Middleweight contenders Brendan Allen and Marvin Vettori are scheduled to face off at UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, aiming to resolve a long-standing and intense rivalry.
Sources close to the promotion confirmed the booking for the upcoming event.
The bout comes after a simmering feud that began when their previously scheduled fight at UFC Vegas 90 was canceled due to Vettori`s withdrawal. This cancellation only intensified the animosity between them.
Their rivalry escalated beyond verbal jabs, reportedly culminating in a physical altercation at a casino during a PFL event in Florida.
They will now finally meet in the octagon to settle their score, with both fighters entering the contest hoping to rebound from recent defeats.
Allen is looking to snap a two-fight skid, having lost consecutive decisions to Nassourdine Imavov and Anthony Hernandez after compiling a seven-fight win streak. Vettori, meanwhile, has struggled recently, holding a 1-3 record in his last four fights, including back-to-back losses to Roman Dolidze and Jared Cannonier.
This fight marks a significant homecoming for Allen, who was born and raised in Louisiana. He even began his training locally as a teenager, working alongside Dustin Poirier, who is set to headline UFC 318 in what is expected to be his retirement fight against Max Holloway on the same card.
