Marvin Vettori‘s long-awaited return to the Octagon was supposed to be a statement, but it turned into a severe wake-up call instead. After nearly two years on the sidelines due to injuries, the former middleweight title challenger met Roman Dolidze in a rematch of their 2023 fight. However, unlike the last time, events unfolded quite differently. Dolidze dominated the striking exchanges and won via a unanimous decision, giving Vettori his second consecutive defeat. With his top-10 ranking in jeopardy, fans were eager to find out how the Italian fighter would respond. Well, he has now broken his silence, as he provided a brutally honest reflection of his performance.

“Nothing too bad, just some cuts and bruises,” ‘The Italian Dream’ stated on Instagram Stories. “F—, man. Life sometimes shows you that even when you give your heart out and everything you’ve got, you still fall short. That was a close fight. Almost had him in the third. But I guess it wasn’t enough.” Vettori’s most memorable moment of the fight came in the third round when he stunned Dolidze with a clean punch. However, the Georgian swiftly recovered, clenching up to slow the pace and reclaim control. Dolidze then took control of the contest, outworking Vettori and winning on all three scorecards.

This loss stings even more for ‘The Italian Dream,’ who moved to Florida to train at the renowned American Top Team in the hopes of improving his game. While he commended his squad, he was clearly frustrated. “Thank you to ATT,” he said. “Best in the world, bro. Love you guys. Thank you, UFC. What the f— can I say, bro? I don’t know.” Vettori is at a crossroads, having gone 1-3 in his last four fights. Once one of the biggest names in the division’s top tier, he now faces the possibility of falling farther down the ranks if he doesn’t find a way to turn things around.

Vettori, who is only 31, has time to recover from this setback, but the defeat raises major concerns about his future. His durability and aggressive mindset have always made him a formidable opponent, but recent results indicate that improvements are surely required. Whether it’s a change in his training, a new tactical approach, or simply a mental reset, Marvin Vettori must decide his next move before the middleweight division moves on without him. But what if we told you that the loss also could’ve been because of a curse? In fact, he even predicted it just a few days ago. So, what curse are we talking about?

Marvin Vettori predicted this infamous ‘curse’ would cost him his comeback win

Marvin Vettori was well aware of the stakes before his rematch with Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 104. Returning from a 20-month layoff, the Italian fighter sought to restore himself in the middleweight division with a much-needed victory. However, in the run-up to the fight, Vettori jokingly mentioned an unusual reason that might hamper his comeback: social media star Nina Drama’s alleged “curse.” With her interviews frequently coinciding with fighter losses, Marvin Vettori refused to sign a contract absolving her of responsibility if he fell short, suggesting that she would be accountable for the outcome.

“It’s not gonna happen, but if I do end up losing, it’s her fault,” Vettori said during a training session with Nina. The exchange was a reference to the lingering superstition surrounding her interviews, particularly after Arman Tsarukyan’s withdrawal from UFC 311 sparked fan speculation. Nina, unwilling to take responsibility, presented a contract claiming that no such curse existed. But ‘The Italian Dream’ made it obvious that if things didn’t go his way, she would be to blame. Unfortunately for him, his silly prediction came true when he lost to Dolidze by unanimous decision.

Beyond the humor, this defeat has serious implications for Marvin Vettori’s career. Having already defeated Dolidze in their first meeting, another victory would have cemented his place in the top ten. Instead, he faces an uncertain future, fighting to remain relevant in a division crowded with young stars. Though his talent and durability are undeniable, ‘The Italian Dream’ must now find out how to turn things around—whether superstition played a role or not, the outcome at UFC Vegas 104 has pushed him further away from title contention than ever before. What do you think? Did he lose because of the curse? Let us know in the comments.