The Glendale Star
14
June 10, 2021
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Vettori strives to be his country’s first MMA champ BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Glendale Star Executive Editor
Marvin “The Italian Dream” Vettori is confident about his sold-out Saturday, June 12, UFC match against middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at Gila River Arena. “I work harder than anybody else,” said Vettori, the No. 3-ranked contender who fights out of Mezzocorona, Italy. “Whatever obstacle I have in front of me I crush it. I just work hard and never take a shortcut. I keep improving myself. I show up when it’s time to, and that’s it.” The Vettori/Adesanya fight is the headliner, as the co-main event is flyweight champion Deiveson Figueire-
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do against the No. 1 contender Brandon Moreno. All bouts will be streamed on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. The early prelims begin at 3 p.m. on ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. The prelims will be distributed on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ beginning at 5 p.m. The UFC 263 main card will stream exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view starting at 7 p.m. “I’m super excited,” said Vettori, whose record is 17-4-1. “Everything I worked for is on the line June 12 in Arizona.” The 27-year-old southpaw has been into martial arts since he was young. Vettori mostly did it for fun until, one day at the age of 16, he saw a video of Fedor Emelianenko fighting Marvin “The Italian Dream” Vettori is hoping to “rewrite history” and be the first UFC champ from in Pride. his country. (Photo courtesy of UFC) “Since then, I keep getting more and more obsessed with it,” he day, six days a week — 10 a.m. to noon the UFC one day, and that is why, now said. “This is my occasion, and I make and 6 to 8 p.m. with Kings MMA. In that I have reached my first big step, I the most out of this dream.” between, he eats and rests. will do everything that is in my hands His titles include the Venator FC The Huntington Beach, California, to stay here for a very long time.” welterweight title, and in Brazilian jiu- resident says it’s meaningful to be fight When he fights Adesanya, Vettori jitsu he’s ranked as a brown belt under in the UFC. promises it’s going to be action packed. coach Filippo Stabile, who awarded “It means everything to me,” said “Everything is on the line,” he said. that to him after his last fight. Vettori, who has been a pro since 2012. “You can expect the best version of These days, Vettori trains twice a “My dream has always been to be in myself and, no matter what, I’ll come out with a win. “He’s no easy opponent. I fought him already one time. This is my moment to Featuring locally grown make a wrong right and rewrite histowatermelons ry and be the first Italian UFC champ. sweet corn There’s a lot of animosity before or green chiles during for sure.”
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UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 WHEN: 3 p.m. Saturday, June 12 WHERE: Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Avenue, Glendale COST: Sold out INFO: gilariverarena.com
