Career Averages - Ismail Naurdiev
Career Averages - Marvin Vettori
Ismail Naurdiev - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 1 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Ryan Loder | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 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 | Ismail Naurdiev | 1 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Ryan Loder | 0 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ryan Loder | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ryan Loder | 1 of 4 | 25% | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Naurdiev (-130); Loder (+110)
Round 1
Two knockout-friendly middleweights will try to bop one another on the schnoz for the next 15 minutes or fewer. Referee Dan Movahedi will draw the charge as Naurdiev (24-8, 3-3 UFC) and Loder (7-2, 1-1 UFC) prepare for mutual combat. Fists are bumped before they are traded.
Naurdiev advances behind his outstretched left hand, fingers pointing straight at his opponent’s face. He opens up with a huge right hand after about 30 seconds of waiting, and the air is the only thing struck by it. Loder holds out his jab, and Naurdiev reaches him with a front kick and a right hand over the top that makes him smile. Loder charges at him behind four consecutive straight lefts, and Naurdiev’s grin grows even wider. Naurdiev resets and works his way forward.
Suddenly coiling back a right hand, he releases a head-seeking missile that lands about as cleanly as one can. Loder is out before the back of his head clatters lifelessly off the canvas, and Naurdiev knows that his work here is done.
Although Movahedi gets between them, Naurdiev is already raising his hands in the air and celebrating with his team. On autopilot, Loder somehow rolls over, but he is still out as he flops right down on his face. Movahedi and the medical professionals bring him back around, and Naurdiev leaps atop the cage to take in the cheers from the adoring masses in Qatar. While Naurdiev had already claimed half of his pro wins by knockout, it is the first time he has notched a clean KO since 2017. It could not have come at a better time.
The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Ryan Loder R1 1:26 via KO (Punch)
Angelo picks Ismail Naurdiev over Ryan Loder, but with hesitation. He notes Loder is a good wrestler but not UFC-level, while Naurdiev is undersized for middleweight but has striking volume that may force Loder to panic-wrestle from too far out. Angelo calls it a competitive matchup and wouldn't be surprised by a Loder win, but leans Naurdiev due to more tools.
Big Brady leans with underdog Ryan Loder, citing Naurdiev's questionable cardio and durability. He believes Loder's wrestling and ground-and-pound can control the fight, and that Naurdiev may fade if he can't finish early. He predicts Loder wins a decision, possibly dropping the first round.
Cody picks Ryan Loder confidently, noting his wrestling and cardio. He believes Naurdiev is a quitter with poor takedown defense and cardio. Cody thinks Loder can take Naurdiev down and break him over three rounds, possibly getting a late finish.
Connor agrees, picking Naurdiev. He notes that Naurdiev likes to walk in with his face and overextend, but Loder is even worse. He says Loder fights like a wrestler who hasn't learned to strike and melts down when things go wrong. He calls it a fight that shouldn't be in the UFC.
Lucrative James picks Ryan Loder as an underdog, citing Naurdiev's susceptibility to takedowns. He believes Loder's wrestling can expose Naurdiev, similar to previous opponents. He notes Naurdiev's survival skills but thinks Loder can get a finish. He admits Naurdiev is better on the feet but sees value in Loder.
Loder is a strong wrestler who can exploit Naurdiev's defensive holes. Naurdiev is a good striker but leaves openings and has been finished before. Loder's pressure and grappling should lead to a TKO finish.
Paul picks Ryan Loder, citing his wrestling and Naurdiev's history of quitting. He notes that Naurdiev has poor cardio and takedown defense. Paul believes Loder's style is perfect to exploit Naurdiev's weaknesses.
The MMA Guru picks Ismail Naurdiev to beat Ryan Loder, citing Naurdiev's well-roundedness and experience. He notes Loder's wrestling background but trusts Naurdiev's damage output with elbows and knees. He predicts a finish by TKO in the second or third round.
Zane picks Naurdiev but is not enthusiastic. He notes that Naurdiev has much more meaningful experience than Loder and doesn't tend to beat himself. He says Loder is a 34-year-old who got blown out by his first real test and has no striking ability. He thinks Naurdiev can be beaten but Loder is not the one to do it.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 76 of 153 | 49% | 84 of 164 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:25 |
| JunYong Park | 0 | 45 of 109 | 41% | 92 of 187 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 6:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 52 of 105 | 49% | 54 of 108 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JunYong Park | 0 | 26 of 77 | 33% | 28 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 25 of 45 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:25 |
| JunYong Park | 0 | 9 of 13 | 69% | 28 of 37 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 2:06 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| JunYong Park | 0 | 10 of 19 | 52% | 36 of 71 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 4:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 76 of 153 | 49% | 44 of 104 | 25 of 39 | 7 of 10 | 67 of 132 | 8 of 17 | 1 of 4 |
| JunYong Park | 45 of 109 | 41% | 41 of 102 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 38 of 96 | 4 of 10 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 52 of 105 | 49% | 33 of 73 | 16 of 27 | 3 of 5 | 48 of 96 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| JunYong Park | 26 of 77 | 33% | 25 of 74 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 24 of 70 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 19 of 37 | 51% | 8 of 22 | 7 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 27 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 4 |
| JunYong Park | 9 of 13 | 69% | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 5 of 11 | 45% | 3 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| JunYong Park | 10 of 19 | 52% | 7 of 15 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 13 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Park (-180), Naurdiev (+150)
Round 1
Firmly back in the confines of the UFC roster after taking seven fights elsewhere, Naurdiev (24-7, 3-2 UFC) has a lot to prove and some time to do it as he will reach the age of 29 in August. The relative elder statesman in this middleweight match is Park (18-6, 8-3 UFC), who will be entering into his 12th bout as a member of the organization. For this classic matchup of Austria vs. South Korea, referee Lukasz Bosacki will be the third in the Octagon. The fighters bump fists, and Naurdiev resides in the center of the cage attacking the body. Park responds with an overhand right, but Naurdiev’s volume is consistent with jabs and low kicks and the occasional power strike. They tie up for a second, and Naurdiev breaks off and drills Park with three punches that make him flinch and have to blink it out. Park responds with power, but Naurdiev swarms him with a trio of fists that get his attention again. Park swings mightily, and the Austrian keeps his range and sways out of the way from the worst of them. A right hand from Park reddens up Naurdiev’s face, but he gives it right back and bends Park’s nose a bit. The middleweights trade blows up top, with Park headhunting while Naurdiev opens up with a right hand that the Korean rolls with. Naurdiev cracks Park with a flurry, and Park steels himself and pays him back. Naurdiev’s punches are accurate, quick and painful, but Park is an “Iron Turtle” slowly working his way forward. The nickname is perfect for Park, who displays durability and eventually gets through. Naurdiev eats a stern right hand that makes him back off, and he pushes out with his fingers outstretched and swipes Park in the eye. Naurdiev is immediately apologetic, and Park does not take long to recover after Bosacki calls it. Naurdiev opens up with two hooks when they resume, and Park works his way forward behind a jab. Naurdiev flashes out two punches and then a knee to the body, and Park knees him back and takes one to the groin. Naurdiev says he is fine, and Park walks him down and blasts him in the face. Naurdiev rips the body with a left, and he shakes Park up with a right hand. Park takes a deep breath and explodes with a right hand that staggers Naurdiev. This rock-em sock-em battle continues as Park puts his foot slowly but comfortably on the gas, no-selling Naurdiev’s biggest blows and tripping Naurdiev up and possibly dropping him. Whether the knockdown was a knockdown or a slip may weigh heavily on the scores of the round, which ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Park
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Park
Round 2
When the round begins, Naurdiev starts by pushing off with his left hand and jamming it into Park’s eye socket. Bosacki calls time and tells Naurdiev to watch himself but does not take a point on the second poke. They restart, and Park rushes forward for a takedown and walks through a flying knee. Park drops to a knee, and Naurdiev blasts him in the face with an illegal knee. Bosacki immediately calls that it was a foul, and Park’s left eye is shredded open as blood streams down his face. Park stays on his seat for a minute, and Bosacki is advised by referee Herb Dean of his options. Park cannot open his eye as he gets to his feet, and he crouches back down as the physician attends to the wound. After two-plus minutes, Park stands up, and he leans on the fence as he speaks to the officials through an interpreter. Bosacki asks the doctor to check if Park can continue, and they test Park’s vision by covering his good eye. Park still cannot open his eye three minutes into the break, but somehow he is cleared to continue as the doctor issues a thumbs-up. Bosacki deducts two points from Naurdiev, who expresses disappointment in learning that Park’s knee was down. Park is able to get going after all, and after over four minutes of recovery and Bosacki checking them back in, he is enraged and runs towards Naurdiev to take him down. Naurdiev defends with hacking elbows to the side of the dome, hopping on one foot while Park holds the other in the air. Park wants to keep things tight, and Naurdiev knees him in the face when tied up. Naurdiev leans against his opponent until breaking off with an elbow, and he aims two left hands on the damaged eye and backs off. Park wipes his eye and digs an uppercut to the ribs before pushing Naurdiev to the wall. Naurdiev turns the corner and drops down for a double-leg takedown, and Park defends properly but is still lifted and slammed to the ground. The Austrian takes Park’s back and gets a hook in, searching for a choke that does not come. Park scrambles, working his way to his knees and then upright. Park puts a knee down to prevent another knee on the melon, and he turns Naurdiev around and muscles him to the mat. Park uses his weight to drag Naurdiev from the side, sliding his own hook in and loops his left arm under the chin. Naurdiev has the other limb controlled, and Park smacks him with his free hand. Park goes after one final choke, but the round ends with Naurdiev needing a finish in Round 3.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-7 Park
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-7 Park
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-7 Park
Round 3
Park is a man on a mission, pushing the pace and drilling Naurdiev with punches up top and to the midsection. The body shots have taken their toll on the Austrian, as Park is able to back him up and work him down to the mat. Park is on the side of Naurdiev with a hook around his leg, looking for a choke but bailing on it to take mount for a moment. Naurdiev turns to surrender his back briefly, but Park remains in a dominant position wearing Naurdiev down. Naurdiev grabs the fence to adjust himself, and Bosacki grumbles at him. Park slowly bowls Naurdiev over, drowning him with short right hands and top control. Park reams his opponent with an elbow to the side of the head, and he softens Naurdiev up with punches until Naurdiev explodes to turn to his back. Park gladly takes his back and secures both hooks, and he irritates Naurdiev with punches to soften him up. Park hunts for a choke, and Naurdiev defends his neck but has little else to offer with about a minute left in the match. Naurdiev pushes his feet off the wall in hopes of freeing himself, and Park waves to the crowd while in dominant position. With a second left, Park wraps up the rear-naked choke, and if he had more time, he likely would have finished the job. Instead, they reach the final horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Park (30-24 Park)
Christian Laporte scores the round: 10-8 Park (29-25 Park)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Park (30-24 Park)
The Official Result
Jun Yong Park def. Ismail Naurdiev via Unanimous Decision (29-26, 29-26, 29-25)
Angelo picks Ismail Naurdiev, citing his takedown ability and the fact that Park has poor takedown defense, as shown in the Andre Muniz fight. He notes that Ismail is a good striker and grappler, and at $7,500 he is a great value. He thinks Ismail will exploit Park's weaknesses and get the win.
Big Brady picks Park Jun-yong, citing durability and wrestling as key factors. He notes Naurdiev has been finished in four of seven losses and has poor takedown defense. Park completes takedowns at 47% accuracy and even took down Brad Tavares. Brady thinks Park can mix in takedowns if needed and has better cardio. He predicts a competitive decision win for Park.
Connor compares Park to a less-athletic Chan Sung Jung, noting his aggressive style and reliance on grappling. He highlights Park's ability to break opponents with low kicks and body shots, as seen in the Duryev fight. Connor believes Naurdiev's measured pace from long range will allow Park to close distance and secure takedowns, leading to a finish.
The host is a big fan of Junyong Park and thinks this fight perfectly showcases his advantages in pace, pressure, and grappling. He expects Park to put Naurdiev through the ringer and easily win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Park Jun-yong, praising his pace, striking, and composure. He notes Naurdiev's defensive grappling and submission threats but doubts his power and ability to dominate. He expects a three-round barn burner where Park's pressure in later rounds secures the win.
