Veretennikov Survived Prado’s Submission Threats to Claim
Nikolay Veretennikov earned his first UFC victory by edging Francisco Prado at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025. The welterweight bout at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans ended in a split decision after three rounds of striking and scrambling.
Prado’s grappling created immediate danger
Prado pursued submissions early, including an armbar that Veretennikov escaped by lifting and slamming him. The exchange brought Veretennikov back into top position before the fighters eventually returned to their feet.
Veretennikov attacked with combinations to the head and body, while Prado repeatedly sought takedowns. Their contrasting approaches produced an opening round with opportunities for both men.
A hard right hand changed the second round
Veretennikov dropped Prado with a right hand, but the Argentine recovered and resumed chasing grappling exchanges. A spinning attack from Veretennikov allowed Prado to close distance and take him down.
Prado advanced from top position before being reversed. Once standing again, Veretennikov continued investing in power punches, while Prado worked to avoid the heaviest shots and regain momentum.
The last round kept the verdict uncertain
The closing frame featured more takedowns and positional changes. Veretennikov jumped for a guillotine late, leaving Prado on top when the finish did not materialize.
Prado continued hunting a submission and ground strikes through the final stages. Two judges nevertheless scored the fight 29–28 for Veretennikov, while the third favored Prado by the same margin. The result gave Veretennikov a successful outcome in his third UFC appearance after a difficult start in the promotion.
Sources
- Cageside Press: submission attempts, knockdown and late grappling
- UFC: official split-decision totals
- UFC: first promotional victory and event context
