MMA Match Preview: Vitor Petrino (12-2) vs. Thomas Petersen (10-3)

Venue & Event Details

Event: UFC Fight Night 261: Oliveira vs. Gamrot

Location: Farmasi Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Time: Prelims start 4:00 p.m. ET; bout ~5:30 p.m. ET

Division: Heavyweight (265 lbs), 3 rounds

Injury Report

Vitor Petrino: Healthy, no reported issues.

Thomas Petersen: Healthy, cleared to fight.

Fighter Matchups

Vitor Petrino (Brazil, 28 years old)

Record: 12-2 (7 KO/TKO, 2 SUB)

Height/Reach: 6’2”, 77.5” reach

Strengths: Explosive power, athletic grappling, dangerous submissions (R1 sub of Austen Lane in HW debut).

Weaknesses: Questionable cardio, hittable striking defense.

Thomas Petersen (USA, 30 years old)

Record: 10-3 (7 KO/TKO, 1 SUB)

Height/Reach: 6’1”, 74” reach

Strengths: Strong wrestling base, high-volume ground control (9 takedowns vs. Mayes).

Weaknesses: Chin tested (KO loss to Shamil Gaziev), limited finishing ability in UFC.

Key Battle: Petrino’s early explosiveness vs. Petersen’s grinding wrestling and durability.

Records & Recent Form

Petrino (Last 5): W-L-W-L-W – beat Austen Lane (SUB R1), lost to Dustin Jacoby (TKO), lost to Anthony Smith (SUB).

Petersen (Last 5): W-L-W-L-W – beat Don’Tale Mayes (UD), lost to Gaziev (TKO), beat Mohammed Usman (UD).

Series History

First meeting between the two.

Betting Trends

Petrino: 9 of 12 wins by finish; cardio fades after R1.

Petersen: 2-2 UFC, both wins by decision; never finished a UFC opponent.

Public picks: ~94% backing Petrino.

Both fighters have alternated wins/losses in last 4 bouts.

FIGHT ODDS

Vitor Petrino                      – 300

Thomas Petersen             + 240

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 10, 2025