Marvin Vettori: The Underrated Contender in the UFC Middleweight Division
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The UFC middleweight division is stacked with talent, and many competitors can claim a title shot. Of course, the big stars at 185 are the likes of Israel Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis, and Robert Whittaker. However, one fighter who may get overlooked at times is Marvin Vettori. The Italian has had a successful career in the UFC and deserves more credit when talking about the best competitors in the division.
The Career of Marvin Vettori
Vettori made his professional debut in 2012 and hasn't looked back since. The fighter from Italy has put in some stellar performances throughout his UFC career and looks to get back into the title hunt very soon. He has a professional record of 19-7-1 with 11 finishes, all of which have come in the first round. Vettori has challenged for the title, coming up short on that occasion. However, it was a competitive fight against then-champion Adesanya. For most of his time with the MMA juggernaut, Vettori wasn't received well by fans, but that changed when he showed his heart and willingness to fight in 2021. A contest between him and Paulo Costa was scheduled at 185, but the Brazilian wasn't going to make weight, so it was changed to a 205-pound bout. That didn't faze the Italian; he didn't back down from the challenge. Even when Costa missed weight, the fight was still well ahead, and Vettori ultimately got his hand raised. He has had a great career, and it doesn't look to end anytime soon.
What Is He Good At
Vettori is an exceptional fighter to watch in the UFC Octagon and has had some tremendous battles throughout his career. He is an outstanding wrestler and uses that skill efficiently when competing. However, it is unfair to call him one-dimensional, as he is also terrific on the feet. His submission game is awe-inspiring, as he has racked up nine wins by submission. Furthermore, Vettori is also a very tough and durable fighter who can take a punch. He will be looking to use all his skills to bounce back from a loss to Jared Cannonier and get firmly back into the title hunt.
The Future
There are many exciting avenues for Vettori when thinking about his next matchup. The first thing that comes to mind is a rematch with Jack Hermansson, who is coming off a win against Joe Pyfer. Another option could be Costa, as we never saw how the fight would play out at 185. Finally, Kamaru Usman may want to establish himself in the middleweight rankings, and Vettori would be an excellent opponent to use because he is an established middleweight. At the same time, a win over Usman could get the Italian back into the title picture.
Vettori is a great fighter, and seeing what he does next will be fascinating.
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