UFC 263: Israel Adesanya, Marvin Vettori make weight ahead of grudge rematch

  • 12/06/2021

Israel Adesanya and Italy's Marvin Vettori have both made weight, ahead of UFC 263 in Arizona on Sunday.

The Kiwi-Nigerian fighter will defend his middleweight title, returning to the octagon for the first time since March.

Adesanya, 31, tipped the scales at 83.2kg at Saturday's (NZ time) weigh-in, lighter than Vettori at 83.7kg. The maximum weight allowance is 83.9kg.

The two will square off on Sunday for the second time after Adesanya beat Vettori by a split decision in 2018 at the same venue in Glendale.

The Kiwi-Nigerian contender returns to the ring after defeat in his last outing, losing to Jan Blachowicz in March after stepping up to the light heavyweight division.

Sunday's bout will see Adesanya return to the middleweight class, in which he boasts a 20-0 record.

Adesanya and Vettori clashed in a fiery press conference on Friday (NZ time), with the Kiwi confident of a more convincing victory the second time around.

"This weekend, you won't need the judges," Adesanya told Vettori. "You're going to be sniffing the floor.

"I remember the magic that was in the air when I put this guy away. Wait until [Sunday], I'm going to use this energy."

Adesanya is the UFC's number one ranked middleweight, while Vettori is ranked sixth.

Elsewhere, fellow Kiwi Brad Riddell also made weight for his bout against Drew Dober, weighing in at 70.3kg, heavier than his opponent at 69.9kg.