UFC 318: Francisco Prado vs Nikolay Veretennikov

Francisco Prado, riding a two-fight skid, opened the bout with sharp striking and managed to secure an early takedown, working aggressively through side control and threatening a triangle then armbar. Veretennikov responded with ground-and-pound and eventually scrambled back to his feet, turning the tide by landing crisp strikes that disrupted Prado’s rhythm.

As the fight progressed into the second and third rounds, Veretennikov found his groove—dropping Prado with a big right and confidently engaging in striking exchanges. Although Prado showed resilience with takedown defense and positional control, Veretennikov’s power punches and hearty pace earned him respect in each round.

After three closely contested rounds, the judges awarded Nikolay Veretennikov the split‑decision victory (29‑28, 29‑28, 28‑29), marking his first UFC win and halting Prado’s momentum. Veretennikov’s offensive adjustments and takedown resistance proved decisive in a battle where both men had moments of dominance.

The win also revitalized Veretennikov’s career—Ivan at 35 internationally—in a pivotal “must-win” performance. Prado, just 23, battled courageously but is now 1‑4 inside the UFC. Ask if you’d like post-fight stats, highlights breakdown, or fighter thoughts next!