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UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori of Italy takes down Kevin Holland in their fight at the UFC Fight Night at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in April. Photo: Zuffa LLC
Martial ArtsMixed Martial Arts

UFC: Marvin Vettori demands Israel Adesanya rematch – ‘I’m next in line, I deserve it’

  • ‘The Italian Dream’ asks for a seat next to UFC president Dana White for Whittaker vs Gastelum after record-breaking win over Kevin Holland
  • Vettori, who lost a split decision to Adesanya in 2018, still believes he won the fight and claims Whittaker is ‘not that hungry’
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Andrew McNicol
Andrew McNicol
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UFC middleweight contender Marvin Vettori called for a rematch with champion Israel Adesanya after dominating Kevin Holland at UFC Vegas 23 on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Italian (17-3-1), who beat late replacement Holland (21-7) via unanimous decision after securing a record-high 11 takedowns in a UFC middleweight fight, wanted an invitation from president Dana White to attend next week’s card headlined by former champion Robert Whittaker (23-5) and The Ultimate Fighter winner Kelvin Gastelum (17-6, one no contest).

“Five-win streak, accepting anybody at any time, always showing up, always making weight, never complaining about nothing. I just beat these guys very dominantly, I leave no doubt,” said “The Italian Dream” Vettori, who has won all five fights since a split decision loss to Nigerian-Kiwi Adesanya in 2018.

Adesanya has since dominated the division while Vettori has shown a late surge into title contention having beaten Jack Hermansson via unanimous decision last December and Karl Roberson via first-round submission last June.

Marvin Vettori moves out of Kevin Holland’s punching range in their middleweight bout at UFC on ABC 2 at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Zuffa LLC

“The last fight I had with Adesanya was the closest fight he’s ever had. [In] my eyes I still won and that has to be made again,” said Vettori, whose originally scheduled opponent Darren Till pulled out because of injury.

“I don’t think Robert Whittaker is that hungry. Next week, I want Dana to give me a ticket to sit next to him to watch the fight, and that fight will say a lot. Regardless, I think I’m next in line and I deserve it.

“I was supposed to fight Darren Till and he didn’t show up. Now he’s out, I’m the most hungry by any means and I’m next. Nobody has the win streak that I have, all my opponents have been solid. I’m next. I wanna tell him I’m next in line first. ‘Dana, look I’m here, I’m next’. Plus Kelvin is my teammate, I want to see that too.”

“The Last Stylebender” Adesanya, who lost to champion Jan Blachowicz via decision on his light heavyweight debut in March, is likely to be returning to his lower weight class to defend his belt later this year. Vettori had some dates and locations in mind.

“October, September, this fall. Italy, bro, if that could ever happen, that would be a dream come true, absolutely insane. The first ever Italian to bring the UFC to Italy, fighting for the title, it’s insane if that could come to fruition,” said the first Italian to headline a UFC card.

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