Marvin Vettori will be stubborn as he looks to end a horrific four-fight losing streak against Ismail Naurdiev later tonight (Sat., Oct. 3, 2026) at UFC 332 LIVE in Salt Lake City, Utah on Paramount+/CBS, but at least the former Italian’s dream will have support.
Vettori, who turned 33 last month, hasn’t tasted victory in the Octagon since early 2023. That two-year drought includes four losses to the likes of Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze and Brunno Ferreira. Two of those contests were Fight of the Night winners, but things haven’t gone well for Vettori. Vettori’s struggles are united by the fact that he lost his brother in a tragic fire in 2025.
Fortunately, Vettori will have another chance to right the ship this weekend at UFC 332. Surprisingly, he already has the support of former rival and former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Despite them troubled past, where Adesanya defeated Vettori twice inside the Octagon, the “Last Stylebender” is drawn to his former foe. After all, Adesanya has also fallen on hard times as he too has lost a four-game winning streak.
“My boy, Vettori,” Adesanya said in a recent video on the subject YouTube channel. “Is this his first fight since the tragedy? Vettori is going to be hard to stop. I don’t think anybody has stopped him in the UFC yet. I think he still hates me. I don’t know why. Like twice a year he hits me for no reason. I respect him.
“If I lost you in a fire, I’d be heartbroken. Even it makes me sad to say it. I sympathize, so it’s hard for me to feel bad for this guy. Oh, he’s like me (with a four-game losing streak). I want him to win. It would be good for him, for his morale, for his spirit. If you win, if you win, I win. no, Vettori, we’re locked in this mess for life.
Click for complete UFC 332 results, coverage and highlights HERE.