Allen Won the Firefight as Vettori Refused to Fold in New
Brendan Allen defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025. Their middleweight bout at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans ended with scores of 30–27, 30–27 and 29–28 after fifteen fiercely contested minutes.
Early grappling opened a busy first round
Allen secured a takedown and worked toward back control, immediately forcing Vettori to defend. Another takedown followed, but Vettori reversed the position and produced offense from on top.
The scramble returned to the feet, where both men landed punches before the horn. Allen’s jab and forward intent helped establish his approach in front of the Louisiana crowd.
The exchanges stayed intense through the middle round
Vettori advanced behind jabs and leg kicks, while Allen answered with body attacks and straight punches. A combination near the fence briefly shook the Italian, who continued firing back.
Allen consistently found the more damaging offense without gaining an easy finish. Vettori’s responses kept the fight active and required Allen to maintain his output rather than coast on his earlier work.
A full-distance battle earned both men a bonus
Vettori pushed in the third, but Allen answered with combinations and closed with another offensive burst near the fence. Every judge favored Allen when the scores were announced.
The victory ended Allen’s two-fight losing streak and handed Vettori a third consecutive defeat. Both received fifty-thousand-dollar Fight of the Night bonuses, recognizing a preliminary-card contest that stood out even on an evening filled with dramatic exchanges and finishes.
Sources
- Cageside Press: takedowns, reversals and three-round exchanges
- UFC: official decision and event details
- UFC: Fight of the Night award and bonus amounts
- MMA Fighting: bonus context and full-distance battle
