Which middleweight prospect will make it three in a row?
Middleweight prospects Roberson and Vettori were all set to face off in April, but the coronavirus ruled out their booking. They were then set to meet a month later at the rearranged UFC on ESPN+ 29 card in Jacksonville, Fla., but Roberson (9-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) withdrew from the event when he fell ill after the weigh-ins as he reacted badly to his cut. That second cancellation angered Vettori (14-3-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC), who angrily confronted Roberson at the host hotel.
Now the two middleweights finally will meet Saturday night at the UFC Apex in a fight that has real needle to it. But, past bookings (and disagreements) aside, the matchup could act as a springboard to bigger and better things for the winner.
Both Roberson and Vettori have the capability of moving up to challenge some of the fringe contenders on the outer reaches of the middleweight Top 15, but which one will move forward to get that opportunity?