Zane acknowledges Park's limitations as a not-great athlete who relies on pocket exchanges and top control, but believes his wrestling and ground-and-pound will break Naurdiev. He notes that Naurdiev is a re-signing who struggled in Brave and only beat a broken Bruno Silva. Zane expects Park to find takedowns and break Naurdiev, though the fight may be scrappy.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 66 of 116 | 56% | 107 of 166 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 | 0 | 5:51 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 36 of 97 | 37% | 38 of 100 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 21 of 38 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:03 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 12 of 27 | 44% | 12 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 20 of 39 | 51% | 40 of 62 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:10 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 14 of 33 | 42% | 16 of 35 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 33 of 50 | 66% | 46 of 66 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:38 |
| Bruno Silva | 0 | 10 of 37 | 27% | 10 of 38 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 66 of 116 | 56% | 42 of 87 | 15 of 20 | 9 of 9 | 51 of 96 | 11 of 16 | 4 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 36 of 97 | 37% | 28 of 83 | 4 of 6 | 4 of 8 | 30 of 85 | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 13 of 27 | 48% | 6 of 18 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 8 of 19 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 12 of 27 | 44% | 7 of 20 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 23 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 20 of 39 | 51% | 15 of 31 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 15 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 4 |
| Bruno Silva | 14 of 33 | 42% | 12 of 28 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 3 | 12 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 33 of 50 | 66% | 21 of 38 | 7 of 7 | 5 of 5 | 28 of 44 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Bruno Silva | 10 of 37 | 27% | 9 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 8 of 33 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Basharat (-625), Hugo (+455)
Round 1
Fresh off a prolonged stint in Brave CF—one where he only went .500 while getting finished three times—Austria’s Naurdiev (23-7, 2-2 UFC) has somehow worked his way back to the organization while moving up to 185 pounds. His comeback draws powerhouse Silva (23-11, 4-5 UFC), who has bricks for fists but has struggled to land them cleanly as of late. High finish rates of 78% and 87% collide, which puts referee Mark Smith on notice while likely letting the judges take it easy. Gloves are touched before they are traded, and Silva strikes first with a sharp guard-splitting jab. Silva flicks out a few more, and Naurdiev’s nose is already reddening. Naurdiev opens up with wide punches and a power low kick, and Silva absorbs a flush body kick on the way back. Silva pushes out another jab, and Naurdiev goes for one to the midsection. Silva throws off-balance and gets countered with an overhand right, and his offense slows. He attempts a one-two and a low kick, and Naurdiev responds with a right hand over the top. Silva tosses a high kick that gets caught, and Naurdiev uses it to pushes his man to the fence. Silva sprawls with his back to the cage, and he posts off one hand to stop himself from being taken down. Naurdiev opens up with an elbow and a few punches to break, and as Silva throws back, Naurdiev whips a head kick at him. Silva chops at the front leg, turns around slowly, and gets nailed by a much quicker Naurdiev. The Austrian by way of Morocco shoots for a potential takedown, dragging Silva to his hands but not to the mat. Naurdiev leans on his opponent until Silva stands up, and he knees the Brazilian in the gut. Both men score elbows as they split up, and Silva attacks a low kick on the break. Naurdiev shoots in for a double-leg takedown, putting “Blindado” on his seat and hooking his legs around Silva’s. Silva bursts back to his feet, and Naurdiev hops onto his back and immediately starts fishing for a rear-naked choke. Silva leans against the fence and hand-fights to protect his neck, and Naurdiev slides off in part to Silva grabbing the fence, forcing a reset to kickboxing range. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 2
The second round opens with Silva tossing out low kicks. Naurdiev replies with a loud body kick, and Silva catches it and releases it when missing on a right-hand counter. Naurdiev jabs the body and walks into a left hand, and he fakes a level change to open up an overhand right. Silva tosses out a lazy low kick, and Naurdiev responds with a body shot. Naurdiev times a right hand over the top when Silva pitches another slow leg kick, and he shoots in on the Brazilian’s hips and puts him on the mat. Silva tugs on the fence to hope to improve his position, and Naurdiev climbs on top of him as Smith issues a warning. Naurdiev hacks at his man with elbows as Silva works his way up, and he sells out for a double and lifts Silva up but cannot deposit him on the floor. Silva knees and punches his way out of the tie-up, and he walks Naurdiev down and takes a few jabs on the jaw. Silva attempts a takedown, and Naurdiev easily defends it and sets up a power guillotine choke. Silva throws him off of him rather than technically fighting the choke, and he stalks “The Austrian Wonderboy” down and walks into a takedown entry. Naurdiev resets, punching his way into a double, and he secures it and dumps Silva to his backside. Naurdiev wrangles his opponent, sitting on top in half guard while working him over with punches. Silva once more grabs the fence, and Smith issues yet another warning. Silva returns to his feet, and he jabs his way to get some space. Naurdiev jabs him back and pitches out a front kick, and Silva tries to sway to dodge the attacks. Naurdiev flicks out a question-mark kick, and he dives after a double and settles for a single-leg entry to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 3
The fighters touch ‘em up to get going, and Silva appears to have a little fire under his belly as he launches attacks at his opponent. Silva’s swings are lumbering and telegraphed, and Naurdiev is sharper and picks him off before shooting for a double. Naurdiev pushes Silva from one end of the cage to the other, and he scores knees to the body and a right hand over the top to break off. Silva whips a kick to the ribs, and he shoots low for a takedown that fails miserably. Silva puts his hands on the mat to defend his face from getting kneed while leaned over, and he leans back up against the wall when the Austrian hangs onto him. Naurdiev backs off to put jabs on Silva’s face, and he lines up a right hand that glances off the temple. Naurdiev allows Silva to throw a weak high kick, and when Silva turns around slowly like a Lazy Susan, Naurdiev charges him. Silva gets pushed to the wall, doggedly pursuing the takedown while hunting for trips. Silva sets up a Thai clinch, getting off one knee before absorbing several heavier blows. Naurdiev backs off and trades hands with his opponent, and they bounce on their heels to shake things out. Naurdiev chases Silva to the fencing, letting his hands go and blasting his foe’s front leg with a kick. Silva gets off two punches and a knee, and Naurdiev dances in and out with jabs and leg kicks. Silva tries to wing a left hand over the top, and his second fails as well and a leg kick turns him around. When Naurdiev crashes towards him, Silva manages to turn around in time, but he does not throw anything intercepting. Silva pushes out long left hands, and Naurdiev is light on his feet, sliding from side to side while pecking at the Brazilian with a body kick. The fight comes to a conclusion.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Bruno Silva via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Big Brady picks Naurdiev, citing his well-rounded skills and multiple paths to win. He notes that Bruno Silva has looked washed since the Alex Pereira fight, appearing disinterested and fighting poorly. He believes Naurdiev can mix in takedowns and win on the feet or the mat. He predicts a decision win.
Cody picks Bruno Silva, citing Naurdiev's history of quitting and poor durability. He notes that Naurdiev has lost as a favorite multiple times and has cardio issues. Cody believes Silva's power and experience could lead to a knockout if Naurdiev fades. However, he is not confident and suggests a small play or pass.
Connor picks Silva, agreeing that Naurdiev is not durable and walks into hard strikes. Silva is a big puncher and Naurdiev is knockoutable. Connor notes that both fighters are bad and this fight has no reason to exist.
Daniel Vreeland picks Ismail Naurdiev to win, citing Silva's declining durability and poor minute-winning since the Pereira fight. He notes that Naurdiev has grappling upside and is the better minute winner, while Silva relies on a puncher's chance. Vreeland believes the current line is about right and that Naurdiev will pick Silva apart if he doesn't get knocked out early.
Daniel Vreeland is taking the underdog Bruno Silva despite his recent poor form. He notes that Naurdiev's last win was against an out-of-shape opponent and that Silva hits hard. Vreeland admits it's a stab at plus money, acknowledging Silva's takedown defense issues but hoping for a knockout.
Jeff Fox strongly disagrees with Vreeland, calling Naurdiev infinitely better than Silva. He highlights Silva's terrible takedown and submission defense, and Naurdiev's legitimate wrestling and submission game. Fox sees Naurdiev's path to victory via takedowns and a rear-naked choke, and notes the odds of a submission are high.
Naurdiev will mix martial arts effectively, using his wrestling to get top position and grind out a decision. He may leave some striking defense openings that Silva could exploit, but Naurdiev should avoid most of them and also find striking opportunities. The pick is Naurdiev by decision.
Paul picks Silva, noting that Naurdiev has a history of quitting and that Silva has power. He believes Silva can win if he survives the first round, as Naurdiev tends to fade. Paul is not confident but leans Silva due to the line movement.
The Guru picks Ismail Naurdiev, citing Bruno Silva's age (35) and recent unimpressive performances. He notes Naurdiev is a younger, more athletic welterweight moving up, and believes his striking and takedown defense will be enough. He acknowledges Naurdiev's regional losses but thinks he is growing into his prime. The Guru also mentions Silva's losses to Chris Weidman and Brendan Allen as signs of decline.
Zane picked Naurdiev, but was unimpressed with the fight overall. He noted that Silva looked like he doesn't want to fight anymore and has been washed since Gerald Meerschaert outboxed him. Zane acknowledged Naurdiev's hard luck story but said he still didn't look great and will likely wash out against better competition.
Zane picks Silva just for the hell of it, noting that Naurdiev is not durable, not defensively sound, and walks into hard strikes. Silva is a powerful puncher and Naurdiev is knockoutable. However, Zane acknowledges that both fighters are bad and this is a terrible filler fight.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Brady | 0 | 47 of 91 | 51% | 125 of 191 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 1 | 0 | 7:56 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 37 of 87 | 42% | 38 of 88 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Brady | 0 | 19 of 45 | 42% | 19 of 45 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 28 of 66 | 42% | 28 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:13 | |
| 2 | Sean Brady | 0 | 18 of 26 | 69% | 34 of 47 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:46 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 6 of 14 | 42% | 7 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 3 | Sean Brady | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 72 of 99 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 4:10 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Brady | 47 of 91 | 51% | 30 of 71 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 17 | 32 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 17 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 37 of 87 | 42% | 16 of 64 | 10 of 10 | 11 of 13 | 33 of 79 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean Brady | 19 of 45 | 42% | 9 of 33 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 10 | 19 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 28 of 66 | 42% | 12 of 48 | 8 of 8 | 8 of 10 | 24 of 59 | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean Brady | 18 of 26 | 69% | 12 of 20 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 5 | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 9 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 6 of 14 | 42% | 2 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 13 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sean Brady | 10 of 20 | 50% | 9 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 8 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 3 of 7 | 42% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Let’s get down to business with the first of 12 fights on UFC Norfolk, pitting an undefeated welterweight in Brady (11-0, 1-0 UFC) against the hard-hitting Austrian Naurdiev (19-3, 2-1 UFC). Referee Scott Howard is in charge of the action for this opening bout, and there is no touch of gloves as they simply walk towards one another. Naurdiev advances and tries to time a counter knee, but misses and lands a leg kick. Brady returns fire with one of his own, and block a head kick that comes his direction. Naurdiev stalks Brady down as he lands a jab, and eats a left hook before firing another jab out. Brady starts swinging with a few combinations, and then has a leg kick get caught. Naurdiev just misses a one-two, and throws out a lazy kick that Brady catches. The American tries to take advantage of the position, but Naurdiev slashes at him with a few elbows to force his opponent to set his leg down. Brady glances a one-two off the dome, and Naurdiev walks towards him throwing impactful body kicks. A one-two from Naurdiev misses, but he follows that with another body kick. There is some marking around the undefeated fighter’s face, and Naurdiev leaps forward with a knee but only partially connects with it. Brady pushes him away and jabs at him before shooting for a takedown, but he is easily stuffed. Naurdiev makes him pay with a body kick and a few punches, so Brady circles away and lands a left hook. He doubles up the jab and follows it with a heavy right hand, and hammers the body with a kick that lands with an audible thud. Naurdiev fires a spinning back kick at him, and Brady blocks it but is still knocked backward. The unbeaten fighter rushes back at him with a few punches, and retreats to avoid the counter. Naurdiev throws up a high kick that is barely blocked, and chases after him with punches. Again leaping up with a knee, Brady absorbs it and catches it, before letting it go. He rushes forward with a three-punch salvo, and only lands on the final one. He shoots in low for a takedown, but “The Austrian Wonderboy” stands him up easily. The two fight in the clinch as the round expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 2
The two trade jabs to begin the round, and Naurdiev lands a low kick as he tries to psyche up the crowd. They continue to exchange tit-for-tat, landing one strike before replying with one, and so forth. Brady races forward to string together a chain of punches, and punctuates the combination with a solid low kick. Naurdiev comes back at him, and Brady is quick to answer with a similar combination. The leg kicks already show a little marking on the left leg of the Austrian, and Brady shoots in to hit a double leg takedown. As Naurdiev springs out of it, Brady transitions into a single leg, and Naurdiev grabs the fence to stay up right. Howard admonishes Naurdiev, and Brady doggedly continues to pursue the takedown -- he lands it by tripping the leg out from beneath his opponent. With one knee down, Brady is content to throw knees to the thigh, and nearly takes Naurdiev’s back while the Austrian fights him off. Brady lumps him up with several short punches as the crowd begins to cheer his name, and Naurdiev spins out of bad position but Brady has control of his left leg. Brady wraps his arm around his foe’s neck to pursue an arm-in guillotine choke, but this allows Naurdiev to stand back up. He powers through and trips the lead leg out of Brady, and gets him down for but a moment, until the American fights back up. Brady grabs the leg and puts Naurdiev down on his back, where he quick takes half guard and looks to posture up to deliver some ground-and-pound. Brady stings him with a few loud elbows, all while maintaining heavy top pressure to grind out his opponent. The round concludes with Brady on top.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady
Round 3
