Israel Adesanya sends message to old rival who still ‘hates’ him ahead of must-win fight at UFC 332

Israel Adesanya has revealed he will be rooting for one of his former opponents at UFC 332

‘The Last Stylebender’ outpointed Marvin Vettori twice during his dominant middleweight run.

Five years after their rematch, ‘The Italian Dream’ will fight to save his UFC career at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday night.

Dana White will make a major announcement about 'Poatan' during UFC 332

Marvin Vettori enters his bout with Ismail Naurdiev (25-8) at UFC 332 on a four-fight losing streak.

The 33-year-old has fought just once since the death of his younger brother in April 2025. Patrick Vettori tragically passed away in a house fire, which has made Israel Adesanya look at his old rival differently.

“My boy, Vettori,” Adesanya said while previewing UFC 332 with his brother, David, on YouTube.

“Is this his first fight back since the tragedy?

“Vettori is a hard man to finish. I don’t think anyone has finished him in the UFC yet.

“I think he still hates me. I don’t know why. Twice a year, he will take shots at me for no reason.

“I respect him. If I lost you in a fire, I would be heartbroken. Even that makes me sad saying that.

“I empathize, so it’s hard for me to feel anything bad towards this man.

“I want him to win. It would be good for him, his morale, his spirit.

“When you win, I win. When I win, you win.

“Whether you like it or not, Vettori, we are locked in this s— for life!”

Israel Adesanya is in the same situation as Marvin Vettori heading into his next fight.

The former two-time middleweight champion hasn’t won since knocking out Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023.

Since then, he’s suffered defeat against Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Joe Pyfer.

Adesanya hasn’t fought since March, but his next matchup is expected to be announced very soon.

Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov is rumored to be the opponent the UFC Hall of Famer will face when he returns to the Octagon.