Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori might get to fight this year after all.
The middleweight contenders both agreed on social media that they are aiming to fight one another at a Sept. 3 UFC event that is being discussed for Paris.
Alright so I guess since can’t find an opponent any earlier I’m fighting Whittaker in Paris.
You better show the fuck up this time.
Lets do it, I’ve been waiting for too long now— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) May 18, 2022
PARIS @MarvinVettori @ufc #UFCParis pic.twitter.com/KPl8zNA5De
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) May 18, 2022
Mike Heck, MMA Fighting’s spokesperson confirmed that the fighters were interested but no formal offers have been made by the UFC.
Whittaker (23-6) and Vettori (18-4-1) were originally scheduled to fight at UFC 275 on June 11, but Whittaker announced in April that he would not be able to compete on that date due to injury. Vettori immediately called for bouts with Darren Till and Khamzat Chimaev, but neither matchup materialized.
This will be Whittaker’s first fight since losing a rematch to Israel Adesanya in the middleweight championship main event of UFC 271 in February. Prior to that loss, Whittaker had scored consecutive wins over Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Till to earn his second shot at Adesanya. Outside of the losses to Adesanya, Whittaker has won 12 of his past 14 fights.
Vettori is coming off of a five-round unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa in October that took place at 205 pounds. “The Italian Dream” is also a past title challenger, having lost a unanimous decision in a rematch with Adesanya at UFC 263 last June. Vettori’s UFC record sits at 8-3-1.