Naurdiev starts out the round with a jab, and eats two for his efforts. A left-right hook combination scores for Brady, and Naurdiev walks through them and stalks down his opponent. Brady throws a few legs kicks to the inside and outside, and then crashes forward with a series of punches. Brady backs off, and then shoots in for a takedown, but bails on it when he does not get good position out of it. Naurdiev shoves him off, and then runs forward with a knee. Brady times it to avoid the brunt of the damage, and channels him momentum into a takedown. With the Austrian crouching against the cage, Brady stays heavy and keeps Naurdiev grounded, while attempting to get off some strikes. “The Austrian Wonderboy” springs back to his feet, but Brady immediately pulls him right back down. Like the last round, Naurdiev pulls on the cage to try to get up, and again Howard simply tells him to knock it off. Brady ignores what he is doing, and ties up Naurdiev while throwing punches as he nearly secures back control. With Naurdiev sitting with his back against the cage wall, Brady is only able to take one side of his back, allowing Naurdiev to try stand once more. Brady wrenches him back down, and nearly takes back mount, but Naurdiev bucks him off as he tries to scramble. All the while, Brady is thudding down punches, and while they may not be very damaging, they are adding up quickly. Brady holds all of his body weight on the Austrian, and Naurdiev is trapped with a leg stuck beneath him. When we hear the 10-second clapper, Brady wraps his arms around his opponent’s neck to jump for a guillotine choke, but time runs out before he can get anything going.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brady (29-28 Brady)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-8 Brady (30-26 Brady)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Brady (29-28 Brady)
The Official Result
Sean Brady def. Ismail Naurdiev via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 12 of 96 | 12% | 14 of 98 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 0 | 69 of 126 | 54% | 149 of 218 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 5:44 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 6 of 41 | 14% | 6 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 0 | 33 of 56 | 58% | 33 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 2 of 35 | 5% | 3 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 0 | 14 of 32 | 43% | 43 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:40 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 4 of 20 | 20% | 5 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 0 | 22 of 38 | 57% | 73 of 97 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 12 of 96 | 12% | 10 of 89 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 12 of 95 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 69 of 126 | 54% | 30 of 71 | 15 of 24 | 24 of 31 | 63 of 113 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 6 of 41 | 14% | 5 of 38 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 33 of 56 | 58% | 13 of 29 | 7 of 12 | 13 of 15 | 33 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 2 of 35 | 5% | 2 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 34 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 14 of 32 | 43% | 6 of 17 | 4 of 8 | 4 of 7 | 14 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 4 of 20 | 20% | 3 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 2 | 4 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Siyar Bahadurzada | 22 of 38 | 57% | 11 of 25 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 9 | 16 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 11 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Two powerful welterweights go head-to-head as Bahadurzada (24-7-1, 4-3 UFC) faces Naurdiev (18-3, 1-1 UFC). Our referee is Marc Goddard. Naurdiev comes out aggressive and presses forward, but Bahadurzada wings a right hand that just misses. Bahadurzada is trying to sit on a right hand counter, but Naurdiev will not commit to a strike that allows for that response. Naurdiev fakes and feints his way in to try to draw out a counter, and then tags the Afghani fighter with a one-two, and received an eye poke for his efforts. The action pauses, as Goddard checks on the Austrian, and after a moment, we start things up again. Bahadurzada leads with a few jabs, and Naurdiev throws a low kick and then a front kick to the body. "The Great" swings a huge right hand that blows the hair back from those sitting in the front row, but it does not land on Naurdiev. Bahadurzada keeps the jab going, and then looks for a one-two that just misses. Naurdiev continues to work the lead leg with short kicks, and then snaps his opponent's head back with a jab of his own. The two men go kick for kick, and Naurdiev throws up a quick head kick that clangs off Bahadurzada's head. Bahadurzada slams in a body kick with an audible thud, so Naurdiev throws one back. Naurdiev cracks Bahadurzada with a combination, causing the Afghani fighter to flinch, so Naurdiev turns on the pressure. Bahadurzada tries to unleash a big right hand to back his adversary off, but Naurdiev eats it and keeps pressing. Bahadurzada shakes off the cobwebs, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 2
The two men touch gloves, and Naurdiev fires up the crowd, but does not do much with the energy in the early going. "The Austrian Wonderboy" lands a few leg kicks, and Bahadurzada tries to come back over the top while aiming for a looping right hook. Naurdiev digs to the body with a left, and then kicks with either leg before pulling off a switch kick that catches Bahadurzada on the chin. Bahadurzada charges forward, throwing wild punches and not landing cleanly with any of them. As they close the distance, Naurdiev clips Bahadurzada with a right hand, and Bahadurzada is unsuccessful with a counter. "The Great" chugs towards his foe, swinging hammers but not connecting with them, and Naurdiev turns his opponent's aggression against him by taking the fight down. Naurdiev immediately takes side control, and plants a few short elbows and shoulder shots on Bahadurzada's chin while the Afghani fighter holds tight to try to force a standup. "The Austrian Wonderboy" slams three knees to Bahadurzada's torso, while holding heavy top pressure before Bahadurzada recovers half guard. Naurdiev works Bahadurzada's body and uses a few hammerfists to break position, before posturing up to smash down a couple elbows as time expires.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 3
Naurdiev opens up the last round by flicking out several jabs, and Bahadurzada is trying to respond with heavy shots but Naurdiev dances out of the way. Even though it is blocked, Naurdiev clubs Bahadurzada with a head kick that staggers the Afghani fighter briefly, although he shakes it off and gets back to eating jabs from Naurdiev. Bahadurzada cracks Naurdiev with a right hand that knocks the mouthpiece out, and the two men respectfully stand still as Naurdiev recovers it and the action continues. Exchanging body kicks, Naurdiev blasts forward with a takedown and instantly jumps into side control like the last round. Content to stay on top with heavy pressure and some short elbows to the body of his opponent, Naurdiev then switches to some elbows to the head that force Bahadurzada to spin out. After almost giving his back up, Bahadurzada then returns to his back where he takes a few more knees to the side. Bahadurzada powers out of the position to stand up, but Naurdiev stays high and tight, and immediately throws "The Great" back down. On his opponent's back for a moment, Naurdiev throws down punches before Bahadurzada turns around and lands on his back, with Naurdiev taking side control again. The fight ends with Naurdiev on top, likely having taken a dominant decision.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Siyar Bahadurzada via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chance Rencountre | 0 | 21 of 43 | 48% | 56 of 82 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 4 of 24 | 16% | 48 of 112 | 2 of 8 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 11:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chance Rencountre | 0 | 10 of 20 | 50% | 31 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 7 of 22 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 | |
| 2 | Chance Rencountre | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 23 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:55 | |
| 3 | Chance Rencountre | 0 | 10 of 22 | 45% | 20 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 2 of 10 | 20% | 18 of 29 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 3:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chance Rencountre | 21 of 43 | 48% | 13 of 32 | 8 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 32 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 4 of 24 | 16% | 1 of 17 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 5 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chance Rencountre | 10 of 20 | 50% | 3 of 10 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 17 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Chance Rencountre | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 4 | |
| 3 | Chance Rencountre | 10 of 22 | 45% | 10 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 14 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
| Ismail Naurdiev | 2 of 10 | 20% | 1 of 7 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Next up is a welterweight bout between Ismail Naurdiev and Chance Rencountre. The referee is Mark Smith. No touch of gloves. Naurdiev takes the center of the Octagon right away. Recountre lands a low kick and Naurdiev returns with a kick to the body. Naurdiev with another kick to the body but Rencountre catches it. They clinch up and Rencountre throws Naurdiev to the mat and he gets right back up. Rencountre with another kick to the body. Rencountre looks for a body lock takedown but Naurdiev reverses position and ends up on top. They get back to their feet. Naurdiev nearly lands a high kick. He clinches with Rencountre and knees hm to the body. Naurdiev lands a nasty body kick. Rencountre grabs a leg and is looking for a single leg takedown and gets it. Rencountre is smothering Naurdiev on the mat in the corner of the Octagon. Rencountre moves into half guard and is looking to get into arm-triangle choke position. Rencountre ends the round in a dominant position on top.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Round 2
Round two begins. Rencountre pushes forward and catches a body kick by Naurdiev and follows him to the mat. Rencountre immediately takes the back of Naurdiev. Rencountre has Naurdiev flattened out and he’s looking to get the rear-naked choke. Rencountre is landing hard punches to the head of Naurdiev from back mount. Naurdiev is able to regain half guard. Rencountre remains heavy on top landing ground and pound. Rencountre has been on top in half guard for almost the whole round. This has been a dominant round for Rencountre and Naurdiev is going to need a finish in the third round if he wants to win the fight.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-8 Rencountre
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-8 Rencountre
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Round 3
Round three begins. Rencountre lands a kick to the body. He immediately shoots for a double leg takedown but Naurdiev defends it and shakes him loose. Rencountre shoots for another double leg but Naurdiev stuffs it. Naurdiev lands a knee to the face as Rencountre shoots for another double leg. Rencountre gets him down briefly but Naurdiev uses the whizzer to get back up. Rencountre moves forward and Naurdiev lands a flying knee and then a straight right behind it. Rencountre clinches Naurdiev against the fence and is looking for a single leg takedown. Naurdiev defends it and they break. Rencountre drops down for another single leg takedown and can’t get it but he transitions to take the back of Naurdiev. Rencountre has Naurdiev flattened out on the mat now and is pounding him in the face. Naurdiev turns and Rencountre has full mount. Naurdiev is able to regain half guard. Rencountre jams Naurdiev up against the corner of the cage. Naurdiev is able to get back to his feet and the referee breaks the clinch. Naurdiev shoots for a double leg takedown and gets it but it’s far too late as the fight is over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-26 Rencountre)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-26 Rencountre)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-27 Rencountre)
The Official Result
Chance Rencountre def. Ismail Naurdiev via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 15 of 35 | 42% | 25 of 47 | 3 of 13 | 23% | 0 | 1 | 6:02 |
| Michel Prazeres | 0 | 63 of 103 | 61% | 105 of 157 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 2 | 3:49 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 7 of 13 | 53% | 12 of 20 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 1 | 2:53 |
| Michel Prazeres | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 27 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 0:59 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 4 of 14 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Michel Prazeres | 0 | 21 of 32 | 65% | 31 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:57 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 0 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 1:45 |
| Michel Prazeres | 0 | 23 of 38 | 60% | 47 of 72 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ismail Naurdiev | 15 of 35 | 42% | 11 of 29 | 2 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Michel Prazeres | 63 of 103 | 61% | 36 of 70 | 14 of 16 | 13 of 17 | 36 of 70 | 6 of 7 | 21 of 26 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ismail Naurdiev | 7 of 13 | 53% | 6 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Michel Prazeres | 19 of 33 | 57% | 10 of 22 | 2 of 3 | 7 of 8 | 11 of 21 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 10 | |
| 2 | Ismail Naurdiev | 2 of 12 | 16% | 1 of 9 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Prazeres | 21 of 32 | 65% | 9 of 19 | 7 of 7 | 5 of 6 | 15 of 26 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | |
| 3 | Ismail Naurdiev | 6 of 10 | 60% | 4 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Michel Prazeres | 23 of 38 | 60% | 17 of 29 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 14 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
It’s now time for a welterweight bout between Michel Prazeres and Ismail Naurdiev. The official for this contest is Marc Goddard. They touch gloves. Naurdiev lands a low kick but Prazares catches it. He has Naurdiev against the fence now and is working to get this fight to the ground. Prazeres looks to get the body lock takedown but Naurdiev uses the whizzer to stuff it. Prazeres nearly lands a double leg but Naurdiev stuffs that too. They exchange low kicks. Prazeres rushes in for a double leg takedown but Naudiev is doing a good job defending. Prazeres is grinding Naurdiev against the fence but breaks away. Low kick by Naurdiev. Another one, and then a high kick. Naurdiev lands a straight right that rocks Prazeres but he ducks under for a double leg takedown in desperation. Prazeres works Naurdiev against the fence and gets the double leg takedown. He’s now on top in half guard but Naurdiev lands an incredible sweep and is now on top himself. Naurdiev is on top landing nasty elbows to the head of Prazeres. Naurdiev moves into full mount and then takes the back of Prazeres. He’s working for a rear-naked choke but Prazeres escapes and sweeps him. Prazeres is now pushing Naurdiev against the fence grinding him. Naurdiev is doing a good job of defending against the takedown here and the round is soon over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
Round 2
Round two begins. Low kick by Naurdiev and then a left high kick. Naurdiev goes for a low kick that Prazeres catches but he can’t get the takedown from it. Nice jab by Naurdiev and then a low kick. Another left high kick by Naurdiev. Prazeres swings and misses wildly on a left hook. Naurdiev keeps throwing those low kicks at Prazeres. Naurdiev misses a jumping front kick and Prazeres uses this as an opportunity to get inside and push him against the fence. Prazeres tries for the body lock takedown but Naurdiev sweeps him, but Prazeres gets back up. Prazeres continues to work hard and gets the double leg takedown. Prazeres is now on top working in half guard but Naurdiev once again sweeps him. Beautiful work on the ground here by Naurdiev, but the referee says he isn’t doing enough damage and stands the fight up. Naurdiev looks to land a flying knee but Prazeres ducks under and is pushing Naurdiev against the fence again. The referee breaks up the stalemate. Naudiev lands a counter straight right and then a low kick. He goes for another straight right but Prazeres drops down for a double leg. Naurdiev stuffs it and the round is over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Prazeres
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Prazeres
Round 3
Round three begins and the fighters hug and give each other a high five. Prazeres lands a nasty right hook. Naurdiev with two body kicks and then two low kicks. Prazeres uses the kicks to get inside and he has Naurdiev against the fence now. The referee is warning the fighters to work. They don’t and he breaks it up. Prazeres with a wild left hook but Naurdiev moves away. Another low kick by Naurdiev, and another. Prazeres ducks under and goes for a single leg takedown and eventually gets it. Prazeres is on top in half guard in arguably the best position he’s had all fight long. Prazeres looks to get mount but Naurdiev sweeps him. He’s now working for a guillotine choke but uses it to stand up. Naurdiev lands a knee as Prazeres stands up and Prazeres is badly rocked. Prazeres with a desperation body lock takedown but he can’t get it and Naurdiev winds up on top. Naurdiev is pounding on Prazeres here and eventually turns him over. Naurdiev is on top of Prazeres dropping nasty elbows. Prazeres looks to be badly hurt. Naurdiev is raining down ground and pound from back control but Prazeres is able to turn over. Now Naurdiev is in half guard landing nasty elbows from the top. He continues to land hard elbows and punches until the round and fight are over.
Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (30-27 Naurdiev)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (29-28 Naurdiev)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Naurdiev (29-28 Naurdiev)
The Official Result
Ismail Naurdiev def. Michel Prazeres via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Marvin Vettori - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 88 of 186 | 47% | 90 of 188 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 77 of 149 | 51% | 77 of 149 | 1 of 7 | 14% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 27 of 49 | 55% | 28 of 50 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 25 of 47 | 53% | 25 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 31 of 71 | 43% | 31 of 71 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 30 of 55 | 54% | 30 of 55 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 30 of 66 | 45% | 31 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 22 of 47 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 88 of 186 | 47% | 78 of 176 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 9 | 86 of 181 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 77 of 149 | 51% | 60 of 130 | 9 of 10 | 8 of 9 | 73 of 143 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 27 of 49 | 55% | 22 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 5 | 27 of 48 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 25 of 47 | 53% | 18 of 40 | 3 of 3 | 4 of 4 | 25 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 31 of 71 | 43% | 27 of 67 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 3 | 29 of 68 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 30 of 55 | 54% | 21 of 45 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 27 of 52 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 30 of 66 | 45% | 29 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 30 of 65 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 22 of 47 | 46% | 21 of 45 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vettori (-118), Ferreira (-102)
Round 1
Chris Tognoni is the referee. Ferreira circles on the outside and the middleweights exchange low kicks. The Brazilian lunges in with a punching combination. Vettori closes the distance but Ferreira denies a takedown. Vettori backs up his foe with straight punches. A straight left from Ferreira gets through Vettori’s guard. Ferreira kicks the midsection. The Brazilian is active, lunging forward with power shots. Vettori lands a low kick. Ferreira lands a heavy leg kick of his own. Vettori shoots behind a combination but it’s denied. Ferreira is throwing bombs, mostly missing the mark thus far. Vettori follows a double jab with a stiff straight left that lands with impact. Ferreira fires off a 1-2. Ferreira tries a head kick and falls to the floor, just missing with the attack. Ferreira counters Vettori as he moves forward. Ferreira grounds Vettori late in the round but the Italian scrambles up. Ferreira stays on the attack, but Vettori counters in turn. Vettori lands a solid combination before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Round 2
Vettori looks for a single leg but Ferreira stops it and tags him with some punches. A hard body kick connects for the Brazilian and Vettori lands one of his own. Vettori goes back to the 1-1-2, and it’s effective. Ferreira lands a counter left hook as the Italian pressures. Vettori has a haed kick blocked. Ferreira fakes a takedown and misses a looping right hand. A straight left lands for Vettori. Vettori lands a leg kick, and then counters with a short left. Ferreira turns up the heat and attacks behind a combination. Ferreira snaps his foe’s head back with a left. Vettori shakes it off. Vettori stumbles after another combination by the Brazilian. Vettori sticks a jab, but Ferreira partially lands a calf kick. Heavy punches are exchanged. Ferreira moves forward and lands a body-head combination. Ferreira changes levels but Vettori stuffs it. A front kick lands for the Brazilian, and they both connect in an exchange. The frame ends with Vettori circling on the outside.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira
Round 3
Ferreira with a hard kick to the body, and he dumps Vettori on his back. Vettori scrambles up and is briefly trapped in a guillotine before assuming top position. Ferreira is able to return to his feet and they’re back to standing. Vettori pressures and stuffs a Ferreira takedown, shoving his foe into the fence. Vettori pursues a takedown against the fence. He connects his hands and gets his first takedown. Ferreira scrambles up, eating a knee in the process. Vettori sticks a solid 1-2. Ferreira responds with a jab. Vettori moves in and lands an uppercut. A right hook from the Brazilian snaps Vettori’s head back. He lands a couple more hard shots to put the Italian on the retreat. Vettori defends a single leg takedown. Vettori is bloodied, and he eats a stiff left from “The Hulk.” The volume is close, but Ferreira is landing the heavier shots in the fight. Vettori ducks under a spinning elbow. Another exchange ends with a left from Ferreira. Moments later, Vettori backs up Ferreira with punches. Time is running out for the former title challenger. Both middleweights are swinging, but it’s Ferreira who steps in with a big uppercut. One more exchange ensues before the final horn. Vettori is wearing the worst of the damage after 15 minutes.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ferreira (30-27 Ferreira)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Ferreira)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Ferreira)
The Official Result
Brunno Ferreira def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28 R3 5:00
Angelo picks Marvin Vettori, citing his incredible durability and experience against top competition. He notes that Vettori has been fighting the top 10 for years, while Ferreira has not faced the same level. Angelo acknowledges Ferreira's power and judo but doubts his cardio and ability to hurt Vettori. He expects Vettori to weather an early storm and win a decision, and he bet on the over 2.5 rounds.
Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori despite calling him 'washed'. He notes Vettori's durability and volume, and Ferreira's cardio issues, referencing Ferreira's loss to Abus Magomedov. He expects Vettori to mix in takedowns, grind on Ferreira, and submit him in the third round.
Cody picks Vettori, citing his durability and volume. He notes that Vettori has never been finished and has gone the distance with top competition. He believes Ferreira relies on early finishes and will fade if he doesn't get them. He thinks Vettori will outwork Ferreira and win by decision.
Connor picks Brunno Ferreira, citing that Vettori has lost his way after leaving Kings MMA and now fights without a clear game plan. He notes that Ferreira is a power puncher with submission threats, and while Vettori should win on paper, his recent performances show he is adrift. Connor calls it a vibes pick.
Daniel picks Ferreira, citing Vettori's decline (1-5 since title fight), lack of power, and fading durability. He believes Ferreira's power and finishing ability will be too much, and he expects Ferreira to become the first to finish Vettori in the UFC. He notes Vettori's volume edge but doubts it matters.
Lucrative James believes Marvin Vettori has looked washed recently, with declining durability. He notes Ferreira's power and thinks Vettori's chin may finally crack. He acknowledges the risk of betting against a proven chin but sees value in Ferreira as an underdog. He leans towards a KO win for Ferreira but does not predict the method definitively.
The host notes the opposite recent records but sees this as a step up in competition for Ferreira. He highlights Vettori's never-been-finished durability and Ferreira's lack of decision wins, expecting Vettori to bully Ferreira and pull out the win in deep water.
Paul agrees, emphasizing Vettori's chin and experience against elite fighters. He notes that Ferreira's wins are all first-round finishes and that he has never won a decision. He believes Vettori's size and durability will allow him to outlast Ferreira and win by decision or late finish.
The Guru picks Brunno Ferreira to finish Marvin Vettori, despite Vettori's legendary chin. He notes Vettori is becoming more hittable and showing damage, and Ferreira has KO power and submissions. The Guru predicts a first-round finish by TKO or submission.
Zane picks Brunno Ferreira, agreeing that Vettori has destroyed his own ability to fight with a good process. He notes that Ferreira is a power puncher with poor footwork but has knockout wins. Zane believes Vettori's indecision and gun-shyness could lead to Ferreira landing a big shot.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 109 of 253 | 43% | 115 of 262 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:17 |
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 111 of 224 | 49% | 119 of 233 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 29 of 58 | 50% | 35 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:17 |
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 30 of 55 | 54% | 38 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 36 of 95 | 37% | 36 of 95 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 42 of 83 | 50% | 42 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 44 of 100 | 44% | 44 of 100 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brendan Allen | 0 | 39 of 86 | 45% | 39 of 86 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 109 of 253 | 43% | 98 of 239 | 5 of 7 | 6 of 7 | 99 of 240 | 4 of 5 | 6 of 8 |
| Brendan Allen | 111 of 224 | 49% | 86 of 194 | 18 of 23 | 7 of 7 | 100 of 210 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 10 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 29 of 58 | 50% | 25 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 21 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 8 |
| Brendan Allen | 30 of 55 | 54% | 23 of 46 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 23 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 10 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 36 of 95 | 37% | 34 of 92 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 36 of 95 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brendan Allen | 42 of 83 | 50% | 32 of 71 | 6 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 41 of 82 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 44 of 100 | 44% | 39 of 94 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 42 of 98 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Brendan Allen | 39 of 86 | 45% | 31 of 77 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 36 of 83 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Allen (-245), Vettori (+200)
Round 1
Last year, middleweight contenders Vettori (19-8-1, 9-6-1 UFC) and Allen (24-7, 12-4 UFC) met on a casino floor, where their meeting ended with a brawl. The promotion elected to place that inside the Octagon, with referee Bassel Mahgoub in charge. They plan on settling their bad blood, and have the next 15 minutes or fewer to do so. There is no glove touch.
Vettori advances, trusting his iron chin, and he tests it early when Allen wings several high kicks and punches at him. Vettori takes them all cleanly without budging, firing back a right hook that shakes Allen up. Allen retaliates and busts Vettori’s nose up, and he shoots in for a double and hurls the Italian to the mat. Allen’s ground-and-pound makes Vettori turn around, and he takes the back and gets both hooks in. Allen starts hunting for a rear-naked choke, but partially because of the blood, Vettori slips his neck free. The explosive Italian surges up to a knee despite Allen riding him like a bucking bronco, under fire the whole time. Chants for “USA” in support of Allen boom in the building, and he clasps his hands and takes Vettori for a ride. Allen clings on the back but slides off, with Vettori assuming top position and finding himself quickly in leglock danger. Vettori pushes through the sub setup to spin around and deliver fierce ground-and-pound until Allen ties him up.
Vettori uses his elbow to bash Allen in the cheek, and his own strikes briefly have Allen turning around to present his own back. Vettori threatens with a rear-naked choke, and Allen shakes him off and gets to his feet. Allen drives a kick to the ribs, and they both nail one another with looping punches. Vettori’s face is a bloody mess but there may not be many individual cuts on it, and he is unconcerned as he lets his hands go and rings Allen’s bell once or twice. Allen absorbs a body kick and a right hand, and he jabs his man back. Allen tries to put a few punches together, and Vettori hits him harder and makes him reevaluate his approach. Vettori follows a jab with a left hand, and Allen cracks him with a right that sends him staggering back. Allen leaps forward and takes a right hand on the bow, and when he lands, they bang it out to the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Round 2
The middleweights measure one another with early jabs, with Allen’ head movement protecting him from most other than a couple straight left hands that reach him. Allen responds with a body kick, and Vettori snaps his head back with power jabs. A huge left hook from Vettori goes wide, and Allen times a solid body shot down the middle. Allen loops two lefts around the guard and points at the Italian, and Vettori returns fire with a pair of one-twos. Allen has busted Vettori up again with his brief but effective combos, and he times an elbow when Vettori comes at him. Allen slams a shin to the ribs and pecks out a jab, escaping out of the way from the worst of a pair of hooks. The two trade it out, with Allen pushing Vettori back after the exchange. Allen snaps out several jabs, rocking Vettori with two subsequent right hands that he celebrates by pointing at Vettori again. Allen walks Vettori down to the wall, cornering him and making him bite on fakes and feints.
Allen is briefly drawn into a slugfest that knocks him back, and he sees the telegraphed hurled arms coming at and past him. When Vettori misses, Allen stabs him in the torso with two front kicks, toes extended. They land at the same time, and Allen counts his connect and hits Vettori again for good measure. Vettori is bloodied and bruised but still throwing just as hard as before, clipping Allen at the end of a left but not slowing him down one instant. Allen is right back in his face with jabs and right hands to follow, and a body kick lands on the belt line as Vettori appears briefly concerned of a foul but does not ask for it to be called. Allen overswings a right hand, and Vettori stands him up with his counter. Allen replies with a right hand and points once more, drawing “The Italian Dream” into a slugfest where he controls the terms of engagement. Vettori knocks Allen back a step with a punch or two, but he cannot get Allen to reset as the pressure may be starting to get to him. Allen wraps his foot upside Vettori’s head, and Vettori drills him with a punch combination right as the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Allen
Round 3
Reaching the last round, Allen reintroduces himself with a body kick. Vettori does not want to be left out, and he hurls a high kick at his opponent that bangs into the guard. Allen chips at the front leg to disrupt Vettori’s forward movement, drilling him with a one-two after it. Allen pops Vettori in the chops with a right hand, briefly stunning him, but his remarkable durability is on display again as Allen walks him down pointing at him. Allen keeps his right hand up to parry the check right hook coming his way, slipping around another to catch Vettori. Not to be outdone, Vettori hurts Allen with a combination. Allen gathers his thoughts and makes blood spray from the Italian’s face with a thunderous combination, but Vettori does not so much as wobble. Vettori mixes up punches to split the guard with one, and Allen gives him something to think about with one to the solar plexus. Vettori wings a big left hand that skims off the side of the head, and his right that follows hits a little harder. Allen ignores them to work the body with a kick.
Allen keeps on the pressure, celebrating his handiwork when something clean lands and he avoids the response. He does this a few times, as Vettori slows every so often but is still throwing fire. Vettori whiffs with looping punches, and a left hand knocks Allen back a bit. Allen bites down on his mouthpiece and cracks Vettori back. Vettori is a bruiser and stands right in the pocket to trade, while Allen does the same and follows a few punches with a knee that stings his opponent. Vettori a little shaken up, Allen takes him down with a well-timed double. The Italian does not stay grounded for long, exploding back to his feet with a bit under a minute left. The defense falls through the floor for these two, who jack one another in the jaw with everything they still have. Allen lands a left and gets up a head kick on the other side, and his follow-up elbow hurts Vettori. Vettori backs off to the fence, bounces off it and rallies to engage in one final brawl. “All In” obliges him, and the two middleweights bang it out right to the final bell in a blood-and-guts battle that is an early frontrunner for “Fight of the Night” if one is awarded at night’s end. Each round was individually close, so scores could be all over the map here.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Allen (30-27 Allen)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Allen)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori (29-28 Allen)
The Official Result
Brendan Allen def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Marvin Vettori despite being an underdog, citing his durability and consistent forward pressure. He questions Brendan Allen's mental consistency and identity, noting Allen's talent but tendency to underperform. He suggests a plus 3.5 bet on Vettori as a safer play.
Big Brady leans Marvin Vettori, disagreeing with the line that makes Allen a heavy favorite. He argues Vettori has advantages in striking volume, cardio, and durability, and that Allen's best wins are unimpressive. He expects a close split decision, possibly influenced by Allen's hometown.
Connor picks Brendan Allen hesitantly, citing Vettori's recent decline in confidence and inability to pressure effectively. He notes that Allen's aggression and grappling could overwhelm Vettori, who has been overthinking and losing his edge since leaving Kings MMA. However, he acknowledges that Allen's own gas tank issues and Vettori's durability make it a coin flip.
