Austin Vanderford Signs with UFC, Set for Seattle Debut

Austin Vanderford, a former Bellator middleweight title challenger, is set to make his UFC debut on short notice at UFC Seattle, facing Nikolay Veretennikov in a 175-pound catchweight bout. Vanderford, who has been on a competitive MMA journey for thirteen years, signed with the UFC after a successful stint in Bellator, where he compiled a 5-2 record. His wife, former UFC fighter Paige VanZant, expressed her excitement about his debut on social media, encouraging him to perform well. Veretennikov, also a former competitor on Dana White's Contender Series, is looking for his first win in the UFC following a split-decision loss in his debut. The matchup comes amidst a card affected by injuries and cancellations, featuring a main event between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong. Vanderford aims to make a strong impression in his first appearance in the UFC Octagon.