 0 | 29 of 48 | 60% | 30 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Barlow | 47 of 99 | 47% | 25 of 63 | 7 of 13 | 15 of 23 | 46 of 98 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 50 of 92 | 54% | 23 of 59 | 22 of 28 | 5 of 5 | 45 of 87 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danny Barlow | 17 of 32 | 53% | 5 of 14 | 4 of 7 | 8 of 11 | 17 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 10 of 15 | 66% | 2 of 5 | 7 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 13 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Danny Barlow | 11 of 25 | 44% | 7 of 16 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 6 | 10 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 11 of 29 | 37% | 3 of 18 | 5 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 27 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Danny Barlow | 19 of 42 | 45% | 13 of 33 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 6 | 19 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nikolay Veretennikov | 29 of 48 | 60% | 18 of 36 | 10 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 28 of 47 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogDanny Barlow (171.25: Missed Weight) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barlow (-355), Veretennikov (+280)
Round 1
Welterweights are next to the stage, as the undefeated Barlow (8-0, 1-0 UFC) takes on Veretennikov (12-4, 0-0 UFC) in a three-round attraction. Barlow, who missed weight, has stopped six of his first eight opponents, five of them inside one round. Beltran administers the law and order. Glove touch gets us started. Feeling-out process unfolds. Inside leg kick from Barlow, who gets warned for extending his fingers. Veretennikov targets the body with a right hand. Barlow jumps into a knee to the body, then swipes away a front kick from his opponent. Standing hammerfist from Barlow, who steps into a left hand moments later. Barlow heavy on the kicks so far. Inside leg kick from the Memphis, Tennessee, native. Veretennikov crashes into the clinch but goes nowhere. Barlow extricates himself and floats back into open space. Barlow shoots a left hand, dodges the return fire and jumps into another knee. Front kick to the body from Veretennikov. Neither man has seized the initiative yet. Back-to-back body kicks from Barlow. They clinch in the center of the cage. Veretennikov avoids the takedown. Barlow misses a left hand over the top and wanders into the clinch once more. The horn sounds while Barlow was completing a takedown.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Round 2
Barlow probes with low kicks. Veretennikov seems a little gun-shy to this point. Barlow counters a leg kick with an overhand left. Jabs from Barlow, though not much behind them. Veretennikov blocks a head kick. Output an issue for both welterweights. Jab from Barlow, who avoids a two-punch volley from the Kazakhstan native. They circle one another in the center of the cage. Jab from Barlow. Midway through the round. Barlow walks him into a clubbing left hand and forces Veretennikov to briefly shell up. He engages Barlow in the clinch but loses the battle for head position and winds up with his back to the fence. Barlow feeds him knees to the legs. A knee from Veretennikov strays south of the border and prompts Beltran to pause the action. They restart in the clinch. Ninety seconds on the clock. Barlow bails on double underhooks and moves back to the center of the cage. Veretennikov throws out his jab but fails to find a home for it. Jab from Barlow, who is doing just enough to stay in front. Uneventful round.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Round 3
Veretennikov tests the waters with his jab, but his punches lack conviction. He airmails an overhand right. Barlow alternating stances. Veretennikov steps into a right hand to the chest, fires an overhand behind it and wanders into the clinch. Front kick to the body from Veretennikov. One-two narrowly misses for the newcomer. Barlow chops away with punches. Veretennikov answers with a multi-punch volley. He then clips Barlow with a right hand and follows up with sharp jabs. Veretennikov lands a left hand over the top. Barlow responds with a jab. Leg kick from Barlow. Veretennikov picking up the pace with his jabs, finally showing some urgency. He steps into a right hand and sneaks in a looping left hook. Barlow on the defensive here, perhaps believing he has already salted away two rounds. Thirty seconds left. They trade left hands. Veretennikov plods forward, throws shots with both hands and connects with a body kick. He lands a right hand over the top before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
The Official Result
Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov—Split Decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Barlow (-355), Veretennikov (+280)
Round 1
Welterweights are next to the stage, as the undefeated Barlow (8-0, 1-0 UFC) takes on Veretennikov (12-4, 0-0 UFC) in a three-round attraction. Barlow, who missed weight, has stopped six of his first eight opponents, five of them inside one round. Beltran administers the law and order. Glove touch gets us started. Feeling-out process unfolds. Inside leg kick from Barlow, who gets warned for extending his fingers. Veretennikov targets the body with a right hand. Barlow jumps into a knee to the body, then swipes away a front kick from his opponent. Standing hammerfist from Barlow, who steps into a left hand moments later. Barlow heavy on the kicks so far. Inside leg kick from the Memphis, Tennessee, native. Veretennikov crashes into the clinch but goes nowhere. Barlow extricates himself and floats back into open space. Barlow shoots a left hand, dodges the return fire and jumps into another knee. Front kick to the body from Veretennikov. Neither man has seized the initiative yet. Back-to-back body kicks from Barlow. They clinch in the center of the cage. Veretennikov avoids the takedown. Barlow misses a left hand over the top and wanders into the clinch once more. The horn sounds while Barlow was completing a takedown.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Round 2
