Marvin Vettori recalls loss to Israel Adesanya, predicts different result at UFC 263

No. 3 ranked middleweight Marvin Vettori tells Kevin Iole that he still believes he beat Israel Adesanya when they fought in April 2018. "The Italian Dream" says he'll get his revenge at UFC 263 on June 12.

Video Transcript

[THUD]

KEVIN IOLE: Hey, folks. I am Kevin Iole, and welcome to "Yahoo Sports." And on Saturday, June 12, UFC 263 in Glendale at Gila River Arena. My guest right now is the man who is going to take part in that, in a rematch.

A lot of people don't realize that, but the Italian Dream, Marvin Vettori will be challenging for the middleweight championship against Israel Adesanya. Marvin, when you got the call from Dana White to take this fight, everybody thought it was going to be Robert Whittaker. That must have been a-- a really nice day in the Vettori household.

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah, man, like, you know, I-- I knew it. Some-- somehow, I knew it, and I felt it. And you know, I mean, I wanted a little more of a time, but you know-- you know, everything prepared me for this moment.

So you know, I was just coming off of a fight, and you know, I have to reset my mindset and go back into training. And for sure, I wasn't make-- like, I definitely made sure, like, I wouldn't let, like, a-- an occasion like that slide. So here I am in the best shape of my life, 10 days out, and I can't wait to fight, to be honest.

KEVIN IOLE: It's going to be-- it's going to be an interesting-- now, in 2018, you guys fought in the same arena, which is-- really doesn't happen too often. But you fought in the same arena in Glendale, Arizona. Adesanya, in his second UFC fight, won a split decision.

You know, let's start there. What was your thought on the decision in the fight? Did you feel like you won the fight, or when you look-- especially when you look back on it, do you feel like you left some opportunity out there?

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah, no, I definitely-- I-- I think-- I still think that I won the fight, and I won-- I watched the fight multiple times. And I think, like, you know, I was the aggressor in that fight. I was the one pushing the action all the time, and you know, whatever, you know.

Judges screw up a lot of times, but here I am, and-- you know, 10 days out to rematch. And I'm ready to settle the score once for all and show who's the best middleweight in the world. And you know, I feel like back then when he won, when they gave him the win, you know, he won, like, a little venue, let's call it. You know, and now, when it counts, when everybody's eyes is-- is going to be on us-- or going to be on us, then you know, I'll win really clearly, and I'll settle the score once for all.

KEVIN IOLE: You know-- you know, you mentioned you watched the fight. I watched that fight a number of times, and to me, if-- you know, if I critique your performance in that fight, it was when you took him down. I think you were [? to a ?] six and [INAUDIBLE].

But you had him down. But, like, you didn't do anything to him when he was on the ground, and-- and I'm surprised because you kind of-- like, you had him pinned on the ground. And he couldn't get up for-- for a long period of time, and yet you were not-- you were not able to do much with him. Is that a regret that you had, that you know, you didn't start maybe dropping some elbows on him?

MARVIN VETTORI: You know, like, it was-- it was a number reason. He was super sweaty, you know. I didn't want to lose position, but yeah, there's still a mistake in a sense.

And you know, it was, like, some lack of-- of a-- of a technical stuff, too. You know, at the end of day, I was still, like-- I see that-- I see-- [SPEAKING ITALIAN] Sorry, they were making some noise.

KEVIN IOLE: So we-- we get the Italian Dream to-- speaking a little Italian there, so--

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah.

KEVIN IOLE: We-- my father was Italian, and you know, so I know some of the words, but they're usually the words we can't say on-- when we're on TV, the ones I know. So anyways-- so you know, both--

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah, so no, I was saying, like-- listen, back then, I see myself. Like, I was 20 years old. Not that I was the youngest, but, like, I see myself, like-- I had an overall knowledge of a lot of things. But at the end of the day, I-- I just feel like I was almost like a kid with a big balls. I-- I still had, like, a lot of knowledge.

KEVIN IOLE: Right.

MARVIN VETTORI: I had a lot of drive. I wanted it bad, but I wasn't as refined and as polished as-- as I am now. And now, I'm a whole different animal, you know.

I-- I can read things. I have-- I have a deeper knowledge of whatever it is, you know, ground game, wrestling, striking, and myself, which is super important. And you know, it's-- you know, I could have done more, for sure, back then, even when I had-- when I-- when I was on the floor, but you know, it all brought me to this moment. And this is what-- this is what counts.

