Marvin Vettori was due to return to the ring on April 6th to face Brendan Allen in Las Vegas, but the renamed The Italian Dream had to temporarily withdraw from the match. The Trentino fighter has indeed injured and therefore we will not see him again at the weekend to play the long-awaited match under the aegis of UFC, the most important promotion in the world for MMA (mixed martial arts).
The middleweight from Mezzocorona made the announcement a few weeks ago on his social profiles: “I won’t fight on April 6th, I’m injured. It was a pretty strange accident and I can’t fight while injured. For the first time in my career I’m backing out of a match and, believe me, I’m the first to feel sorry for my fans and for those who were looking forward to this day. Believe me, I can’t help it, it happens. I can only focus on recovery. I will do everything I can to return as soon as possible, this all means a lot to me. I have never held back but I say it: I will come back stronger than before“.
The 30-year-old hasn’t fought since June 17, 2023, when he had to bow for a unanimous verdict in front of the American Jared Cannonier. Marvin Vettori has had a couple of very complicated competitive years: on 12 June 2021 he was defeated on points by the Nigerian Israel Adesanya, capitulating on points to the World Champion in the match that put the world title up for grabs; on 23 October 2021 he then managed to redeem himself by outclassing Paulo Costa, among other things outside his weight category due to the Brazilian’s non-compliance; on 3 September 2022 he was liquidated by the Australian Robert Whittaker and the redemption on 18 March 2023 against the Georgian Roman Dolidze was worth little, given the subsequent defeat against Cannonier.
Marvin Vettori has essentially lost the three major matches played in the last two years: Adesanya, Whittaker and Cannonier unfortunately proved to be superior. The number 5 in the UFC ranking must put the defeats and injury behind him, then beat the American Allen (number 6 in the rankings) and try to climb the hierarchies. Is deserving another chance for the title possible? We would really need weight victories after the possible one against Allen. At the moment the belt is in the hands of the South African Dricus Du Plessis, followed by Sean Strickland, Adesanya, Whittaker and Cannonier in the ranking.
2024-04-04 17:14:35
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