Barlow probes with low kicks. Veretennikov seems a little gun-shy to this point. Barlow counters a leg kick with an overhand left. Jabs from Barlow, though not much behind them. Veretennikov blocks a head kick. Output an issue for both welterweights. Jab from Barlow, who avoids a two-punch volley from the Kazakhstan native. They circle one another in the center of the cage. Jab from Barlow. Midway through the round. Barlow walks him into a clubbing left hand and forces Veretennikov to briefly shell up. He engages Barlow in the clinch but loses the battle for head position and winds up with his back to the fence. Barlow feeds him knees to the legs. A knee from Veretennikov strays south of the border and prompts Beltran to pause the action. They restart in the clinch. Ninety seconds on the clock. Barlow bails on double underhooks and moves back to the center of the cage. Veretennikov throws out his jab but fails to find a home for it. Jab from Barlow, who is doing just enough to stay in front. Uneventful round.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Barlow
Round 3
Veretennikov tests the waters with his jab, but his punches lack conviction. He airmails an overhand right. Barlow alternating stances. Veretennikov steps into a right hand to the chest, fires an overhand behind it and wanders into the clinch. Front kick to the body from Veretennikov. One-two narrowly misses for the newcomer. Barlow chops away with punches. Veretennikov answers with a multi-punch volley. He then clips Barlow with a right hand and follows up with sharp jabs. Veretennikov lands a left hand over the top. Barlow responds with a jab. Leg kick from Barlow. Veretennikov picking up the pace with his jabs, finally showing some urgency. He steps into a right hand and sneaks in a looping left hook. Barlow on the defensive here, perhaps believing he has already salted away two rounds. Thirty seconds left. They trade left hands. Veretennikov plods forward, throws shots with both hands and connects with a body kick. He lands a right hand over the top before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Veretennikov (29-28 Barlow)
The Official Result
Danny Barlow def. Nikolay Veretennikov—Split Decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
AN
Angelo Bodetti
Expert
Hesitant
picked Aug 4, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Danny Barlow
Angelo picks Danny Barlow due to his well-roundedness and range striking, but is hesitant because Barlow is unproven with only 8 fights and the odds are too wide at 3-to-1. He notes that Veretennikov is durable, powerful, and pressures forward, which could exploit Barlow's weakness against pressure. He advises staying away from betting this fight due to lack of value.
No value at 3-to-1 odds; stay away from betting
"I do think Danny Barlo wins I think these odds are gone I don't think you can touch these odds"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Aug 5, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Danny Barlow
Barlow is a talented prospect with speed and power, especially his straight left. He has good takedown defense and should showcase it against Veretennikov, who may look to grapple. Barlow's striking advantage should lead to a knockout within the first two rounds.
Barlow by knockout in rounds 1-2
"I think we'll see Barlo showcas his speed Advantage his power advantage and I think that will eventually lead him to knocking vitanov out within the first two rounds"
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Aug 8, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Danny Barlow
The MMA Guru picks Danny Barlow, noting his reach advantage (79 inches) and power. He acknowledges Veretennikov's good first round against Michael Morales but worries about his short notice and tendency to slow down. He predicts a first-round TKO for Barlow, calling it a 'star-making performance.'
first round TKO
"I'm going with Danny bow he's got a nasty power in his hands um rangy for the division I think he's got a ridiculous reach... first round TKO Danny bow star making performance"
Expert Picks (2)
MM
MMA Lock of the Night
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 20, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Austin Vanderford
The host acknowledges Vanderford is on short notice and three years removed from a title fight loss, but believes his wrestling and power striking will keep Veretennikov on the defensive. He expects a dirty, ugly fight with Vanderford winning on the scorecards.
"look for him to keep verit tanov on the defensive by using his wrestling and keeping him up against the cage it might be dirty it might be ugly and it might be boring but I think vanderford will win this matchup on the scorecards"
TH
The MMA Guru
Expert
Confident
picked Feb 21, 2025 (1 day before fight)
Nikolay Veretennikov
The Guru picks Veretennikov by TKO early, citing a skill difference in setting up strikes. He notes Vanderford is known as Paige VanZant's boyfriend, lost to Mousasi, and seems 'chiny'. He rates Veretennikov's losses (to Danny Barlow, Michael Morales) higher than Vanderford's wins, and expects a first or second round finish.
TKO first or second round
"I'm going to go with Nikolai vernikov by TKO early into the fight I think this is going to be a first round KO from vernikov"
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