Nikolay Veretennikov Record: 14-8-0

Regional dominance and the UFC arrival

In May 2021, Veretennikov delivered another vintage finish, stopping Anthony Ivy in the first round at Fury FC 46 with a knee and punches. That run earned him a Contender Series shot in September 2021, where he ran into unbeaten prospect Michael Morales and dropped a unanimous decision—a setback against a fighter who would go on to become one of the division's brightest talents. Undeterred, Veretennikov rebuilt with a stretch of finishes in the United Fight League before finally reaching the UFC, where his Octagon debut ended in a split-decision loss to Danny Barlow in August 2024.

UFC run

The early UFC going was rocky. After the Barlow defeat, Veretennikov was stopped by Austin Vanderford via second-round TKO in February 2025, leaving him searching for his first Octagon win. He found it in July 2025, grinding out a split-decision victory over Francisco Prado at UFC 318. A unanimous-decision loss to Punahele Soriano at UFC 320 followed, but Veretennikov bounced back emphatically in February 2026 with a first-round TKO of veteran Niko Price, stopping him with elbows and punches. In May 2026 he was stopped in the first round by Khaos Williams, a reminder of the unforgiving margins at welterweight.

Fighting style

Veretennikov is a knockout artist first and foremost. Ten of his 14 wins have come by KO or TKO and he carries a 79% finish rate, built around concussive punches and a willingness to attack with knees and elbows in the clinch. His combat sambo base gives him a functional grappling foundation, but his identity is unapologetically that of a finisher who hunts the stoppage. The flip side is the volatility that comes with that approach—he has been finished himself on multiple occasions and several of his losses have come on the scorecards, underscoring that for all his power, durability and consistency against elite competition remain the questions he is still answering.

Career highlights

• First-round Octagon statement — stopped veteran Niko Price with elbows and punches in February 2026 for one of the signature finishes of his UFC tenure.
• Regional knockout reputation — built a name on the Texas circuit with finishes like the first-round KO of Charlie Ontiveros, showcasing the power that defines his game.
• Elite finish rate — a 79% finish rate across 14 wins marks him as one of the more dangerous offensive welterweights to come up through the regional ranks.