Ismail Naurdiev and Marvin Vettori are in the works for UFC 332 on October 3, according to sources. The middleweight matchup has not yet been officially announced.
Sources indicate that Ismail Naurdiev and Marvin Vettori are being targeted for a middleweight bout at UFC 332, scheduled for October 3, though the matchup has not been officially announced.
Naurdiev, 29, brings a 25-8-0 record into the potential outing. The Austrian fighter, who trains out of Top Team Salzburg, competes as an orthodox middleweight standing five-foot-ten with a 74-inch reach. He lands 3.66 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate, and also contributes on the ground with 1.48 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine two-dimensional threat in the division.
Vettori, nicknamed "The Italian Dream," enters with a 19-10-1 record and brings considerable UFC experience to the table. The 32-year-old Italian, who trains at American Top Team, stands six feet tall and shares that same 74-inch reach with Naurdiev. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Vettori puts up an active striking output of 4.68 significant strikes per minute, and he also looks to control opponents on the mat, averaging 1.43 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters share nearly identical reach measurements, setting up a close-quarters striking battle between two physically matched competitors
- Naurdiev's 52 percent striking accuracy versus Vettori's high-volume southpaw output creates an intriguing stylistic contrast
- A win for either man could carry meaningful weight in the middleweight rankings, adding divisional significance to what is already a compelling style matchup
- The bout remains unconfirmed, and the full UFC 332 card is still taking shape ahead of the October 3 date
Saturday, October 3, 2026
