Marvin Vettori has changed everything. The 33-year-old Italian, 19-10-1, has lost 4 straight in the UFC and left American Top Team to go back to California, where Beneil Dariush now runs his camp. On Saturday, October 3, at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, the former middleweight title challenger faces Ismail Naurdiev, 25-8, on the prelims.
Key takeaways
- Marvin Vettori (19-10-1) faces Ismail Naurdiev (25-8) at middleweight on the UFC 332 prelims on October 3 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
- Vettori has lost his last 4 fights, all on the scorecards: Jared Cannonier in 2023, then Roman Dolidze, Brendan Allen and Brunno Ferreira in 2025.
- He left American Top Team for California, where he trained from 2015 to 2022, with Beneil Dariush as his head coach.
Why Marvin Vettori changed teams
Leaving American Top Team
Vettori told Sherdog he has no complaints about American Top Team, but the gym was not getting the best out of him. So he left Florida.
Back to California
He trained at Kings MMA from 2015 to 2022, during his rise at middleweight. The gym no longer exists in that form, but he is back with his former boxing and strength coaches.
Dariush in charge
UFC fighter Beneil Dariush acts as his head coach. Vettori says he went back to what made him a title challenger.
Marvin Vettori, 4 losses to erase
A former challenger
On June 12, 2021, at UFC 263, Vettori challenged Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title and lost a unanimous decision. He then beat Paulo Costa.
The skid
Since beating Roman Dolidze in March 2023, he has lost to Jared Cannonier, then in 2025 to Dolidze, Brendan Allen and Brunno Ferreira, always on points.
Never finished
None of those 4 losses came inside the distance, and 2 of them earned Fight of the Night. At 33, he still believes in a run back up the rankings.
I feel like it wasn't getting the best out of me.
Ismail Naurdiev, an opponent not to overlook
25-8 and a recent knockout
Naurdiev, 30, an Austrian who also holds Moroccan citizenship, returned to the UFC in 2024. He beat Bruno Silva, lost to Jun Yong Park, then knocked out Ryan Loder in round 1 in November 2025.
A 2nd UFC stint
In his 1st stint, in 2019 and 2020, he went 2-2, with a loss to Sean Brady. He then fought in BRAVE CF.
Follow the fight
Vettori’s and Naurdiev’s records and our weekly middleweight rating are in the FightHub app, with the result as soon as the fight ends.
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