The UFC middleweight division is a hot mess right now, and UFC Vegas 104 will make it a hotter one. On one side, we have the champion Dricus Du Plessis trying to pick his next challenger. The leading candidates? Khamzat Chimaev and Nassordine Imavov. Come this Saturday, another name could announce his second coming into the middleweight title picture after a 637-day hiatus – Marvin Vettori!
‘The Italian Dream’ hasn’t fought ever since he was defeated by Jared Cannonier back in 2023. Now, He’s set to make a return against Roman Dolidze at UFC Fight Night 254. But a return isn’t the only thing that the 31-year-old has planned. With rising competition in the middleweight realm, what exactly does Vettori have in his mind?
During the UFC Fight Night 254 media day, a reporter pointed out that there have been a lot of changes in the middleweight division since Vettori last fought in the Octagon. Did he really fit in the middleweight equation right now? ‘The Italian Dream’ answered, “It’s deep man, the division, we raised the bar. I mean, they raised the bar for now. It’s good, I think it’s tough, there is a lot of good fighters. Yeah, listen, it starts with Saturday. My comeback starts with Saturday. I’m going to show I’m going to be a contender and get that title. That is where my head is. For the title, you know, when the ball starts rolling and I keep winning, things happen very fast, I believe. Especially also when it is your moment to make it happen and I believe it is now. So, it all starts with Saturday, that’s it.”
But the UFC middleweight division isn’t the only thing that changed while Vettori was out of action. ‘The Italian Dream’ also changed his gym as he moved from Las Vegas to South Florida. It did seem like his shoulder injury exacted a huge toll on the former Venator FC champion. There were moments when he was weak because of his shoulder, but that’s also the one thing that pushed him forward. And now, he’s ready to get back into action. This certainly puts Khamzat Chimaev, Dricus Du Plessis, and other MWs on high alert. But for now, let’s keep the focus on the changes he adapted.
Will changing gyms help Marvin Vettori win the title?
‘The Italian Dream’s move to South Florida to train at the American Top Team in Coconut Creek was indeed a much-needed change for a new title run. During the UFC Vegas 104 media day, Vettori said, “I changed gyms because I felt I had to do something different – so yeah, I’m definitely not the same. I found a home at ATT, and I’m happy that I’m representing them for the first time this time around. I’ve been there for a while, and it’s amazing, to be honest. A lot of growth. I’m going to show it. Talk is talk at the end of the day.”
The one concern that worried the fighting community was indeed Vettori’s shoulder injury. He had popped and smashed his rotator cuff, labrum, and his bicep. The injury most likely occurred when he had a brawl with Brendan Allen in 2024, which was also the probable reason why he had to pull out of the bout against Allen. But now, things are set to move forward for Vettori. He claimed, “I just see it as me getting back. The rest is extra. That’s what I see, me getting back and feeling good, putting all the pieces together. It’s been a while. The rest is extra. We’ll see.”
All Vettori needs to do now is defeat Dolidze in the rematch and find his way to the top 15 rankings. Well, defeating the #12 middleweight contender would certainly put him on the list, don’t you agree? With a professional MMA record of 19-6-1, and being one of the only 4 fighters to have secured 11 or more takedowns in a single bout, we can surely expect a lot from the Italian fighter.
What do you think of Vettori’s return to the Octagon? Do you believe he can claim a win against Dolidze and get to the top 15 rankings? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
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