The host thinks this is a great matchup for Vettori to keep the fight upright, bully Allen in the clinch and in pocket exchanges, and pull away on the scorecards. This indicates a clear path to victory.
The MMA Guru picks Brendan Allen over Marvin Vettori, predicting a 29-28 decision. He criticizes Vettori's lack of power and volume, noting that he landed only about 90 significant strikes in recent fights. Allen is described as more versatile with kicks and grappling, though he can be reckless. The Guru believes Allen will mix in takedowns and out-hustle Vettori, who is coming off a long layoff and personal issues. He also notes that Vettori cannot finish Allen and that Allen's chin is durable enough to handle Vettori's shots.
Zane picks Vettori hesitantly, banking on Allen's tendency to gas from grappling and Vettori's durability. He thinks Allen's grappling success could lead to fatigue, allowing Vettori to win by default. However, he admits it doesn't feel right and acknowledges Vettori's recent struggles.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 111 of 220 | 50% | 112 of 221 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 141 of 338 | 41% | 141 of 340 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 19 of 38 | 50% | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 17 of 52 | 32% | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 20 of 45 | 44% | 20 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 31 of 66 | 46% | 31 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 22 of 34 | 64% | 22 of 34 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 18 of 62 | 29% | 18 of 63 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 21 of 43 | 48% | 21 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 37 of 71 | 52% | 37 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 29 of 60 | 48% | 30 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 38 of 87 | 43% | 38 of 88 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 111 of 220 | 50% | 72 of 173 | 8 of 11 | 31 of 36 | 110 of 218 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 141 of 338 | 41% | 85 of 253 | 20 of 36 | 36 of 49 | 137 of 332 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 19 of 38 | 50% | 8 of 26 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 10 | 19 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 17 of 52 | 32% | 9 of 40 | 2 of 2 | 6 of 10 | 17 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 20 of 45 | 44% | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 9 | 20 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 31 of 66 | 46% | 18 of 50 | 2 of 3 | 11 of 13 | 31 of 66 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 22 of 34 | 64% | 16 of 26 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 22 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 18 of 62 | 29% | 12 of 50 | 2 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 17 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 21 of 43 | 48% | 12 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 10 | 21 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 37 of 71 | 52% | 24 of 51 | 4 of 7 | 9 of 13 | 36 of 70 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 29 of 60 | 48% | 24 of 53 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 3 | 28 of 58 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 38 of 87 | 43% | 22 of 62 | 10 of 16 | 6 of 9 | 36 of 83 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Roman Dolidze over Marvin Vettori in the rematch. He cites Vettori's two-year layoff, a rumored shoulder injury, and Dolidze's progression since their first fight. Angelo notes Dolidze has improved his striking and grappling activity, and he likes the 'win inside distance, decision no action' prop for Dolidze because he can finish and is durable.
Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori, arguing that the first fight was close but Vettori outlanded Dolidze in two of three rounds. He emphasizes that this is a five-round fight, which favors Vettori's superior cardio and minute-winning style, while Dolidze is not a five-round fighter and needs a finish to win. Brady believes Vettori's takedown defense will keep the fight standing, where he will outwork Dolidze. He predicts a decision win for Vettori, though he expresses concern about corrupt judges.
Cody believes Hernandez's weaponized gas tank and constant pressure will eventually break Dolidze, especially in a five-round fight. He notes Hernandez is a slow starter and has durability issues, but expects him to take over in later rounds. He suggests live betting Hernandez after the first round for better value.
Connor picks Vettori despite acknowledging the X-factors of injury and camp change, because he believes Vettori's Kings MMA programming makes him durable and consistent. He notes that Vettori's style of moving forward and punching is hard to break, and that Dolidze's unathletic brawling may not be enough to overcome Vettori's pressure. However, he expresses concern that Vettori might try to be too technical after the layoff.
Daniel picks Roman Dolidze as a plus money underdog, acknowledging the speed and movement advantage of Imavov but believing Dolidze's dangerous finishing ability and durability give him a chance over five rounds. He notes Dolidze's cardio concerns but thinks Imavov fades harder, and that Dolidze's leg lock threat is mitigated by Imavov's training with Ciryl Gane. He is not confident, calling it a tough fight where he could be frustrated if Dolidze gets outpointed.
The host expects Vettori to replicate his previous decision win, using his ability to mix it up in the clinch and improved striking to shut down Dolidze's overaggressive nature. He predicts Vettori will outpoint, out strike, and out grapple Dolidze to win on the scorecards.
Paul thinks Dolidze has improved striking and can exploit Hernandez's questionable standup and body vulnerability. He believes the market has overcooked Hernandez and sees value in Dolidze as a dog. He plans to wait for better odds, possibly plus 300 on fight day.
The MMA Guru picks Roman Dolidze, believing he could have won the first fight. He notes Dolidze's momentum with three fights in 2024, including wins over Anthony Smith and Kevin Holland, showing improvement. He questions Marvin Vettori's activity and recovery from the Cannonier beatdown and an injury. He thinks Dolidze's finishing potential and size advantage are key, and he predicts a 48-47 decision win for Dolidze, though a finish is possible. He also notes Dolidze is an underdog.
Zane picks Dolidze based on the suspicion that Vettori's long layoff and potential camp change to American Top Team could disrupt his game. He notes that Vettori backed up a lot and got hit hard in their first fight, and that Dolidze came worryingly close to outworking him. However, he acknowledges Dolidze's unathletic style and that Vettori is durable and hard to put away.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Cannonier | 0 | 153 of 301 | 50% | 154 of 302 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 241 of 411 | 58% | 257 of 428 | 4 of 6 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 3:07 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jared Cannonier | 0 | 38 of 71 | 53% | 38 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 29 of 66 | 43% | 29 of 66 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Jared Cannonier | 0 | 24 of 50 | 48% | 24 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 82 of 125 | 65% | 94 of 138 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 3 | Jared Cannonier | 0 | 31 of 50 | 62% | 31 of 50 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 49 of 81 | 60% | 52 of 84 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:43 | |
| 4 | Jared Cannonier | 0 | 37 of 76 | 48% | 37 of 76 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 32 of 57 | 56% | 32 of 57 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 | |
| 5 | Jared Cannonier | 0 | 23 of 54 | 42% | 24 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 49 of 82 | 59% | 50 of 83 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:04 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Cannonier | 153 of 301 | 50% | 117 of 257 | 15 of 21 | 21 of 23 | 148 of 293 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 241 of 411 | 58% | 173 of 339 | 39 of 43 | 29 of 29 | 195 of 354 | 26 of 31 | 20 of 26 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jared Cannonier | 38 of 71 | 53% | 31 of 63 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 37 of 69 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 29 of 66 | 43% | 14 of 51 | 8 of 8 | 7 of 7 | 28 of 65 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jared Cannonier | 24 of 50 | 48% | 21 of 44 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 22 of 47 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 82 of 125 | 65% | 62 of 104 | 15 of 16 | 5 of 5 | 58 of 96 | 12 of 13 | 12 of 16 | |
| 3 | Jared Cannonier | 31 of 50 | 62% | 23 of 42 | 3 of 3 | 5 of 5 | 30 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 49 of 81 | 60% | 36 of 66 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 41 of 70 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Jared Cannonier | 37 of 76 | 48% | 26 of 63 | 4 of 5 | 7 of 8 | 37 of 75 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 32 of 57 | 56% | 22 of 46 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 7 | 32 of 57 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Jared Cannonier | 23 of 54 | 42% | 16 of 45 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 22 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 49 of 82 | 59% | 39 of 72 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 36 of 66 | 6 of 7 | 7 of 9 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vettori (-115), Cannonier (-105)
Round 1
We have reached the final fight of the card, and it is the only one to contain a pair of ranked competitors. Both men have lost to champ Israel Adesanya, so a victory tonight might not be enough to move them to the top of the ladder. In one corner stands Vettori (19-6-1, 9-4-1 UFC), who has never had his chin checked as a pro. In the other is knockout artist Cannonier (16-6, 9-4 UFC), who celebrates a solid 75% finish rate. Whether it lasts five minutes or five rounds, referee Herb Dean is prepped and ready to go. There is an intense glove touch between the two middleweights, and it’s on with the main event. Vettori looks to set up his jab early, and Cannonier walks him down and does the same, except he follows with a calf kick. Vettori sticks out a one-two, and he catches Cannonier with a power left hand that stuns “The Killa Gorilla” unexpectedly. Cannonier defends with his back to the wall and thinks to change levels, and he gathers his thoughts and waves Vettori on for more. Vettori aims a left hand over the top and stings Cannonier again, and Cannonier once more has to retreat to gather his thoughts. Vettori does not give chase or get into a reckless slugfest, instead measuring the former heavyweight with a head kick. Cannonier blocks it in time and steps in with a right hand, and Vettori gets cracked with a right hand that shakes him up. Vettori pays him back with a left hand, and he ducks a swopping punch to sneak a right hand around the guard. Cannonier checks a leg kick and has a left hand bounce off his forehead with little effect. Vettori works the body with a kick, and Cannonier backs him away with a thumping kick to the inside calf. Cannonier keeps his guard up when Vettori throws hands, and he gets off another solid leg kick. Cannonier walks through a jab and rolls with a right hand, and he forces out a jab only to give two right back to his opponent. The Italian flicks out several jabs, and he follows one with a left hand to stagger Cannonier. “The Killa Gorilla” reels and recovers once more, and he kicks at the lead wheel and puts the ball of his foot on Vettori’s sternum twice. Cannonier unloads with a leg kick, only to get knocked back with a pair of punches. Cannonier backs Vettori against the wall and cannot trap him with a barrage, as Vettori instead makes him change his mind with a step-in knee. Cannonier gets in two right hands as Vettori rolls, and he escapes out the side but walks into a right hand that soars at him. Cannonier paws out with three punches that slide off the shoulder, and he eats a one-two shortly thereafter. As Cannonier comes out throwing, the exciting round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 2
Cannonier moves right to the center of the cage after second stanza opens, and they trade rangy punches. Cannonier throws a hard low kick, and he walks into a few punches. As Cannonier bears down on Vettori, Vettori escapes out the side and fires off a piston-like straight left hand. Cannonier knows he will take it on the eye, and he does so he can loop a right hand over the guard. Cannonier slips a few punches as he trades with Vettori, and he ends a combo with a leg kick. Cannonier lines up a ferocious straight right hand, and Vettori wears it well but is not enjoying what he gets. Cannonier rails him with another overhand right, and Vettori staggers back and leans against the fence. Vettori clinches up, and Cannonier pushes him off to reset and approach from another angle. Vettori strides forward in effort to counter, and Cannonier kicks his leg out and puts Vettori on his back. Vettori defends from the subsequent ground-and-pound that Cannonier drops on him, and he moves to his knees while still clearly very hurt as his nose is bleeding. Cannonier racks him up with a few body shots and punches over the top, and Vettori succeeds in slowing Cannonier just enough with a combination. Cannonier digs a left to the body and a right to the head, and Vettori is on rubber legs and taking punches right on the chin. Vettori remains upright, and Cannonier is giving it all he has with punches, knees and even short elbows. Vettori blocks several of the strikes but takes many more, and he is hanging in there but taking a beating. Cannonier backs him off and stands Vettori up with a right hand, and Vettori surges forward with a pair of punches to surprise Cannonier. Cannonier slows himself down, and Vettori rushes after him with a one-two. Vettori misses with a left hook, and he dings Cannonier behind the ear with another and reaches the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Cannonier
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-8 Cannonier
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Cannonier
Round 3
A busted up and slightly bloodied Vettori makes it to the third round, and he appears to still be trying to get his wits about him. Vettori leads off with a jab, and he uses several more to decent effect to keep Cannonier from bearing down on him. Vettori sits down on alternating leg kicks, and Cannonier measures a right hand to the midsection. Vettori swings a big left hand, and he springs forward to deliver a right hand off the guard. Cannonier knocks his man back with a power right hand, and he shoots in for a takedown. Vettori stops it and pushes him away, and he chains a calf kick into a one-two as he appears more recovered 75 seconds into the round. Vettori jumps into throwing an uppercut to the body and he snaps out a jab only to get met with a body kick. Cannonier knocks the mouthpiece sideways with a big right hand, and Vettori gathers it and reaches Cannonier with a right hand. Cannonier lines up a right hand down the middle, and Cannonier drills him with a right that marks up Vettori’s nose. Cannonier walks down his man and lands without fear, and he makes Vettori bend over so he can smack him with uppercuts. Cannonier drags Vettori to the floor and smashes him in the face with a right hand, and Vettori fights his way to his knee and feet while his face is transforming into a bloody visage. Cannonier is relentless, stalking Vettori down and lining up body shots and some others up top. Vettori backs Cannonier off with an elbow, but Cannonier is able to shake it off and pay him back. Cannonier tries to dump his foe to the floor, and Vettori reverses him and puts Cannonier on his seat. “The Killa Gorilla” desperately leaps back to his feet, and he breaks off from the clinch to get back to walking Vettori down. The two middleweights trade jabs, and Cannonier bops Vettori on the nose and finds his chin with two more hooks. Vettori puts two punches on Cannonier to make him reset, and his jab finds its home right before the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Round 4
Having reached the championship rounds, they meet in the middle and Vettori starts off with a leg kick and a few jabs. Vettori has some bounce back in his step, and he flicks out a few punches and ignores the return fire. Cannonier blocks a head kick and drives Vettori back with an overhand right, and Vettori is able to blink it out and string a pair of punches to the face. Vettori sinks a body kick home, and he slips a Cannonier right hook to put two on Cannonier’s face. Cannonier connects with a solid low kick, and Vettori reaches out with his lead right hook. Vettori again goes high with a kick, and it lands off the guard with a loud thud. Vettori tags Cannonier with straight punches, and Cannonier answers with chopping leg kicks. Cannonier leans back and pounds Vettori in the face with a right hand, and he shoots in for a takedown to put Vettori down. Vettori powers his way back up, and Cannonier leads him over to the fence in the tie-up. Cannonier cannot keep him, as Vettori squirts out the side and starts flashing his jab again. Vettori counters a leg kick with a left hand, and he leans back as Cannonier throws a haymaker. Vettori walks into a hook to throw two more, and he gets his head snapped back with a fierce jab. Vettori gets knocked back with jabs, and a one-two gets Vettori’s attention. The Italian kicks the lead leg, and Cannonier answers him right back and follows suit with a right hook behind the ear. Vettori delivers a kick to the ribs, and he hops away as Cannonier rushes at him with big hands. Cannonier throws hard and misses the mark a few times, and they hand-fight in the open until Cannonier closes in to go after a takedown. Vettori shuts it down and moves back to the middle of the cage, and he gets just out of the way of a home run punch from his opponent. Cannonier cracks Vettori with a right hand, but Vettori’s beard is immeasurable. When Cannonier kicks low, Vettori replies with a one-two, and he concludes the round with a head kick and a straight left.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier
Round 5
With five minutes left to decide things once and for all, the middleweights do not waste more than a few seconds before engaging. Vettori aims a kick up high, and when Cannonier guards against it, Vettori kicks low. Cannonier makes him think twice about this with a hard right hand, and he eats one back as Vettori starts chattering to him. They trade power punches, and then power kicks, as nothing is off the table in this skirmish. They both pop out jabs, and Vettori wipes his nose and nods. Cannonier smashes his fist into Vettori’s nose, and Vettori is right there answering him back with a combination. Cannonier rings Vettori’s bell with a monstrous right hand, but somehow Vettori is still with it and pushes off with a knee. Cannonier connects with another big right hook, and he clinches up with Vettori in search of a few short strikes on the inside. Vettori pushes him away and absorbs a flush body kick, only to throw a high kick right back Cannonier’s way. Cannonier corners Vettori momentarily with a short salvo of punches, and Vettori again escapes out the side and resets. Cannonier lunges with straight punches, and Vettori jabs him in the face. “The Italian Stallion” does not land his head kick, and he slides away from one power punch but takes a second one. Cannonier hurts his foe with a hellacious pair of punches, and he muscles Vettori down to the floor and hopes to hammer the nail with ground-and-pound. Vettori clings to him, but Cannonier is able to posture up with a minute to go and rain down elbows. Vettori’s face starts spraying blood, and he still has the wherewithal to sit up and fight back to his feet. All the while, Cannonier is punching Vettori on the bloodied nose. Cannonier swings with bad intentions, and Vettori eludes them and catches Cannonier with a big punch of his own. Cannonier tries to hit one final takedown to conclude the match, but Vettori turns him around. The bloody, brutal firefight that likely set striking total records in the 185-pound division wraps up, and “The Italian Stallion” has miraculously made it to the final horn. The two men may very well find a post-fight bonus in their immediate future after that thrilling back-and-forth slugfest. At the tender age of 39, Cannonier may have put forth his finest performance to date, and he asks for either a title shot or a fight that will get him there. When that happens, we will unquestionably be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier (49-45 Cannonier)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier (49-45 Cannonier)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cannonier (49-45 Cannonier)
The Official Result
Jared Cannonier def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 48-46)
Angelo picks Marvin Vettori, trusting his chin and pressure. He notes that Vettori's takedowns and volume should be effective against Jared Cannonier, who can be gun shy at 39. Vettori lands more significant strikes and has only lost to top competition. Angelo has a half unit moneyline bet on Vettori at minus 145.
