Report: Vettori-Allen rebooked for UFC 318 in New Orleans
A grudge match between top-15 middleweights Marvin Vettori and Brendan Allen has been rescheduled for UFC 318 on July 19 in New Orleans, sources told MMA Mania's Alex Behunin on Wednesday.
Vettori and Allen were initially slated to square off in a UFC Fight Night main event in April 2024, but an injury forced Vettori out of the matchup. Weeks later, the two got into a brawl on a casino floor after a PFL event in Florida.
Vettori, ranked No. 10 in the division, is looking to get back on track from the first losing streak of his professional career. The 31-year-old Italian is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Roman Dolidze in a March main event. Vettori hasn't won a fight in over two years.
Allen, the No. 11-ranked middleweight, has also lost two straight. The 29-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to Anthony Hernandez in February after falling short to current No. 1 contender Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris last September. Allen had won seven in a row before the recent slump.
In the UFC 318 main event, Dustin Poirier will make the final walk of his MMA career in a trilogy bout against former featherweight champion and current BMF titleholder Max Holloway.