In a scenario that epitomizes the unpredictable nature of combat sports, Niko Price has stepped into the breach at UFC Vegas 113 with mere days to organize. The veteran welterweight accepted a five-day notice opportunity to face Nikolay Veretennikov this Saturday, February seventh, replacing Jose Henrique Souza for what guarantees to be a survival match in Sin City. Each fighters carry the burden of their respective careers on their shoulders—this is not just one other payday; it is a referendum on whether either belongs within the UFC’s welterweight landscape.
J.Henrique out. Nikolay Veretennikov will now fight Niko Price at #UFCVegas113 on February seventh. #UFC #MMA #UFCParamount #UFConParamount #UFC2026 pic.twitter.com/cGfADoFXmZ
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) February 2, 2026
UFC Vegas 113 Confirmed Fight Card:
Up Next… UFC VEGAS 113 🔥
1-10, how good is that this card? 👀#UFCVegas113 #MMATwitter #UFC325 pic.twitter.com/WjHjX2Ehj7
— The Fight Fanatic🥊 (@FightFanatic_) February 2, 2026
Fundamental Card (8 p.m. ET on Paramount+):
Prelims (5 p.m. ET on Paramount+):
- Alex Morono vs. Daniil Donchenko (Welterweight)
- Bruna Brasil vs. Ketlen Souza (Women’s Strawweight)
- Said Nurmagomedov vs. Javid Basharat (Bantamweight)
- Wang Cong vs. Eduarda Moura (Women’s Flyweight)
- Muin Gafurov vs. Jakub Wiklacz (Bantamweight)
- Priscila Cachoeira vs. Klaudia Sygula (Women’s Bantamweight)
Price carries a troubling narrative into the octagon. The 36-year-old veteran sits at 16-9 overall (8-9 within the UFC) and has won just two of his last nine fights. More alarming is the style of his defeats—4 of his last six losses got here via stoppage, suggesting a fighter potentially declining athletically or losing confidence in his durability. His victories over Alex Moreno at UFC 302 and back in 2021 now feel like distant memories.
Veretennikov’s plight mirrors Price’s predicament. Holding a dismal 1-3 record within the UFC, the Russian fighter “Gladiator” began his Octagon tenure with consecutive losses to Danny Barlow and Austin Vanderford before capturing a split decision victory over Francisco Prado. His most up-to-date outing saw him absorb a unanimous decision defeat to Punahele Soriano. Yet by some means, Veretennikov secured a brand new contract—a testament to his willingness to step into dangerous situations on short notice.
This welterweight collision represents a crossroads encounter where neither fighter can afford one other misstep. For Price, it is a last probability to arrest a downward spiral. For Veretennikov, it’s a possibility to prove his recent contract extension wasn’t merely a formality. Expect a war.