One of the most interesting fights at UFC 318 this weekend (Sat., July 19, 2025) is buried on the ESPN “Prelims,” not the pay-per-view (PPV)—a real shame given the bad blood fueling it.
The clash pits No. 10-ranked middleweight Marvin Vettori
against No. 11-seeded Brendan Allen, and these two genuinely despise each other. This isn’t manufactured drama; it’s raw, personal animosity. Let’s break down the feud, its origins, and the high stakes attached.Early Tensions
The bad blood ignited at UFC Vegas 90, where
Vettori and Allen were set to headline. Less than a month out, Vettori withdrew, and Chris Curtis stepped in. Even before the event, the two had heated public run-ins, requiring separation due to intense trash talk.
“All-In” edged out Curtis via split decision, prompting Vettori to mock him online
Allen wtf u calling for the title man you look like dog shit got rocked every single round and prayed you were getting the takedown just to hang in there
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) April 7, 2024
That shit was embarrassing
Allen ripped into Vettori for the tweet.
“He’s irrelevant. He can’t even make it to a fight,” Allen said. “He don’t want to fight. He’s old news. We’re going up. Pillow Fist, he could’ve got the business tonight. He could’ve got it this week. He could’ve got it in Miami. What? You want to talk now.”
BAD BLOOD
Four months after UFC Vegas 90, the two ran into each other in a Florida Casino and got into a brawl on the casino floor.
Inside of Hard Rock Casino, Vettori approached Allen’s teammate, Tuco Tokkos, and tried to swing on him. UFC veteran Michael Johnson moved the public out of the way to which Allen quickly retaliated and decided to take matters into his own hands, and rushed Vettori. The two started to throw heavy punches before finally being separated.
The best angle of Allen & Vettori pic.twitter.com/kQEHOQeAdi
— Alex Behunin (@AlexBehunin) August 17, 2024
Nearly a year after the casino brawl, these middleweights will finally settle it in the octagon. What’s on the line?
Stakes
First and foremost, Vettori’s No. 10 ranking is at risk, but his drive is deeply personal—he’s fighting for his brother, who tragicly passed away in April, a wound still raw.
Allen, meanwhile, returns to his home state of Louisiana, where he launched his pro career. He hasn’t fought there since 2018, and with friends and family watching, he’s hungry to prove himself.
Both men are mired in two-fight losing streaks, a first for each. A third loss would be a career setback, especially with title aspirations on the line. Victory is non-negotiable.
Adding fuel, they train at rival Florida gyms: Vettori with American Top Team, Allen with Kill Cliff FC.
Fights with real heat don’t always deliver, but with Vettori’s emotional fire and Allen’s home-crowd energy, this one’s poised to be a banger.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 318 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 318: “Holloway vs. Poirier 3” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.
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