It's been almost 18 months since we last saw 'The Italian Dream' in the octagon, with the middleweight division moving forward in his absence with not one, but two new champions.
Fortunately, it won't be long before we see Marvin Vettori back in action, with the popular Italian now teasing that he is “almost there” in regards to his comeback from injury.
Photo by Todd Lussier/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Marvin Vettori teases incoming fight news after an 18-month hiatus from the UFC
The UFC's middleweight division has seen two champions come and go in the absence of The Italian Dream, with a host of top contenders now finding themselves above seventh-place Marvin Vettori in the title picture.
But 18 months after his last UFC fight and seven months after being forced out of his comeback fight due to a “freak injury,” Vettori is finally teasing some incoming fight news.
“It's almost here,” he wrote on X earlier today, before stating that his return fight could come as early as “February or March.” [2025]I'm ready to fight.
The most likely candidate to welcome Vettori back to the octagon is probably 24-6 grappler Brendan 'All In' Allen; the pair were originally scheduled to fight in April 2024 before Vettori was forced out with a “Freak injury”.
The pair were next seen fighting at a PFL event; with The Italian Dream claiming that he 'cut' Allen several times before the cameras started rolling.
“In February we got to do business with Marvin Vettori,” Allen wrote on social media in October.
“So it's very clear that I specifically asked about you, if the fight doesn't happen, it's your fault. February 22 or February 15 if 22 is not in the US. I will be there again, will you?”
We have business to do in February @MarvinVettori. So it's very clear that I specifically asked about you, if the fight doesn't happen, it's your fault. February 22 or February 15 if 22 is not in the US. I'll be there again, will you?
— Brendan Allen (@BrendanAllenMMA) October 9, 2024
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The UFC Fight Night card on February 22, 2025 is scheduled for the Las Vegas Apex, while the following week's Fight Night card will be held in Seattle, Washington – neither main event has been announced.
“I'm definitely good at fighting you,” the Italian wrote in response, before noting: “Let's look at the timing.”
Vettori has remained coy about what exactly the “freak injury” was that forced him out of the April 2024 fight with Allen, though he was seething when the news first hit the airwaves.
“I got hurt, it was a bit of a freak accident, and I can't go into a fight injured. Believe me, I'm the first one who wanted this fight – I wanted to get my hands on this guy… You know, at the same time something happens and we have to deal with it, we can't do anything but concentrate on recovering.
“I'm tired of all this whining, you sit at a computer and become Hulk, but when you see me you're like a quiet little girl all smiles and trying to be nice…You funny looking man, it seems like you're from a Griffin episode.'
After losing his 2021 UFC middleweight title fight, Marvin Vettori went 2-2 in the UFC with impressive decision wins over Paulo Costa and Roman Dolidze, but also dropped decisions to Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier.
Allen's winning streak came to an end in September when he dropped a unanimous decision to Nassourdine Imavov – 'All In' is currently the #9 ranked middleweight prospect.
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