Naurdiev Hands Vettori Fifth Straight Loss at UFC 332

Ismail Naurdiev defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on Saturday, extending Vettori's losing streak to five straight fights. All three judges scored the middleweight bout 29-28 for Naurdiev.

The fight opened the preliminary card at the Delta Center and lived up to its billing as a tight, swing-able three-rounder. Naurdiev rocked Vettori with a right hand behind the ear less than two minutes into round one, forcing the Italian to cover up against the fence, but couldn't find the finish. Vettori answered with combinations and a hurtful leg kick late in the round, and the two traded clean shots through the second before Naurdiev's pace clearly slowed in the third. Vettori kept pressing and nearly stole it in the final minute, but the judges gave the nod to Naurdiev's early damage and output.

What This Loss Means for Marvin Vettori

Marvin Vettori has now lost five consecutive fights, a stretch that includes defeats to Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze and Brunno Ferreira before Saturday's loss to Naurdiev. The 33-year-old was coming back from a rib injury that pushed this bout from its original June date, and he was fighting for the first time since losing his younger brother in a house fire. Vettori once challenged for UFC gold and built a reputation as one of the division's most durable, high-volume strikers, but a five-fight skid at this stage of his career raises real questions about where he fits in a stacked middleweight division. He landed real offense in every round against Naurdiev and was never close to being finished, so the chin and the engine are still there. The output and finishing instinct that used to separate him from the middleweight pack have not been.

Naurdiev Keeps Climbing at 185

Ismail Naurdiev improved by beating a former title challenger, a signature win for a fighter who has quietly built momentum at middleweight. He hurt Vettori badly in the opening round and did enough defensive work and clean countering over the final two to keep the scorecards in his favor, even as his gas tank clearly dipped in round three. For a fighter nicknamed "The Austrian Wonderboy," a decision over Vettori is the kind of name-value win that can start moving him up the middleweight ladder.

Betting Angle

Vettori opened as a live underdog in the plus-money range against Naurdiev, who was favored heading into fight week, and the oddsmakers got this one right. Books that had Naurdiev as the favorite were pricing in exactly what showed up: a live opening-round push for the Austrian and a fade from Vettori if the fight went long. For bettors tracking Vettori going forward, the market is going to keep discounting him until he either finishes someone or snaps the streak, and five straight losses is the kind of number sportsbooks and matchmakers both notice when pricing his next appearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev fight at UFC 332?

Ismail Naurdiev defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, with all three judges scoring it 29-28.

How many fights has Marvin Vettori lost in a row?

Marvin Vettori has lost five consecutive UFC fights after falling to Ismail Naurdiev at UFC 332, following previous losses to Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze and Brunno Ferreira.

Was Marvin Vettori favored to beat Ismail Naurdiev?

No, Marvin Vettori was the betting underdog against Ismail Naurdiev heading into UFC 332, with Naurdiev installed as the favorite in the middleweight bout.