MMA Fighting - Marvin Vettori sends a message to UFC champion Israel Adesanya: 'I'm going to be your worst nightmare'

Episode Date: December 9, 2020

Marvin Vettori talks about his statement victory over Jack Hermansson in the UFC Vegas 16 main event and what that win does for his career. He also sends a strong message to reigning UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who he battled to a split decision just a few years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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He now finds himself ranked among the top five middleweights in the world in the UFC. With that said, let's talk to my guest, Marvin Vittori. What's going on, buddy? How are you? It's good, man. slashed up but other than that pretty good. Well, let me start by saying congratulations man, what an amazing performance and an amazing victory. Thank you very much, thank you.

This is kind of the opportunity you've been waiting for. A top five opponent, a headlining spot, everything you kind of wanted. Outside of maybe getting the finish, I mean, could you imagine things playing out a whole lot better than they did in terms of the result? What, wait, what? I said outside of maybe. Obviously, if you would have got the finish, that might have capped it off a little bit different. But, I mean, ultimately, going out there, proving what you said was true, getting the finish.

You know, getting a big win over a top five opponent, doing it in a main event, five rounds. I mean, kind of like the perfect scenario, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, it felt good. And then, yeah, yeah, I expect nothing but the best out of me every time. So, yeah, I was, I wanted to look for the finish. but then as soon as I started like examining things objectively

and seeing and seeing everything that went on it was you know for for the most most most of the part was definitely more much more positive

than the negative there was something negative was little little things about about some little situation that I could have done a little bit better in the fight, but overall was great and getting the fight of the night, and

you know, you know, I'm happy, and then I went, and then I went like five rounds, putting on such a crazy pace. And, um, so, yeah, no, I'm happy, man. I'm happy with my performance, and, um,

I think, uh, I think I did a lot of good things. And, uh, yeah, I could have got the finish. But at the same time, you know, in a sense, it's something was even better. I went a whole five round, and I proved everybody that that I could have,

that I can go five-hour rounds if I need to, you know? Yeah. Well, and I know, you know, right after the fight, you were a little critical of your own performance, but I thought,

you know, I thought it was pretty brilliant. I mean, you get the knockdown in the first and credit to Jack for sticking around, you know, showing great toughness. And then, you know, when you had a bit of an off-round in the third round, a lot of people would say,

oh man, maybe the conditioning's wearing out on him, maybe the cardio is not as good as it should be, and then you come out even stronger in the fourth and fifth and, like, shut down those comments. So again, I thought it was a, you know, a pretty great performance, especially considering all the different things you got to show in that fight.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, it was, you know, I feel like some of the commentators just watched my last fight and I designed a fight eventually, you know, because I feel like, you know, some of the commentators were like, oh, like, Marvin normally comes out, like, you know, he gets mad and he goes out all crazy and this and that. And I'm like, man, like, you probably just watched my last fight, I guess.

If you probably, if you would have seen all my other fights, you should know by now that, you know, like, I'm actually a very smart fighter, if anything, you know. He's like, you never see me in, in my position you never see me you never see me you know like in like in in like overall trouble and a lot a lot of things you know like I feel like a lot of these guys they're coming up like they're just starting to see me now and they did do their homework properly but you know like when it comes down to to to to fight and and bring it for all for for for for the whole time

Being, it's, you know, it's, I'm going to do it. It's not that, you know, I'm going to slow down or anything. And, yeah, the third round, you know, a lot of things goes on in a five, five rounds fight. And I ran away, I saw that the third round was a little bit of a slow round. And I came back, fourth and fifth. And I totally got every round after that third. And even the third, man, I don't even I don't even know those shots

Like You think that come the shots that That they gave is actually right Because he missed a lot I was the only thing that it looked like Like he was gaining space and he was coming forward And I give him that But in terms of like

How many shots he landed I'm not sure if those stats are right Because he was missing most of them for sure Yeah And also you know credit to Jack you know, that first round when you knocked him down, I think a lot of other guys would have not have gotten back up from that. You know, credit to him for showing good toughness.

