Former Bellator MMA title challenger Austin Vanderford made a strong debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at UFC Seattle, defeating Nikolay Veretennikov in the second round. The Russian fighter was unhappy with the referee’s stoppage and responded by pushing Vanderford, leading to security intervention.
UFC CEO Dana White addressed the incident during the post-fight press conference, stating that while he understood Veretennikov’s frustration with the referee’s decision, his reaction was unacceptable. “He went over and pushed the guy,” White said. “What should we do?”
White acknowledged that Veretennikov’s actions were not severe compared to other incidents in the UFC. However, he emphasized that attacking an opponent after a fight is still considered poor behavior. The Russian fighter is now winless (0-2) inside the Octagon and may face disciplinary action for his actions.
Vanderford’s impressive victory marked a promising start to his UFC career, while Veretennikov’s behavior raises questions about his future in the organization.
Source: https://www.mmamania.com/2025/2/23/24371033/ufc-seattle-nikolay-veretennikov-pushed-austin-vanderford-will-not-get-in-trouble-with-dana-white