Marvin Vettori's much-anticipated comeback did not unfold as he had hoped at UFC Fight Night 254. After enduring a lengthy absence from the octagon due to injuries, the former middleweight title challenger Vettori (record: 19-8-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) returned to compete on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Roman Dolidze (record: 14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), marking a disappointing chapter in Vettori's career, especially since he had previously defeated Dolidze by decision at UFC 286 in March 2023.
During his time away from competition, Vettori made significant changes in his training regime, relocating to Florida to join the prestigious American Top Team. Many fighters have benefited from training at this renowned gym, but for Vettori, the transition did not yield the desired results. In his first post-fight statement, he expressed a mix of emotions and struggled to articulate his thoughts following the defeat. “Nothing too bad – just some cuts and bruises,” Vettori shared on his Instagram Stories. “F*ck, man. Life sometimes shows you that even when you give your heart out and everything you’ve got, you still fall short. That was a close fight. Almost had him in the third. But I guess it wasn’t enough. Yeah man. F*ck. I don’t even know what to say.”
At just 31 years old, Vettori now finds himself on the first two-fight losing streak of his professional MMA career. Having maintained a position within the top 10 rankings at 185 pounds for over five years, this recent setback has placed him at risk of slipping out of contention for future title opportunities. When asked about his next steps, Vettori appeared uncertain, stating, “Thank you to ATT, the best in the world, bro. … Love you guys. Thank you, UFC. What the f*ck can I say, bro? I don’t know.”
As Marvin Vettori reflects on this challenging moment, fans and analysts alike are left wondering how he will recalibrate his approach in the highly competitive middleweight division. With his experience and determination, there’s still hope that Vettori can bounce back stronger in his next fight.