I'm sure you saw afterwards, you know, he said he had a, I think of like a broken orbital bone. And, you know, he was definitely beat up afterwards. But, I mean, credit to him for sticking around. Because like I said, there's a lot of guys who couldn't have taken that many shots. Yeah, no, he came in game and with a strong goal to win. And he showed it, man, like he was really tough. He was a really tough opponent.

He was active the whole time. He dig deep when he needed to. And, you know, he tried to win until the end. You know, like when two guys going to a fight convinced that they're going to win, you know, it's going to be a good fight. And I feel like that's how it was for both of us. in thinking that I was really sure I was going to win. And he thought the same.

In fact, even though I heard some of his previous interviews, he was saying, I'm going to put upon a third round. Oh, no, in the first round, like, I'm going to submit him in the first round. I don't know if he was believing in those words that he was saying, but I feel like he was definitely confident that he was going to win, and that's what makes a good fight, you know? Yeah, absolutely. So now everything you've had to go through,

this year Marvin. I mean, you know, considering the whole, you know, the Roverson fight, you know, the missing weight, him missing weight, well, a couple times, but then falling out of the first part, of course, and then, you know, rematch. And then, you know, dealing with, you know, waiting to get a big named opponent, a ranked opponent, kind of having a lot of guys not, you know, showing interest in fighting you. And then you get Jockeray, which is a great big fight, obviously, and then you get a call a week ahead of time. You know, do you want to move into the main event? I mean, can you kind of wrap up what this year has been like for you and your career? And kind of capping it off this way.

I mean, capping it off with a huge win like this. Now you're in the top five. Now you're on your way to the title shot. Like, this is exactly what you always wanted. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's crazy because it's been the hardest year. Probably, well, you know, like left, left out that time that I was out for that bullshit

that's contaminated thing. You know, left out the year, this was definitely like a really hard. year but like turned out to be probably my most successful year in the in my for my career to until now so

you know it's it's crazy I like dealing with adversity and coming out on top sometimes really really pays off and staying strong throughout whatever comes at you and and just dealing with it and just keep believing that you know

good will happen and keep staying on track, not breaking mentally, and, you know, just staying on, pays off at the end. And it did, man. He really did. This opportunity was massive. Thanks to Mick for making it happen again. Because, you know, like at the end of the day, when Holland went out, he could have called other guys. But, you know, he gave me the call, and I was ready.

I answered, and I made the most out of it. I was saying it before, and, you know, I put my mouse where my, like, I do where I put my axon where my mouth is, and then, you know, I capitalized. Yeah. That's it. Absolutely. So now, coming out of the fight, Marvin, I know you had some scratches on your face. and things like that, which we talked about post-fight.

But in terms of your health, how are you feeling? Like, are you healthy? Because obviously, as I mentioned, Jack, you know, dealt with a couple. He's bumped and bruised up pretty bad right now. How are you feeling? The reason I'm asking that question, of course, is, you know, in terms of, like, when you want to fight again? Yeah, I'm close to brand new.

Just a little bruised up on my elbow, but I'm close to brand new. Like, like, little, little bruised up elbow. scratch the face but that will go away really quick you know so I'm close to brand new yeah so now after the fight of course you know you immediately

mentioned the possibility of Paula Costa and then of course you said hey you know why am I going to mess around Paula Costa when I should just go right to the title shot obviously you had that you know incredibly close decision with Israel you know I did not have a plan when they asked me for Paulo Costa You know, I just set it out.

I just, on the top of my head, I was like, man, that could be a good fight. You know, it's number two contender or whatever it is. Let's do it. I just gave a name, you know. I don't like to be that guy to give out of name, but I should have thought about it a little bit more because, but anyway. You know that I regret it. I'll fight everybody anyway. Yeah.

But, but, but, but now the ranking just came out. And I think, I think it makes, I mean, there don't still be number four. It's a joke. Really, it's a joke. but I think it'll be a great scrap if we fight, you know? And

after I beat somebody like Darren Tilt, then, you know, I'll be the only guy basically to have two wins in the top five. And I don't know what will happen with Whitaker. But after that, you know, I feel I will deserve a title shot.

