Israel Adesanya hopes Marvin Vettori can return to the win column at UFC 332.
Vettori (19-9-1 MMA, 9-8-1 UFC) will look to snap a four-fight losing skid when he takes on Ismail Naurdiev (23-8 MMA, 4-3 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims (Paramount+) at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
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Former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya had a heated rivalry with Vettori. Adesanya defeated Vettori twice, with their rematch being a title fight at UFC 263. “The Stylebender” couldn’t help but burst out laughing when he realized that he’s on the same skid as Vettori, but sent him some positive thoughts for his upcoming matchup.
“My boy, Vettori,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “Is this his first fight back since the tragedy? Vettori is a hard man to finish. I don’t think anyone has finished him in the UFC yet. I think he still hates me. I don’t know why. Like twice a year, he will take shots at me for no reason. I respect him.
“If I lost you in a fire, I would be heartbroken. Even that makes me sad saying that. I empathize, so it’s hard for me to feel anything bad toward this man. Oh sh*t, he’s like me (with a four-fight losing skid). I want him to win. It would be good for him, his morale, his spirit. When you win, I win. When I win, you win. Whether you like it or not, Vettori, we’re locked in this sh*t for life.”
Vettori tragically dealt with the death of his younger brother, Patrick, in a house fire in Italy in 2025.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Israel Adesanya pulling for ex-rival Marvin Vettori to rebound at UFC 332