KEVIN IOLE: Well, here's what-- you know, I-- the thing I want to say to the audience, who maybe don't remember what has happened in the interim since Israel Adesanya has been-- Cezar Ferreira, a decision, Andrew Sanchez, a decision, Karl Roberson, a submission, Jack Hermansson, a decision, Kevin Holland, a decision, so five wins in a row, dominant in pretty much every one of those. And it seems to me-- and is this a fair statement, Marvin-- that you learned from that fight and that you became a better fighter the immediate next time out, based on what happened in that fight. And it seemed like you worked on your game and got better the very next time out.

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah, no, for sure. And I mean, like, you know, all of his wins, some of that might have been de-- like, you know, most of them might have been decisions, but, like, arguably, maybe just one round could have gone on-- on-- on-- on-- on my opponents. I don't like, you know, three, six, nine, 29 rounds.

I basically want all of them clearly, you know. There was not, like-- there was only, like, 30 rounds, actually, but one, I finished in the first round. So out of 30 rounds, there was just, like, maybe one round where, like-- which would be, like, the third round with Hermansson, which I still, like-- I-- I think I still won that-- that round. It was a very close round.

I could-- you know, they could, arguably, like-- just one round could arguably go to my opponent. All the other rounds, I could just-- you know, there was never, like-- I was just over-- like, outclassing all my opponents. But with that said, like, yeah, no, definitely, and that's the thing.

That's what I'm saying. Like, you know, every fight, I'm improving, and I'm a different-- I'm a different animal. And the fact that I'm so versatile gives me the ability to adjust, fight to fight, and-- and to come out different and to be able to adapt better than any other fighter.

And this fight, man, it's-- it's been amazing, the way that everything came together and how everybody around me wanted this-- wanted to win this battle as much as I wanted. The drive of everybody around me was-- has been amazing, so I just-- I just can't wait to put it all together and just show that, you know, I'm the best in the world. And that's what you're going to see, the best middleweight in the world. And, um--

KEVIN IOLE: Well, since that last fight, you know, Adesanya became good, too. He became-- you know, I think he-- you know, fair enough, we're going to see two different fighters in this fight because both of you have gone up. But here's my question for you on that.

Last time out, he lost. He's coming off a loss into the title fight. He lost in the light heavyweight title fight against Jan Blachowicz. Did you see anything in that fight, especially around four and five when Blachowicz repeatedly took him down, that you feel you can take advantage of when you meet him on June 12?

MARVIN VETTORI: To be honest, I've seen a lot of, like-- it was-- it was a confirmation of a lot of things I already knew, you know. I still, like-- you know, like, I knew-- I know a lot of his weaknesses. I knew. It's just a lot of people get carried away by-- by the hype, you know. And-- and you know, I don't believe nobody's hype. I wouldn't even believe my own hype.

I believe the-- the work that I put in day by day. That's what I believe in, and so it isn't-- you know, Blachowicz did some good things. And he just showed everybody that it's-- he's a very beatable guy.

But you know, I'm-- I'm me, and I'm not going to-- you know, I'm not going to copy anybody's style. And I'm going to be me. I'm going to fight my fight, and you know, if some things might look similar to what Blachowicz did, it's just because things are meant to be done that way, you know. It's just-- you know-- but, like, it's not because he did it. Then I'm going to do it. I-- I have my plan, and I'm going to execute my plan to beat him, you know.

KEVIN IOLE: One of the things I wonder about is, you know, there was two things in that first fight where, you know, you-- especially early in the fight, you know, you were at distance, and you were biting on a lot of his [? feigns. ?] And then secondly, some of the kicks seemed-- you know, he was switching stances and kicking you out of both stances. Did that cause you a problem, and have you worked on that in camp, preparing for him to do that again?

MARVIN VETTORI: I mean, he was doing a lot of things, and that's the thing. When I watched that fight, you know, it actually gives me confidence because to know how much better I've gotten and how much more I know and to see that Marvin Vettori three years ago giving him that much trouble with what I knew back then, with such a-- just, like a-- like-- like a-- like a-- it wasn't a deep knowledge of things. It was just an overall-- like, I was just, like-- it was just a lot of will, but it wasn't too much-- everything wasn't too refined.

And seeing how-- how many troubles I gave him, like, it just gives me a lot of confidence, and so definitely, I'm-- I'm-- I'm just a better fighter, overall. I don't feel like he's going to be able to do much, you know. I think-- you know, I-- I keep saying this. I'm going to look like I'm the champion from the first second.

