UFC Fight Night 252 presents an intriguing clash of styles as Austin Vanderford takes on Nikolay Veretennikov in a 175lb catchweight bout. Vanderford, a former Bellator title challenger, is known for his relentless wrestling and grappling dominance, while Veretennikov, a striking specialist from Kings MMA, brings knockout power and an aggressive stand-up game. Both fighters are eager to make a statement. Vanderford looks to reestablish himself as a top contender after setbacks in Bellator, while Veretennikov aims to prove he belongs in the UFC after an up-and-down career. With contrasting skill sets and plenty at stake, this matchup promises to be an exciting showdown between grappler and striker.

Vanderford enters the fight with a 12-2 professional record, relying heavily on his wrestling to control opponents. While his ground game has led him to notable victories, his striking defense has been a concern, with both of his career losses coming via TKO. On the other side, Veretennikov holds a 12-5 record, boasting an impressive 75% knockout rate. His ability to pressure opponents with powerful striking makes him a dangerous threat, particularly against fighters who struggle on the feet. However, his takedown defense and ground game remain potential vulnerabilities.

In their recent performances, Vanderford is coming off a dominant first-round TKO victory over Luiz Victor Romero at LFA 194 in October 2024. Before that, he endured back-to-back losses in Bellator, falling to Aaron Jeffery via TKO at Bellator 284 in August 2022 and suffering another TKO defeat against former Bellator champion Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 275 in February 2022. Despite those setbacks, Vanderford previously put together three solid wins, including a unanimous decision over Fabian Edwards at Bellator 259 in May 2021 and another dominant decision over Vinicius de Jesus at Bellator 251 in November 2020.

Veretennikov, meanwhile, is coming off a narrow split-decision loss to Danny Barlow at UFC on ESPN 61 in August 2024, where his striking was effective, but he struggled with Barlow’s grappling. Prior to that, he built momentum with three consecutive wins in the United Fight League, securing TKO victories over Ashley Reece in April 2024 and Luis Iniguez in August 2023, along with a submission win against Demarques Jackson in May 2023. His last loss before joining the UFC came against Michael Morales in Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, where he was outworked en route to a unanimous decision defeat.

Heading into this fight, Vanderford’s clearest path to victory is his wrestling. If he can close the distance, secure takedowns, and establish top control, he will likely dominate with ground-and-pound or find a submission. Veretennikov, however, will need to keep the fight standing, utilize his striking advantage, and land significant shots early to put Vanderford in trouble. If he can maintain distance and prevent takedowns, his knockout power could be the difference-maker.

Ultimately, Vanderford’s grappling expertise gives him the edge in this matchup. While Veretennikov’s striking presents a real threat, his past struggles against wrestlers make this a tough fight for him.

Prediction: Austin Vanderford wins via Submission (Round 2).