UFC 332: Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev Preview & Prediction

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Two middleweights heading in opposite directions meet at UFC 332, as Marvin Vettori looks to break a four-fight skid against Ismail Naurdiev.

Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev facts

What time are Marvin Vettori and Ismail Naurdiev expected to walk out? 3 October 2026 at 10:00 pm

Where is UFC 332: Silva vs Wang? Delta Center, Salt Lake City, USA

Where can I get tickets for UFC 332: Silva vs Wang? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 332

What TV channel is UFC 332: Silva vs Wang on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC 332: Silva vs Wang? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC 332: Silva vs Wang main card (Paramount+ / CBS)

Natalia Silva vs Wang Cong (Women's Flyweight)

Deiveson Figueiredo vs Payton Talbott (Bantamweight)

King Green vs Esteban Ribovics (Lightweight)

Roberto Soldic vs Khaos Williams (Welterweight)

Ateba Gautier vs Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)

UFC 332: Silva vs Wang prelims (Paramount+)

Imanol Rodriguez vs Alden Coria (Flyweight)

Damian Pinas vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)

Marcus McGhee vs Bernardo Sopaj (Bantamweight)

Anthony Wint vs Lucas Armand (Heavyweight)

UFC 332: Silva vs Wang early prelims (Paramount+)

Johnny Walker vs Mick Parkin (Heavyweight)

Rafael dos Anjos vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)

Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev (Middleweight)

Jacobe Smith vs Bruce Whitehead (Welterweight)

Court McGee vs Eric Nolan (Welterweight)

Marvin Vettori: Can “The Italian Dream” halt his slide?

Marvin Vettori (19-9-1) once challenged Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title, but he hasn’t won since 2023. A lopsided five-round beating against Jared Cannonier kicked off his current loss streak, and he hasn’t really looked the same dropping decisions to Roman Dolidze, Brendan Allen, and Brunno Ferreira. The Italian is a basic but relentless pressure boxer who marches forward throwing straight shots, happy to brawl in the pocket thanks to one of the most hardened chins the UFC has ever seen. His BJJ background is barely featured these days, and his defence is largely his rock solid face.

Ismail Naurdiev: Rangy kickboxer on the rise

Ismail Naurdiev (25-8) went 2-2 in his first UFC stint before being let go in 2020, but he has come back a more complete fighter. Since returning, he has beaten Bruno Silva on the scorecards and dropped a decision to Jun Yong Park, before knocking Ryan Loder out cold inside two minutes. An explosive kickboxer with a freestyle wrestling base, Naurdiev is patient at range before choosing his moments to explode with powerful strikes. He has spinning kicks, jump knees, and kicks to all levels in his arsenal. Thirteen wins by KO/TKO, and his striking defence is sharp.

Marvin Vettori vs Ismail Naurdiev prediction

This is a battle of trajectories. Naurdiev isn’t the high-level of competition Vettori has faced, but he’s on the way up while Vettori is heading firmly on the way down. He’s only three years older, but far older in fight years, having absorbed a career’s worth of damage and more across countless wars. That chin has held up so far, but it can only last so long.

Naurdiev’s defence will be tested here like never before. Vettori will happily eat one to land one, throwing at a higher volume and dragging Naurdiev into exchanges his opponents usually avoid. Outside of his pace and pressure though, Vettori isn’t exceptional anywhere, and his straight-line pressure plays into Naurdiev’s hands, letting him pick his moments to explode from range. Expect this one to stay on the feet, I don’t see Naurdiev cracking that chin, but his dynamic arsenal should be enough to take this on the cards.

Prediction: Ismail Naurdiev to win by decision