Big Brady picks Marvin Vettori to win by decision. He believes Vettori will implement a wrestling-heavy game plan, pushing Cannonier against the cage and taking him down, similar to Israel Adesanya's second fight strategy. He notes Cannonier hasn't faced many wrestlers recently and has been taken down in the past by Derek Brunson and David Branch. Brady emphasizes Vettori's superior cardio, toughness, and durability, and thinks he can win minutes with control and grappling over 25 minutes. He does not expect a finish but sees a clear path to a decision win.
Cody initially gravitates toward Vettori due to his elite generalist skills, cardio, and durability, but he reconsiders after reviewing Cannonier's last fight against Sean Strickland, where Cannonier landed 141 significant strikes and proved he can maintain pace for five rounds despite his muscular build. He notes that Vettori's wrestling may not be good enough to take Cannonier down and hold him there, and that Vettori's last fight against Roman Dolidze was a close call where many thought he lost. Cody ultimately leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes, but acknowledges the fight could go either way and recommends betting live rather than pre-fight.
Connor picks Vettori, citing his consistency, durability, and high output. He argues that Vettori is more reliable minute-to-minute than Cannonier, and that Cannonier's lack of a systematic approach will allow Vettori to outwork him. Connor expects a five-round decision where Vettori lands more strikes and edges out rounds.
Daniel Levi picks Jared Cannonier, citing comparable volume but a significant power advantage for Cannonier. He notes Cannonier's high output against Strickland (140+ significant strikes) and believes Cannonier lands the harder shots that impress judges. He expects a decision win for Cannonier, though acknowledges a finish is possible. He also mentions Cannonier's leg kicks as a key weapon and Vettori's susceptibility to them. He got Cannonier at +100 and expects the fight to be close but favors Cannonier's power.
Cannonier lands more significant strikes over a prolonged period, similar to what Roman Dolidze did but for longer. Vettori's striking is improving but he will struggle to implement his clinch/grappling game because Cannonier is tough to keep in one spot and difficult to hold down. Cannonier keeps the fight upright, uses leg kicks and movement, and lands big shots down the middle. Vettori is very durable so Cannonier wins by decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, noting the line has shortened from +130s to near pick'em, which he considers sharp. He thinks Vettori can take Cannonier down but cannot hold him down and maintain position. He likes the over 2 takedowns prop for Vettori but is not fully committed. He leans Cannonier for landing more damaging strikes over 25 minutes but says anything could happen.
The MMA Guru picks Jared Cannonier over Marvin Vettori, arguing Cannonier is more dynamic with leg kicks, body kicks, and elbows, while Vettori mostly boxes. He compares their common opponents: Cannonier held his own against Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, while Vettori was schooled by both. He also notes Cannonier knocked out Derek Brunson, while Vettori went to a decision. He predicts a 49-46 decision win for Cannonier.
Zane picks Cannonier because he believes Cannonier's power will be the deciding factor. He notes that Cannonier is not consistent but has a 'get out of jail free card' with his power, and that Vettori has been pushed out of his fight by power punchers like Whittaker and Adesanya. Zane expects a close fight where Cannonier's power wins out over Vettori's durability and output.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 106 of 218 | 48% | 106 of 218 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 71 of 192 | 36% | 71 of 192 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:14 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 38 of 75 | 50% | 38 of 75 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 29 of 71 | 40% | 29 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 28 of 69 | 40% | 28 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 16 of 50 | 32% | 16 of 50 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:05 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 40 of 74 | 54% | 40 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Roman Dolidze | 0 | 26 of 71 | 36% | 26 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 106 of 218 | 48% | 60 of 165 | 8 of 13 | 38 of 40 | 100 of 212 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 71 of 192 | 36% | 52 of 169 | 11 of 15 | 8 of 8 | 67 of 180 | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 38 of 75 | 50% | 24 of 60 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 12 | 35 of 72 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 29 of 71 | 40% | 20 of 62 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 6 | 29 of 69 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 28 of 69 | 40% | 11 of 48 | 3 of 6 | 14 of 15 | 28 of 69 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 16 of 50 | 32% | 12 of 44 | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 16 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 40 of 74 | 54% | 25 of 57 | 3 of 4 | 12 of 13 | 37 of 71 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Roman Dolidze | 26 of 71 | 36% | 20 of 63 | 5 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 61 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Vettori (-166), Dolidze (+140)
Round 1
In 2023, Vettori (19-7-1, 9-5-1 UFC) and Dolidze (14-3, 8-3 UFC) tangled in a main card match on UFC 286. The former ended up getting his hand raised on the scorecards, and for some reason, the promotion is running back this middleweight entanglement. Rather than a three-rounder, these two get five rounds to stretch out and ply their respective trades. Before Vettori gets to the cage, he remembers that he did not put on a groin cup. Vettori has to go back to the locker room to get it, resulting in an extremely awkward wait. Absent-minded or mind games, you be the judge. When they both take the cage, referee Herb Dean calls the fighters to the center of the cage to issue final instructions and elicit a fist bump, and the competitors oblige. It’s on with the show. Vettori on the outside measures his jab, and Dolidze returns fire with an axe kick that is well out of range. Dolidze reaches out with his right hand, and Vettori protects himself from it and gets off a low kick. Vettori goes to the front leg a few more times, and he checks one coming back his way. Dolidze rings his bell with a punch combo, as Vettori nods at his opponent after absorbing the blows. Vettori kicks twice low and then high with his foot, and Dolidze drives him back with a right hand. The two lean in and bang their heads together, and Dean sees it immediately and calls time. They take the necessary seconds to shake anything off and return to their distant striking engagement. Dolidze loads up on a big right that bangs into the raised guard, and he has a second come up just short. Vettori jabs and moves, but he does eat a right hand on the temple. Dolidze hammers home a low kick, and the two appear to clash heads again but there is no pause this time. Vettori uses low kicks to keep distance, while Dolidze is all firepower throwing big punches that cause him to slide off-balance. Vettori slips in and out with a sharp left hand, and Dolidze nods at him and swings back violently. Another axe kick from the Georgian goes wide, and Vettori splits the guard with a jab and a one-two. Dolidze responds with a short punch combination, and he sticks out a front kick for good measure. The Italian sneaks in a punch, but his leg kick gets checked as Dolidze smiles. Dolidze marches forward with a right hand, spinning through it with an elbow that brushes past his opponent. They trade kicks to the kneecap, and Dolidze races after him swinging for the fences. Vettori slides out of the way and clips Dolidze with a short right hook. Dolidze shrugs it off and loads up on his right hand, and Vettori is wise to it and a second that follows. Dolidze launches a head kick, and Vettori shoulder-rolls it to keep himself safe. Dolidze considers a level change, but Vettori no-sells it and gets back to boxing distance. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 2
Before the round begins, Dean goes over to Dolidze to inform him that he needs to stop pointing his fingers towards his opponent. Dolidze acknowledges him, and the round commences. When Dolidze darts forward, Vettori is out of the way safely. As Vettori slides in and out of range, Dolidze connects at the end of a right hand. Dolidze then pushes off and his thumb jams into Vettori’s eye, and Dean heavily sighs and calls time. There is no point deduction despite the stern warning seconds ago, with the rules more guidelines than anything. Vettori clears his eye quickly, and he wants to make Dolidze pay. They both crack one another with heavy right hands, and Dolidze’s face sports a wry grin. Dolidze tries again to spin for a strike, and this time Vettori closes the distance to shut him down. A third spinning back elbow from the Georgian ricochets off the guard, and they both reset. Both fighters crash together, and Dolidze gets the better of it with a clean right hand. Dolidze plants the ball of his foot on the torso, and he comes up short with his axe kick. Dolidze slaps the calf a few times with the instep of his foot, and Vettori swings with one heavier and wades out of danger as Dolidze fires off a front kick. A Vettori head kick is blocked, and he charges in but does not catch his man with anything. Dolidze kicks low, and Vettori throws high. Dean issues Dolidze another warning for his outstretched fingers, and they leap towards one another to engage and then back off after doing what they want to do. This fight is playing out almost exactly like their first bout a few years ago, with Vettori slipping in and out with more accurate strikes while Dolidze leans on power that occasionally connects. Dolidze gets off a leg kick, and Vettori strides forward and puts a one-two on the chest. A flurry from both men wraps up the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Round 3
Vettori leads off with his jab, and Dolidze reaches him with a big right hand and swings wide with a left. Vettori kicks his foe in the ribs, and Dolidze eventually pays him back with a similar strike. Vettori tries to sweep the leg, and he has his nose bloodied with a powerful strike. This angers him, and he unloads a fierce combination of fists that sends Dolidze squirrely. Dolidze stumbles, bumbles and fumbles his way towards the fence, and Vettori gives chase and starts pounding on him. The Georgian somehow manages to gather his thought and respond with a big right hand, winging it hard enough to make Vettori think twice about advancing without care. Vettori sticks his foe with a jab and follows with a left, and he shimmies out of the way when Dolidze tries to load up on him. One good right hand comes in from Dolidze, who follows with two head kicks that are blocked. The body kick that follows is much heavier and is not guarded against, prompting Vettori to press the action with a long left. Dolidze goes to the body with a pair of front kicks, and he takes a heavy kick to his calf. Dolidze pushes out a straight right hand down the pipe, and Vettori leans back to dodge the subsequent heavy left. Dolidze connects with a hefty leg kick that makes Vettori both smile and limp. Vettori ducks away from looping punches, seeing the fastballs aimed his way. The leg kicks are much more effective from the Georgian, who raps one off the lead leg and pursues a takedown. Vettori shrugs, not getting taken down, and the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 4
With the championship rounds reached, both fighters consider touching gloves but abandon it. Instead, it is Dolidze pressing the pace, loading up on power shots but largely missing the mark. Dolidze times a knee when Vettori ducks, and he beans the Italian with a destructive right hand that cuts him. Dolidze sees the blood leaking and grows in confidence, walking his adversary down and keeping his right hand cocked back ready for attack. Vettori peppers him from a distance as he shakes out the cobwebs, using his jab to keep Dolidze away. Dolidze swarms with three hooks, and the first lands while the other two hit air. Vettori slams his shin on the lead leg of his opponent, and Dolidze lobs bombs that whiz past the Italian’s face. When Dolidze uses a front kick to close in and swipe out a right hand, Vettori skips away and prods him with his jab. Vettori’s strikes are appearing more labored, and his movement is less quick, as Dolidze is able to trap him for a second to string several mighty punches together that splits open a cut on the bridge of Vettori’s nose. Vettori tries to strike back, and he walks straight into a spinning back elbow that lands on his neck. Both fighters smile after the strike lands, and Vettori comes at him with a one two and nods. Dolidze nods back. Dolidze tries an awkwardly angled leg kick, and Vettori laughs at him. The Georgian points to the ground to initiate a brawl, and then pitches out an axe kick that is leagues away from his intended target. Dolidze gets in a front kick, and Vettori clips him behind the ear. Both men score at the end of their punches in an exchange, and Dolidze snaps Vettori’s head back with a right. Dolidze unleashes another heavy right hand, and Vettori runs at him fists flying and connects with a thudding left at the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze
Round 5
The combatants are so ready to get back to it, they start before the cage door is closed. Dean makes sure it gets shut first, and then lets the middleweights go after it. They proceed to brawl, with Dolidze landing flush and Vettori finally standing in the pocket and banging right back. Dolidze has a front kick slide off the cup, and Dean does not see it and tells them to keep going. Dolidze lets loose a hard right hand, knocking the Italian back and away from counters. Vettori drives a knee to the chin, and Dolidze bites down on his mouthpiece and slings wild hooks. Vettori keeps himself safe from most of them and bounces off the fence, only to be met with a front kick from either leg. The Georgian wraps a kick around the guard, and Vettori’s lunges are doing some serious damage to his foe’s face. Dolidze’s eye is swollen and bloodied, and he pays it no mind as he just wants to punch Vettori in the face. Lucky for him, Vettori wants to the same to Dolidze. They punch each other in the face. Again. And again. Dolidze mixes things up with a few front kicks, and one goes low and has Dean call time this time around. Vettori groans and takes about 20 seconds before being ready to go for broke. Dolidze kicks high three times, left, right and left, and he zips a fourth up that manages to get through the guard. Dolidze drills his man on the nose with a knee, and Vettori shakes his head at him. Dolidze’s kicks are the most effective weapons thus far, and as Dolidze kicks high and pushes off, Vettori claims he was poked in the eye again. It is not called, and Dolidze bears down on the Italian swinging with sheer power. Dolidze doubles up on head kicks, and even though it hits the guard, it still knocks him back a step. Another zooming head kick buzzes the tower, and they crash together with fists flying for one last engagement. Dolidze spins for a final elbow, and the match concludes. This rematch will likely lean towards the man who lost the first fight, setting up the UFC for a super-duper rubber match in the future. If they fight a third time, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dolidze (48-47 Dolidze)
The Official Result
Roman Dolidze def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Angelo picks Vettori because of his cement chin, incredible cardio, and submission defense. He thinks Dolidze will fade and cannot take Vettori down. He notes Dolidze's takedowns are trash and his only path is a submission, but Vettori's submission defense is good enough. He has a bet on Dolidze inside distance (decision no action) as a hedge.