But I don't know, man. To be honest, like I said, I don't want to fight anybody. Yeah, yeah. You mentioned Darren Till, and obviously I saw another interview where you talked about Robert Whitaker. I think you and Whitaker, I actually said that on Saturday night right after you said to Paul O'Cawson thing just kind of top of your head. I post on Twitter. I said, you know, that'd be a fun fight, but I got to be honest, I think you and Whitaker would make a lot of sense.

Because obviously, you know, if he's not going to fight for the title, and I understand that because he did, you know, just lose Israel a year ago, I think you and Whitaker does make a lot of sense, right? In terms of the rankings, in terms of the title contention, it does make a lot of sense, though, right? Yeah, yeah, me and Whitaker, man, I would love the fight, you know, like, I think, I think it legitimately, um, the best after Israel and after me in this division. But, you know, it's definitely a very good test.

And, um, and I would love, man, I would love to fight him, like, I will be good and yeah I mean for as in terms of legitimacy I think

that would be the most the most like fair fight you know but you know a lot of times things I don't know they go

in different ways and so I don't know I don't know man I don't know it also depends on what like Israel it's going to decide to do and like what the UFC is going to decide

to do with him and you know but like I said it's it's you know I'm not going to pick shoes man like they they give me a call with the end of these guys I'll be right there

I'll be right there ready to answer and fuck them all up so whether it's Till Posta or Whitaker one of those three I want to show some love to come on you too if anything you know like I'm not you know if, you know, why would I leave out

canon year too? Like, if, you know, I have to be fair to spread with everybody. I cannot leave out canon year. If canon year is also, you know, offered, I'd be willing to fight canon year too. Yeah.

Let me ask you, I know you gave your opinion on Saturday night, but I got to ask you about, you know, the current champion, a guy that you obviously fought, you know, gave, you know, an incredibly tough fight for. We're not going to rehash a decision. and we've talked about that in the past, but I know your opinion on Israel,

Adasanya, but how, you know, now that you're this close, like, can you just, can you just, like,

feel it in your bones, like how much, how close you are to that rematch and finally getting in there and kind of, you know, setting the, setting it right after what happened the last time.

Yeah, it's just, uh, it's just so nice to do, uh, to prove this, this, this,

this, I don't know how to even call him, you know, like, this, this, this, this I don't know like well you know this guy wrong and like you know I'm right like

and to kind of like show him I'm right back at your face you know I'm right here motherfucker just look in my eyes like I'm gonna be your worst fucking timer until you day until the day you fucking retire so you know that's that's what it is and uh and he's I'm sure if he's gonna he's feeling it he's feeling it like he didn't say nothing but he's feeling the pressure like there's nobody that is coming out with such an overwhelming with such an overwhelming like force you know in this division and then which which with such hunger and will to become the champion there's nobody like this you know and uh he's definitely feeling man i would not like you know if if i had to defend the belt against me i would

not like be um like i will not feel calm relaxed you know i'd be feeling pretty stressed too so so i feel i feel like he's feeling that way too yeah i know you mentioned you know the possibility of what's going on with Israel right now about going up to light heavyweight and when they announced that you know at the time you know in a way when i say it makes sense i'm saying like at the time you know obviously Whitaker was coming off a win and and i again i understand, you know, not wanting to rematch that guy a year later. You just beat him. I get it. I'm not going to fault him for that. And then, you know, you look at, you know, you look at Jan Blahovic, you know, that's a big fight for him, you know, champion versus champion. But a lot has changed,

you know, since then, you know, Glover Toshiro went out there and obviously got a huge win over Tiago Santos. And now, obviously, you're a guy, you know, who has a history of Israel. You're in the division. But I don't know, like, where do you lie in this whole thing? Because obviously, you know, you sound like you're willing to fight somebody else just to, you know, secure your number one position and division. I mean, is there a party that was like maybe fighting Israel if he becomes like heavyweight champion, maybe that's an even bigger fight? Or do you feel like he should just stay a middleweight and fight the next guy in line?

