UFC Seattle kicked off with intense action and shocking incidents, culminating in Austin Vanderford’s thrilling second-round victory against Nikolay Veretennikov at the Climate Pledge Arena on February 22, 2025. Although much of the spotlight focused on Vanderford’s performance, it was the post-fight commotion involving both fighters and the spectators' reactions on social media which raised eyebrows.
The event began spectacularly, with the first two bouts deciding the night through brutal knockouts. After such excitement, expectations surged for the match between Vanderford and Veretennikov—two fighters who brought their own narratives to the octagon. Vanderford, stepping up on just four days' notice after another opponent withdrew, quickly began to establish dominance.
Vanderford, known as 'The Gentleman,' seemed to throw caution to the wind early, delivering powerful strikes and takedowns to assert his will. After nearly finishing Veretennikov at the end of the first round, Vanderford didn’t relent as the second round unfolded. He pivoted to ferocious ground-and-pound techniques, leading the referee to stop the contest at 3:19 of the second round, securing Vanderford’s victory by TKO.
Post-fight celebrations quickly turned sour, as Veretennikov, visibly upset over the result, approached Vanderford with noticeable aggression. Despite the referee’s call marking the end of competition, Veretennikov shoved Vanderford hard from behind, triggering immediate chaos within the cage. Thankfully, event officials swiftly intervened to separate the two, preventing what could have escalated.
The incident surely caught Vanderford off-guard. He humorously recounted the moment post-fight, remarking, "Funny enough, I had dropped the nickname 'The Gentleman' for this fight, and I guess now there’s a picture of me with the double fingers up." The shove appeared unprovoked and likely stemmed from Veretennikov's frustration about being dominated throughout the fight.
Uneasy laughter erupted from fans and commentators alike, as remarks flew on social media. One comment on X summed up the sentiment with, "Dude big mad he got his ass whooped with his hand secured behind his back lmaoooo." The humor belied the serious undertones of the confrontation—many fans called for Veretennikov's removal from the UFC due to his unsportsmanlike behavior following the loss.
Michael Chiesa, a veteran lightweight and commentator, contributed to the conversation on social media, stating simply, "That’s one way to punch your ticket to getting cut from the UFC." Many agreed, considering the shove a grave misstep after taking considerable punishment. Reflecting on this, Vanderford noted the potential consequences: "Yeah, I mean, I think it’s tough. For me, no hard feelings... but you probably don’t deserve to be here."
Vanderford’s path to this fight was anything but routine. He originally learned he wouldn’t compete when his initial matchup was canceled just days before the event. While he and his wife, fellow fighter Paige VanZant, had begun to cancel travel plans, another opportunity arose surprisingly when Veretennikov was available. Vanderford jumped at the chance, saying, "Thank God I got another call saying this guy could make it at a catchweight. And I was like, ‘let’s go.’”
Although representing himself as the gentleman of the sport, Vanderford carried additional burdens as he stepped back onto the canvas. After years of competing at middleweight and gaining notoriety, he returned to his roots by fighting at welterweight—a place where he felt he could truly thrive. Post-fight, he expressed confidence about his career moving forward, stating, "I had some success, I had some good wins against quality guys at 185, but I think at 170, you’ll really be able to see..."
This bout not only cemented Vanderford's position as someone to watch in the welterweight division but also highlighted the fine line between sportsmanship and aggression. While Vanderford’s victory amplified his storied career, Veretennikov’s post-fight actions may have tarnished his future within the UFC.
After this chaotic chapter at UFC Seattle, excitement remains for what lies next for Vanderford—and what consequences Veretennikov will face as the dust settles from their encounter.