Like, if by any reason, some guy opened the door-- opened the TV-- turns on the TV and doesn't know neither of us, they're going to see me as a champion in there. And that's how-- that's how I feel. Like, he's not going to-- he's not going to feel comfortable in any moment in there.

KEVIN IOLE: Anybody who has covered you over the last year, you know, and they've heard you frustrated and talking-- I want these big fights, and I want everything. Can you talk a little bit about the last year and what it's been like for you? It's one year ago on-- on fight night, almost, when you fought Karl Roberson and that-- and that fight, and you were really emotional. And the guys wouldn't fight you and everything.

And here you are a year later. If you go back to June 13 of 2020, did you truly believe that in one year, you would be fighting for the middleweight title? Because you were so frustrated and angry that you weren't getting the shot. You know, did you honestly have the belief that it would come this quickly?

MARVIN VETTORI: No. I mean, no, I wouldn't probably, like-- you know, that was, like, the peak of, like-- I mean, that was, like, really frustrating, you know. Like, everything was going wrong at that time, and you know, one thing I know about me is, like, I'm-- I'm never going to give up, you know.

I'm-- I'm not going to stop, like-- like, you know, going through whatever that happens to me, you know. I'm not going to stop, you know, because, you know, if you stop, you're just making-- you're just making things worse for yourself. And you're not-- you're just wasting time, you know, and you're not taking any steps towards getting out of wherever you are, you know. And nobody's going to do it for you, so you know, that-- that's one thing about me.

But it was hella frustrating, man. It was hella frustrating, and you know, I wouldn't-- you know, I don't know. All I knew is that, you know, I would have winned against anybody that would have-- that they would have put in front of me, but I did not know that things would have come around this fast, definitely not.

KEVIN IOLE: Finally, let's-- let's wrap up, you know, just kind of with this. If you become, you know, the champion, obviously, it's going to be a life-changing thing, but I think, you know-- we've talked about this before, but it's good to, you know, now that you're in a championship fight, what it does for Italian MMA. You know, Italian MMA has not really taken off like you've seen some places around the world, right?

You know, you are a great example of somebody who came from that program and doing great, but there's not a ton of Italian fighters out there. Wha-- you know, have you been [? touched ?] close to the scene. And do you feel like, A, is this fight getting attention in Italy, and B, a Marvin Vettori win would do something for the quality of MMA in Italy?

MARVIN VETTORI: Yeah, it's getting attention. I don't think it's still enough, to be honest. I hope, you know-- I think after I become a champion, it will get even more, and it will become probably more of a mainstream thing.

In terms of, like, the movement and-- and-- of MMA in Italy, it's-- things are moving slow, to be honest. You know, I still feel like people have to seek outside to start to-- to build something that is really, like-- that can prosper at the highest level remaining in Italy. But definitely, with me being a champion, you know, everything will-- will-- you know, there's going to be more people that will know about the sport that will want to put more time in this, that will want to, you know, do it.

And so-- and I'll do my best to-- to, you know, push the movement. And I really hope so, and you know, I also-- one of-- one of-- one of my dreams is also to bring the UFC to Italy. So I'm really going to campaign for that, too.

KEVIN IOLE: You can fight in Rome, and I'll be there for that title defense, believe me.

MARVIN VETTORI: Nice, awesome.

KEVIN IOLE: You know-- you know, the la-- the last thing, you know, there have been some Italian boxing champions, I think Gianfranco Rosi, Francesco Damiani, a couple other ones that probably escape-- escape me right now, but how big is combat sports in Italy, just in general, not necessary MMA but just combat sports in general? And is there a recognition in Italy of-- of combat sports like there is in, you know, United States or the UK or wherever?

MARVIN VETTORI: No, definitely not. I wish there was, but you know, I'll-- I'll do-- I'm doing my-- I'm doing my best to get to that point. It's going to take a moment, but yeah, I feel like there's more of a, you know-- the amateur Olympic movement for boxing is more developed. Not many people want to go pro, I feel like, even in boxing.

In-- in MMA, it's starting, but to me, the recognition is not there yet, for sure not. And so definitely not like UK or US, but it will happen. It will happen. And you know, I'll-- I'll do my best for-- to make it happen as soon as possible.

KEVIN IOLE: Well, the media recognition is there in the United States for this guy, Marvin Vettori, because he's a fun fighter, always has something to say. Marvin's fighting Israel Adesanya on June 12 in UFC 263. Best of luck to you, my friend. Thank you for joining me.

MARVIN VETTORI: Thank you, Kevin. Thank you very much.

KEVIN IOLE: Good to talk to you, my man.