I think that he should fight the next guy in line for sure. And if the UFC wants that fight, they can be 100% sure I'm going to answer that quote, like I said. you know and um but you know like i don't know man i don't know like he feels like he's chasing that i don't know man i feel like he he wants to chase that like uh that kind of like uh greatness status which is you know in a sense it's a little bit understandable but by doing that he has to prove a lot of things first you know and one of the thing he has to prove is that uh He's the best and to do that he has to fight me. So wherever he goes, you know, he's right.

I feel like I think that on his mind he thinks that Blackovich suits him well because, you know, he's powerful, but he can be a reed. He's striking can be a read, you know, somehow, and he's going to be able to do that. And that's why he prefers that fight, you know? And plus there is way less to lose Because he's like yeah well I'm you know

I'm stepping up there And if you know if it doesn't go that way I'm not losing my own title I was just chasing an extra one you know But I don't know I feel like he still did nothing He still did not much you know like

He's yeah he'd be Whitaker And I feel like Whitaker that time didn't really Perform the way he shoot off And he's fight with with with uh with uh oil was was horrible and honest in a sense I even thought he lost and

and his last fight and his last fight was um I mean Costa beat himself before but I mean incredibly like I mean you know like Israel still did his job is not that he didn't he looked good but what I'm saying is like

he looked good against the guy that was already beaten the moment he stepped into that case yeah And I know we've talked numerous times since that Adasanya fight, how much you've grown and improved and how much you're still growing and improving. And I'm sure that's a big part of that rematch because I know like you still, obviously in your mind, believe you beat him the first time. But regardless, how much you've changed and evolved since then,

you feel like you are a much, much better, much different fighter now than even when you fought Israel a couple years ago. But you days ago, I'm worried a better fighter and I haven't even trained. I know for a fat. The moment I'm going to step into the gym again, I will feel different. It's almost like I leveled up again, you know? And, yeah, I'm sure of it. And like I said, you know, that you can go back and watch this fight as much as you want.

Next time I'm going to come out. I'm going to be a whole different animal again. Yeah, absolutely. That's me, you know? Like, you see these guys in the top five, you know, they reach level and they kind of stay there. you you'll see me constantly improving throughout my

throughout my whole career even when I get the belt even even even when I defended every fucking time I'll come out better so that will be that will be my that will be my mark

you know that would be like my my my best skill like coming out all the time better yeah absolutely and I know I think you told me when we spoke earlier this year

either before or after the Roberson fight. I feel like I remember you telling me when it was all sudden done, you honestly believed by the end of 2020, you would be champion. Now, please correct me wrong. I feel like I remember you telling me that. But again, at that time, you still couldn't predict how things were going to play out.

Now, you're right there. You've earned it. You're right there. At worst, you're one fight away from a title show. It's got to feel good the way things played out that you've got to know right now. At worst, you're one fight away from a title shot. Yeah, yeah.

It feels good, man. Yes, absolutely. It's insane. Like how you say things and you believe them, but even though you cannot predict them, but you believe in those things. And then they happen. And then they happen because you're ready for that opportunity.

And when it comes, you jump on it. And you rise to the occasion. You know your skills. You believe in yourself and you just make it happen. It's awesome. I'm like from saying it to me, believe in it. You know, like, because you eat these things every day and you just think it's just

like rhetorical rhetoric, you know, it's just like, yeah, yeah, of course they say these things and, you know, yeah, you do them too but who knows, if actually things happen or not. But then they do happen because you're doing the right things and you're being ready and

you're improving and you know, a lot of times you think you're doing the right same because you're doing the right things happens. It's not because of that. It's because by constantly doing the right things, you're going to put yourself in the situation and you're going to be ready for when those situations will occur

and that's why then you'll have success and it's pretty amazing to see that I'm making it happen. Absolutely. Well, Marvin again, congratulations on an amazing win man. It was a great performance. Enjoy a little downtime. I know you don't really take a lot of downtime but enjoy a little downtime around the holidays

and cannot wait to talk to you and get excited for your next fight coming up in 2021. Thank you, Damon. Thank you very much. All right, man. Talk to you soon. Thank you, bye-bye. Bye-bye.

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