Nikolay Veretennikov

Nikolay Veretennikov is a 36-year-old Ukrainian welterweight who came to the UFC after a long pro career marked by erratic early results but steady improvement. A Master of Sport in Combat Sambo trained at Kings MMA, he is a heavy-handed striking specialist who has amassed 10 knockout wins at the professional level, with six of those coming in the first round. His style is straightforward: trap opponents against the fence, land crisp combinations, and look for the finish early. He does not rely heavily on the takedown (averaging just 0.40 per 15 minutes) but instead uses his striking accuracy and sambo-derived clinch control to wear down and overwhelm opponents.

Veretennikov's path to the UFC was unconventional. He lost a decision to Michael Morales at Dana White's Contender Series in September 2021, but the loss did not deter him. He made his octagon debut in August 2024 after a long career outside the promotion and has since compiled a 5-4 record with notable wins over established veterans like Niko Price (a brutal standing knockout in February 2026) and losses to top competition including Austin Vanderford and Punahele Soriano. The recent knockout of Price, which came after nearly two years without a finish, signaled a return to form.

What makes Veretennikov compelling is as much his story as his striking. He left Kazakhstan with his wife to pursue the UFC dream, working security, driving for Uber, and doing construction labor (shifts from 8am to 7-8pm, then straight to the gym) to fund his training before making it to the big stage. Now in his mid-30s and hungry for consistency at the welterweight level, he remains active and fighting with the kind of urgency that only comes when chasing a lifelong dream later in your career. His heavy hands and willingness to let hands fly make him a fun watch, even if his record and losses to solid opposition reflect the difficulty of sustaining success in a competitive division.