Marco Tulio Eyes Knockout Victory Over Marvin Vettori After Upcoming Fight with Christian Leroy Duncan
Marco Tulio is looking to make a significant impact in the UFC following his upcoming middleweight fight against Christian Leroy Duncan at the UFC APEX this weekend. With aspirations of remaining undefeated in the promotion, Tulio has set his sights on Marvin Vettori, aiming to deliver the first knockout of Vettori’s career. Vettori is scheduled to compete against Brunno Ferreira at UFC 323 on December 6, and Tulio sees this potential matchup as an ideal next step if he improves to 3-0 in the UFC.
In a recent interview, Tulio expressed his admiration for Vettori, highlighting the Italian fighter’s resilience and experience, having faced some of the toughest names in the division without being knocked out. “Marvin Vettori is a really tough guy, he’s fought several of the division’s biggest names, and I’d love to be the first one to knock him out,” Tulio remarked. Additionally, he mentioned Roman Dolidze as another preferred opponent, noting Dolidze’s proximity to the top five rankings as a merit for what would be an exciting matchup.
Tulio has set an ambitious goal of competing four times in a year, a feat he was momentarily derailed from in August due to hand surgery that forced him to withdraw from a fight with Michel Pereira. Despite the setback, Tulio maintains a positive outlook, stating, “I believe in God’s plans. After everything that happened with me, especially on the Contender, I learned to rest more and not let anxiety take over.”
With December still on the horizon, Tulio remains open to a quick turnaround should opportunities arise, especially if they pertain to middleweight bouts before the year concludes. “I’m here in the U.S., and if it’s His will, I’ll be ready,” he said, confident about the prospects ahead.
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As he prepares for what would be his fifth fight—following two in the Contender Series and two in the UFC—Tulio believes that a victory could lead to a ranked opponent in his next fight. If he doesn’t receive immediate recognition, he’s committed to continuing his relentless pursuit of success.
Dolidze recently suffered a loss to Anthony Hernandez, whereas Vettori finds himself in a precarious situation after three consecutive defeats. Tulio, buoyed by his recent victories over Ihor Potieria and Tresean Gore, envisions defeating both Vettori and Dolidze as a path towards a potential clash with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. “I admire him a lot, I’m a huge fan, but I just don’t know how much longer he’ll stay in the UFC,” he stated, underlining the significance of this matchup for his career trajectory.
Having recently supported teammate Norma Dumont, who secured a victory at UFC Vegas 110, Tulio aims to continue the winning streak for Chute Boxe in his upcoming contest. Discussing his matchup with Duncan, Tulio noted that while Duncan possesses striking prowess, he himself brings a ferocious energy to the octagon. “I think I have a lot of power in my hands,” Tulio claimed, emphasizing his aggressive fighting style: “I’m the lion inside that cage, and I think that’s going to make him uncomfortable.”
As Tulio prepares to step into the octagon, he carries with him the hopes not only of individual success but also of his team and the legacy he wishes to build within the UFC.