Big Brady picks Vettori, citing his higher output (4.20 vs 2.62 significant strikes per minute) and durability (never knocked out). He questions Dolidze's path to victory, as Vettori is tough to finish and Dolidze has low volume. He predicts a decision win, but notes the odds are surprising and he may look for a prop instead.
Cody picks Vettori, arguing Dolidze is a 'comeback kid' who relies on finishing but fades in longer fights. He notes Dolidze's low volume and poor cardio, while Vettori is durable, has solid wrestling, and good cardio. He thinks Vettori wins by decision, possibly with takedowns. He says minus 270 isn't bad and likes Vettori by decision prop.
Connor picks Vettori for his consistency and durability. He notes that Vettori is a roundly solid fighter who doesn't get submitted or knocked out, and he maintains a steady output of one-twos. Dolidze is more of a wild athlete who relies on flashy moments but lacks process. Connor points out that Jack Hermansson was dominating Dolidze before collapsing, and Vettori is a tougher matchup because he won't break. He thinks Vettori's pace and durability will overwhelm Dolidze, who cannot craft a game plan to break Vettori down.
Jacob picks Dolidze, believing Vettori is an emotional idiot who will eventually shoot a takedown and get submitted. He thinks Vettori has no power and Dolidze can land a big shot. He notes Dolidze is undefeated except for a fight where Jacob picked against him. He is riding the Dolidze train until it falls off.
Vettori is a strong grappler with good clinch work and durability, though his striking is still developing. Dolidze is on a four-fight winning streak with knockout power, but his striking is technically lacking and he can be reckless. Vettori should weather early storms and use his wrestling to control the fight, likely winning a decision. The minus 300 line is a bit steep but the skill gap is clear.
Paul agrees with Cody, picking Vettori. He notes Dolidze's volume is so low that an elite fighter should be able to do what Jack Hermansson did and extend it over 15 minutes. He likes Vettori by decision at minus 120 and says Dolidze has never been finished but Vettori can outpoint him.
The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori over Roman Dolidze, despite Vettori's sometimes questionable game plans. He notes Dolidze is dangerous on the ground but has poor striking and was easily picked apart by Jack Hermansson on the feet. Vettori outstruck Hermansson and stuffed his takedowns, so he should do the same to Dolidze. He predicts a 30-27 decision for Vettori, warning that if Vettori shoots takedowns he deserves to lose.
Zane agrees with Connor, emphasizing Vettori's block-headed consistency. He notes that Vettori doesn't collapse when outsmarted; he just keeps coming. Dolidze is a flashy fighter but lacks the technical foundation to break Vettori down. Zane also mentions that Vettori's takedown defense and ability to stop takedowns are solid. He thinks Dolidze's best chance is a lucky shot, but Vettori's durability and pace will carry him to a decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | 0 | 74 of 166 | 44% | 74 of 166 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 33 of 116 | 28% | 38 of 121 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Whittaker | 0 | 22 of 56 | 39% | 22 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 14 of 41 | 34% | 16 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 2 | Robert Whittaker | 0 | 25 of 53 | 47% | 25 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 10 of 45 | 22% | 11 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 3 | Robert Whittaker | 0 | 27 of 57 | 47% | 27 of 57 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 9 of 30 | 30% | 11 of 32 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Whittaker | 74 of 166 | 44% | 49 of 138 | 6 of 9 | 19 of 19 | 72 of 163 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Marvin Vettori | 33 of 116 | 28% | 15 of 94 | 7 of 10 | 11 of 12 | 33 of 116 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Whittaker | 22 of 56 | 39% | 15 of 48 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 14 of 41 | 34% | 6 of 33 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Robert Whittaker | 25 of 53 | 47% | 17 of 43 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 25 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marvin Vettori | 10 of 45 | 22% | 4 of 36 | 1 of 3 | 5 of 6 | 10 of 45 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Robert Whittaker | 27 of 57 | 47% | 17 of 47 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 8 | 25 of 54 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Marvin Vettori | 9 of 30 | 30% | 5 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Whittaker (-230), Vettori (+195)
Round 1
Even though these two middleweights are in the top three or four of their division, this match between former champ Whittaker (23-6, 14-4 UFC) and fiery ex-title challenger Vettori (18-5-1, 8-3-1 UFC) may be little more than a stay-busy fight as long as Israel Adesanya holds the title. These two top contenders are taking it quite seriously, and so is referee Jason Herzog. There is no interest in a glove touch, as these two would rather get right to the action. Whittaker lands first with a lunging low kick, and he connects with another right after to the same spot. Vettori crashes in to engage, but Whittaker is able to dodge them all. Whittaker scores a low kick and escapes the counters that fly, and he is able to beat Vettori to the punch in a few exchanges. Vettori loads up on a heavy inside leg kick as he gets cracked with an overhand right, and Whittaker reaches him with a left hand when they settle. Whittaker catches the Italian coming in with a swatting left, and he flusters Vettori with his movement. Vettori snakes in a left hand over the top, and Whittaker leans back as another is aimed at his jaw. Vettori times a dipping Whittaker with a sharp left, only to get popped with a swiping right hook. “Bobby Knuckles” stabs breadbasket with the toes with a front kick, forcing Vettori to shoot in, and Whittaker easily turns him around and separates. They both paw at one another with single strikes, and Vettori loads up on a body kick. Whittaker secures two left hands, and he absorbs a body kick so that he can snap out a right hand. Vettori ignores a jab to step in with a knee, and the horn sounds to end the close round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Round 2
The middleweights meet in the middle, and Whittaker lands the first blow with a stomping kick to the knee. He follows it with a kick to the ribs, and he hops back when Vettori tosses out a right hand. Whittaker fires a high kick that makes him fall over before it can reach Vettori, but he climbs back up with no issue. Whittaker leans back as a head kick soars past him, and he springs away when Vettori gives chase with a few punches. Vettori clinches up the former champ and pushes him to the wall, and Whittaker frames him off and gets back to the middle of the Octagon. “The Italian Dream” dreams up a head kick, but it floats past Whittaker. Whittaker then responds with a head kick, and as it skims off the head, he connects with a follow-up right hand that stuns Vettori. Whittaker puts a front kick up to split the guard, and Vettori gives one jab back in response. The punches from Vettori are out of range, and Whittaker is able to close the distance and pop him in the chops and get out of the way before a counter comes. Whittaker launches another head kick, and as it gets blocked, he pounds a right hand on the chin. Vettori blocks another head kick, but it gets through the guard and he is wobbled. Whittaker does not let things go, instead staying measured and allowing Vettori to hit air. Whittaker pushes out a right hand down the pipe, and he sneaks up a speedy head kick that careens off the block. Vettori appears to have his legs beneath him again, but he cannot seem to connect with any meaningful offense. Whittaker bullies him back with punches off the arms, and he nails Vettori with a right hand and a head kick. The Italian bounces off the fence and right into a fist of “Bobby Knuckles,” and Whittaker is in his element. When Vettori comes forward, Whittaker chops a side kick on the knee that hyperextends it for his foe. Whittaker drills his man with a straight right hand, and the horn sounds. As it does, Vettori limps back to his corner, possibly compromised from the leg strikes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker
Round 3
Vettori is motivated going into Round 3, with a higher pace, but he still cannot consistently find the mark. Whittaker plants the ball of his foot on Vettori’s body several times, and he stands there a little too long, allowing Vettori to score a few punches. Vettori gives chase as Whittaker moves quickly, and he tries for a high kick only to get caught on the way up with a right hand. Vettori walks through a punch so that he can pound a left hand on the chin, and the responsive strike from the former champ opens a cut on Vettori’s left cheek. Whittaker jabs and fires off a head kick, and Vettori smiles but he is hurt. Whittaker jumps forward with a right hand, and he snaps the head back with another. Whittaker swings a high kick that ends up kneeing Vettori on the top of the head, and Vettori’s eyes go wide but he remains on his feet. Vettori kicks low, only to get it checked, and Whittaker replies with one that lands. “Bobby Knuckles” plants a right hand on the cheek, knocking Vettori back and making Vettori check himself. Vettori gathers steam and looses a head kick, and Whittaker leans back and watches it soar past him. Vettori attempts a takedown entry, and Whittaker tosses him aside and busts him in the face with a right hand. Whittaker side kicks the knee and then uses his other leg to belt Vettori upside the head, and Vettori is guessing and eating shots without any hope of response. As Vettori plans on defending a head kick, Whittaker shoots in low and takes him down to make a point. Vettori sits up and turns to his knees, and Herzog informs Whittaker that his foe is grounded. Whittaker elects instead to uppercut Vettori a few times, before Vettori climbs back up to his feet. Vettori looses a head kick, and Whittaker responds with three that land time and again. The bell sounds to end the 15-minute showcase in striking, with Whittaker putting on a master class.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker (30-27 Whittaker)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker (30-27 Whittaker)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Whittaker (30-27 Whittaker)
The Official Result
Robert Whittaker def. Marvin Vettori via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Angelo picks Robert Whittaker easily, citing his speed, cleaner striking, five-round cardio, and improved grappling. He notes Vettori has a brick head and is hard to finish, so he expects a decision win. He has a moneyline bet on Whittaker at -235 and says the line has moved to -300s.
Big Brady picks Robert Whittaker to win by decision. He argues that Whittaker has phenomenal takedown defense and get-up game, so the fight will stay on the feet where Whittaker is the better striker. He notes that Vettori has a granite chin and has never been knocked out, so a finish is unlikely, but Whittaker should outpoint him comfortably.
Cody picks Robert Whittaker, arguing that Whittaker is at his best against aggressive fighters who come forward, as he becomes the counter puncher. He notes that Vettori is a 'junkyard dog' who will brawl, but Whittaker's precision, volume, and ability to make mid-round adjustments will be decisive. Cody also points out that Vettori is not a power puncher, so Whittaker's suspect chin is less of a concern, and that the fight is three rounds, which favors Whittaker's cardio. He recommends Whittaker by decision to improve the -210 price.
Daniel Levi picks Robert Whittaker but expresses hesitation, citing concerns about Whittaker's motivation after two title losses and potential drop-off. He acknowledges Vettori's hunger and mental strength, but believes Whittaker is technically superior. He notes that Whittaker has been hurt in recent fights and that Vettori could potentially finish him, but ultimately leans on the chalk. He does not bet the fight himself.
The host is confident in Whittaker, citing his superior athleticism, striking, wrestling, and overall skill. He expects Whittaker to stay at range, land leg kicks, and possibly secure takedowns. He prefers the decision prop at minus 105, as Vettori is durable and hard to finish.
