In a dramatic turn of events at UFC Seattle, Austin Vanderford has publicly called for the release of his rival, Nikolay Veretennikov, following a post-fight altercation. Vanderford, who secured a second-round victory, found his triumph overshadowed by an unexpected confrontation with Veretennikov, sparking debate about the latter’s future in the UFC.
Post-Fight Tensions Boil Over
Austin Vanderford, cornered by his wife, former UFC fighter Paige VanZant, had just celebrated a significant win in his UFC debut when tensions flared. Veretennikov, now 0-2 in his UFC career, approached Vanderford after the fight concluded, leading to a brief but heated exchange that was quickly quelled by UFC security. Despite the incident, Vanderford expressed no personal animosity towards his opponent but questioned Veretennikov’s place in the organization.
“I think it’s tough and for me there are no hard feelings,” Vanderford stated post-fight when asked if Veretennikov should face repercussions. “For me, I know the sacrifices in what we do to go out there and perform and the dreams and aspirations we all have. So I feel for the guy, but I mean, you go out there and get dominated and then throw a fit like that? Yeah, you probably don’t deserve to be here.”
Dana White Weighs In
UFC President Dana White addressed the incident during the post-fight press conference, drawing a distinction between this altercation and the infamous UFC 113 incident involving Paul Daley. White noted that while Veretennikov’s actions were inappropriate, they were not on the same level as Daley’s past conduct.
“Paul Daley punched Koshcheck in the face,” White recalled, emphasizing the severity of the previous incident. “Listen, yeah, it’s never good when you go over and I don’t know why he went after him, I understand he was upset with the referee. If you watch that fight, when you look, I get why he was upset. He was blocking a lot of the shots, he was trying to get out of there. Then as soon as the fight was over, listen, if a guy is taking a number of unanswered shots and laying there on the ground [then I understand]. He was defending and moving around, so I understand why he was upset. But you know how we are here, he went over and pushed the guy, what should we do? What Paul Daley did was completely different.”
White further elaborated on the incident, indicating that the UFC handles such scenarios internally, often away from the public eye. “He went over and pushed him, we aren’t those guys… You should see what goes on [backstage] here after the fights. You guys would be crying forever if you knew what went on. You’d be writing all kinds of stories and ‘what are you going to do to them?’ Believe me, that was nothing,” White remarked, downplaying the severity of the altercation.
Future Implications for Veretennikov
The post-fight scuffle has put a spotlight on Nikolay Veretennikov’s UFC career, prompting discussions about his future in the organization. With an 0-2 record and the recent incident, speculation about his release is mounting. However, it remains to be seen if the UFC will take decisive action or offer Veretennikov another chance to prove himself within the octagon.
As the UFC continues to navigate the complexities of maintaining discipline and ensuring fair competition, this incident serves as a reminder of the high stakes and pressures fighters face. The organization’s response will likely set a precedent for handling similar situations in the future, leaving fans and analysts alike eager to see what unfolds next.
