Marvin Vettori no longer has to toil in relative obscurity.
The Kings MMA representative stepped up his ascent on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight ladder with a unanimous decision over Jack Hermansson in the UFC on ESPN 19 main event—it was the Italian’s first headlining assignment—on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 49-45 for Vettori, who expects to slide into the Top 10 at 185 pounds for the first time later this week.
Hermansson was a willing dance partner in defeat despite an inability to match his opponent’s fast-twitch horsepower.