Middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori are set to face off, aiming to resolve their ongoing feud at UFC 318. The highly anticipated bout is scheduled for July 19th and will take place in New Orleans.
Sources close to the promotion have reportedly confirmed the addition of this clash to the card.
This matchup is the result of a simmering rivalry that began when they were originally slated to fight at UFC Vegas 90. The initial booking didn`t materialize as planned after Vettori was forced to withdraw, but this cancellation only served to intensify the animosity between the two athletes.
The bad blood escalated beyond verbal exchanges, culminating in a physical confrontation between Allen and Vettori at a PFL event held in Florida.
Now, they will finally get the chance to settle their score inside the octagon. Both fighters are entering the bout seeking to rebound after recent defeats.
Allen saw a seven-fight win streak snapped with consecutive decision losses to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez. Vettori, meanwhile, has struggled recently, holding a 1-3 record in his last four fights, including back-to-back defeats against Roman Dolidze and Jared Cannonier.
The bout holds special significance for Allen, a native of Louisiana. He began his training in the state as a teenager, even working alongside Dustin Poirier, the headliner for UFC 318. Poirier is set for a high-profile main event against Max Holloway on the same night, potentially marking his retirement fight, also taking place in New Orleans.