Paul leans toward Marvin Vettori as a slight underdog, citing Vettori's durability, forward pressure, and wrestling. He is concerned that Whittaker has been hurt many times and may be shopworn from wars with Yoel Romero and Israel Adesanya. Paul believes Vettori's volume and ability to grind out takedowns could be the difference, and that the line is closer than -215/+185. He admits he hasn't bet it yet and will see how weigh-ins go.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Robert Whittaker over Marvin Vettori, stating that Vettori's main problem is talent and skill. He praises Whittaker's boxing ability, footwork, and evolution, noting his dominant win over Kelvin Gastelum. He believes Whittaker will outclass Vettori on the feet with teeps, leg kicks, jabs, and head kicks, and that Vettori won't be able to take him down or outgrapple him. He predicts a 30-27 unanimous decision for Whittaker, with Vettori complaining about the decision afterward.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 0 | 163 of 260 | 62% | 172 of 269 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 190 of 346 | 54% | 214 of 373 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 35 of 53 | 66% | 35 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 39 of 68 | 57% | 42 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 36 of 65 | 55% | 36 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 40 of 80 | 50% | 40 of 80 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:22 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 19 of 31 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 31 of 55 | 56% | 47 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 30 of 47 | 63% | 32 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 49 of 81 | 60% | 53 of 85 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:30 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 0 | 45 of 66 | 68% | 50 of 71 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Paulo Costa | 0 | 31 of 62 | 50% | 32 of 63 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:59 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Vettori | 163 of 260 | 62% | 82 of 174 | 67 of 72 | 14 of 14 | 154 of 249 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 6 |
| Paulo Costa | 190 of 346 | 54% | 154 of 307 | 33 of 36 | 3 of 3 | 168 of 316 | 21 of 29 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Vettori | 35 of 53 | 66% | 13 of 29 | 18 of 20 | 4 of 4 | 34 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Paulo Costa | 39 of 68 | 57% | 34 of 62 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 37 of 66 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Marvin Vettori | 36 of 65 | 55% | 14 of 42 | 18 of 19 | 4 of 4 | 35 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Paulo Costa | 40 of 80 | 50% | 29 of 69 | 10 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 36 of 72 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Marvin Vettori | 17 of 29 | 58% | 13 of 24 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 5 |
| Paulo Costa | 31 of 55 | 56% | 23 of 46 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 27 of 51 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Marvin Vettori | 30 of 47 | 63% | 16 of 32 | 11 of 12 | 3 of 3 | 28 of 45 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Paulo Costa | 49 of 81 | 60% | 41 of 73 | 7 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 38 of 66 | 11 of 15 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Marvin Vettori | 45 of 66 | 68% | 26 of 47 | 17 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 43 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Paulo Costa | 31 of 62 | 50% | 27 of 57 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 30 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
What can be said about this mess of a fight formerly scheduled at middleweight? On just a few days’ notice, this 185-pound tilt between Costa (13-1, 5-1 UFC) and Vettori (17-5-1, 7-3-1 UFC) transformed into a 195-pound catchweight affair before shifting to light heavyweight the night before weigh-ins. There is more bad blood in this fight than all of the rest of the 13 matches tonight combined, and they would like more than anything to smash the other. They nearly get into a fracas as Costa enters the cage. Referee Jason Herzog will be holding on tight for this flamethrowing main event, and it comes to the surprise of no one that there is no glove touch. Costa takes the center of the cage, and he misses with a high kick but pounds Vettori’s inside thigh with his shin. Vettori launches his own head kick, and Costa sees it coming a mile away and batters Vettori’s lead leg with a kick. Costa has a high kick blocked, and one to the body knocks him off-balance. Vettori charges after him, having landed the counter that may have actually dropped Costa, but Costa backs him off with a thudding body kick. Costa catches Vettori on the way in with a short right hand, and they push one another into the wall as Vettori is in the driver’s seat. Costa again fights his way out, and he eats a left hand and may be stung from one that comes after. Costa scores a right and a body kick, and the two trade vicious right hands. Costa sits down on a body kick again, and Vettori’s left arm is down to block it. Costa lands to the body with a punch, and Vettori counters him with five punches. At the midpoint of the round, Costa appears to be breathing heavy already, and Vettori walks through a leg kick to pressure his opponent. The Brazilian swats away punches, but Vettori is on him working him over with a combination. Costa shrugs it off and fires a body kick off, and Vettori pushes through another that does not have nearly the impact as previous ones. Vettori jabs a few times to back Costa away, and he blocks an overhand right as Costa is trying to load up on single shots. Costa has a head kick get through, but Vettori is not fazed as he pops Costa with a jab and then a one-two. Vettori lands a few punches as Costa shells up, and a left hand pierces the guard as Costa waves him on for more. Vettori sticks and moves, ignores a kick and punch to the midsection, and lands a straight right hand. Right before the round ends, Costa has a head kick zoom by the Italian’s face.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 2
They meet in the middle and stick out straight punches, and Vettori triples up on a jab before scoring a body kick. Costa’s is much heavier in response, but Vettori shrugs it off to land a quartet of significant punches. Costa gets backed up to the fence, but he lands a right hand that Vettori is able to partially block. Vettori lands a body shot, and Costa suddenly surprises him with a head kick. Vettori is rocked and falls back towards the fence, and “Borrachinha” chases him down with a body kick and a swarm of punches. As Vettori clears his head, he lands a few knees, but Costa is right in his face with another shin to the chin. Vettori’s beard is quite something, as he seems to have his footing beneath him again as he throws right back at his Brazilian foe. They trade kicks, and Vettori has a pair of punches collide with the guard. Costa’s body shots continue to land, but the looping punches are not as accurate as Vettori is able to slip them. The momentum keeps shifting between the two, as Costa gets Vettori’s attention with a punch salvo. Vettori just ducks when a head kick is aimed at his head, but he steps face-first into a left hook. Vettori uses Costa’s forward momentum against him, hitting a well-timed trip to put the Brazilian on the canvas. Costa fights back to his feet and walks up the wall, and he gains separation. Costa reaches out with a body kick and an opened right hand, and his fingers jab the Italian in the eye. Herzog is aware of this as he allows Vettori all the time he needs to recover, bringing in the doctor just in case. As he had already been warned for something from Herzog, Herzog deducts one point for the eye poke. Costa is incensed but there is nothing he can do, so the two get back to business with kicks from both sides. Costa sits down on a pair of head kicks, and Vettori defends himself but the sheer impact moves him. Vettori lances the guard with a pair of punches, and he goes low with a kick as he punches his way into a clinch. Vettori pressures Costa against the wire with a steady diet of punches, and Costa looses a huge right hand that Vettori sees coming. A glancing left hand gets Vettori’s attention, and Vettori blasts him back with a left hook. Both men wobble briefly but they keep it together, to end the round with a flurry.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Vettori
Ben Duffy scores the round: 9-9
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Vettori
Round 3
Vettori is amped up to start off Round 3, putting a jab in Costa’s face a few times. Costa comes up a millimeter short with a head kick, and Vettori is right there to work the body as Costa puts his foot down. Costa slips a punch to land a right, and he takes a step back and absorbs a body kick. Vettori puts a pace on Costa as he pressures him, and when he lands a few punches, Costa slaps his belly to entice him to throw more. Costa wings a spinning wheel kick, and it skims off Vettori’s hair. As he lands, he catches Vettori with a right hand, but the Italian is able to run out of the way and recover. “The Italian Dream” goes right back to his aggressive ways, landing right hands and busting Costa’s nose open. As they clinch up, Vettori has a single elbow pound into Costa’s face, and Costa grins widely. Costa backs his foe off with a straight right hand to the body, but Vettori is undaunted, as he walks the Brazilian down to throw hands. Three punches split the guard of Costa, who circles off the fence to not take more damage. Vettori lands a single kick, and Costa crashes forward to hit his own unexpected takedown and put the Italian on his back. Costa gets kicked off, and he jumps back down to fight it. When Vettori gives his neck up, Costa jumps guard for a guillotine choke. Vettori does not appear concerned, as he wriggles his neck out and puts Costa flat on his back. Vettori begins to get his ground-and-pound going while Costa closes his guard, with punches and elbows to keep Costa guessing. As Vettori lands a few more strikes from on top, the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 4
As he has done for the previous rounds, Vettori charges ahead to start off the round. A huge body kick from Costa resounds around the arena, and Vettori is able to tank it and keep pressing forward. The Italian pushes Costa against the fence, where he unloads with a combination of punches. Vettori changes things up every so often with a sharp jab, and he sits down on one with a crisp left hand that makes Costa shake his head. Make no mistake, that punch hurt. Vettori jabs a few more times to keep Costa back, and because of this, he is able to dodge a high kick. Vettori rolls with a head kick, but it might have opened a cut on the side of his eye. Vettori advances and pours it on with a barrage of brutal blows, and Costa winds up with a hook to the body to prove he is very much still in the fight. Costa tags Vettori with a few punches, and Vettori is right there to throw back at him. Another big body kick from Costa connects cleanly on the midsection, and he lands one to the side of Vettori’s knee for good measure. A solid combination from Vettori gets Costa’s attention, one punctuated with a left hand that draws a huge smile out of Costa. Vettori tries to push on the accelerator, only to take a flush kick to the body. Vettori steps in with a knee, and Costa takes the knee to the cup and tells Herzog to back off so they can keep fighting. Costa has his hands down, and Vettori times a swift left hand that backs Costa up to the fence. Costa lets go with a combo of power punches when he is in this position, and Vettori takes a deep breath as he avoids most of them. Vettori blitzes forward, pursues a takedown, and is stuffed. Costa slams his shin into Vettori’s waist, and Vettori will be wearing it tomorrow but he does not flinch here. Instead, he introduces his own shin to Costa’s body, and Costa simply sticks his tongue out at him. The horn sounds, and the fight has reached the fifth frame.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vettori
Round 5
The first strike landed in the last round is a huge right hand from Costa, one that Vettori eats like an entire plate of pasta. He follows this with a booming head kick, and Vettori’s chin can never be questioned again after the punishment he has endured the last two fights. They stand right in front of one another and trade, not afraid of the other in any way. Costa smashes his leg into Vettori’s torso like he was hitting a side of beef, and Costa may have finally gotten through to Vettori. Seeing Vettori may be hurt, he peppers him with more punches and a few more kicks, until Vettori shoots in for a desperation takedown. The Brazilian is strong enough to endure and stop it, and he keeps himself upright after the subsequent try. When Vettori cannot get it, he backs off, and Costa follows him with punches. Costa tags his foe with a monstrous right hand, and Vettori wears it and takes a knee and a kick to the body right after. “Borrachinha” continues to batter the body with blistering blows, and Vettori has had enough of them, so he ducks down and telegraphs a double from halfway across the fence. Costa notices it, stops it, and lets Vettori take a step back so he can kick Vettori in the midsection again. Vettori aims a kick to the body to pay him back, but Costa’s are far more emphatic and still landing hard and loud this late into the fight. They start trading, and Costa gets a head kick over the top of the guard. Costa grabs hold of a clinch to try to set up a Thai Plum, but he releases it when Vettori pulls back. Back to his preferred range, Vettori jabs out a few times, but Costa pounds him in the chops with a right hand. Vettori is now the one shaking his head to signal that it does not hurt. The Italian ties him up and hunts for a takedown, and Costa stuffs it and shakes his head. He slaps Vettori in the side and backside as time expires, clearly not thrilled with his performance. The Brazilian might be disappointed, but most fans watching around the world clearly will not be after that wild, hard-fought battle. It is a relief to those same fans that the event ended with a bang and not a dud, like recent weeks, and there will be little time to take a breath as the next big show is right around the corner. UFC 267 will take place next Saturday early in the morning, and it will be a pay-per-view caliber card for free for those that have ESPN+. Although we might not have been here live today due to technical difficulties, we will be here for it next week with bells on. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Costa (49-45 Vettori)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Costa (48-47 Vettori)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Costa (49-45 Vettori)
The Official Result
Marvin Vettori def. Paulo Costa via Unanimous Decision (48-46, 48-46, 48-46)
Angelo finds this a very tough pick. He initially had Costa but flipped to Vettori because Vettori has more ways to win (grappling, durability). He notes Vettori's takedown accuracy is under 50% and he struggles to keep people down, while Costa has 80% takedown defense. He's worried Vettori will get sucked into a striking match. He ultimately picks Vettori but is not confident. He loves a prop bet on Costa: 'wins inside the distance, decision no action' at -110, meaning if Costa wins by KO he gets paid, if he loses a decision he gets a refund.
Big Brady picks Vettori to survive Costa's early storm and win late, citing Vettori's durability, five-round experience, and never-been-KO'd record. He notes Costa's takedown defense (80%) and strength make him hard to take down, but believes Vettori's wrestling and cardio will prevail in later rounds. He predicts a fifth-round TKO or submission.
Cody picks Marvin Vettori, expecting to get a better live price after Vettori likely drops the first round. He highlights Vettori's durability, cardio, and experience in five-round fights, contrasting with Costa's questionable cardio and history of gassing. Cody notes Costa's impressive pressure against Yoel Romero but points out his poor performance against Adesanya and his tendency to fade after two rounds. He believes Vettori can take over in rounds 3-5 and recommends betting live after the first round.
Lock picks Vettori based on durability and cardio advantage. He notes Costa's cardio drops after 8 minutes and Vettori's pace will take over late. He expects Vettori to survive early onslaught and finish in rounds 3-5. He also likes Vettori inside the distance and round props.
Paul initially leans towards Costa but is swayed by Cody's reasoning. He acknowledges Vettori's durability and chin, but also notes Costa's power and the possibility of a knockout. Paul suggests that if betting Costa, the knockout prop at +225 is the way to go. He ultimately agrees that waiting for live markets is the best approach, but does not commit to a clear pick.
The MMA Guru picks Marvin Vettori, citing Costa's questionable cardio and mindset after his first KO loss. He believes Vettori's durability, pressure, and activity will allow him to take over in the later rounds. He predicts a rear-naked choke finish in round 4, drawing parallels to Vettori's fight with Omari Akhmedov.
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