It’s been three years since we last saw UFC Vegas 115’s Lando Vannata … so where did ‘Groovy’ go?
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 22: Lando Vannata poses on the scale during the UFC weigh-in at UFC APEX on April 22, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Veteran Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Lando Vannata returns to action this weekend (Sat. , April 4, 2026) against winless Darrius Flowers at UFC Vegas 115 inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And it’s been a long time coming. Vannata hasn’t competed since UFC Kansas City in 2023 , where he lost a unanimous decision to Mexican prospect Daniel Zellhuber . And then, poof!
“Groovy” vanished. So, what happened? Vannata was booked a couple of times in late 2023 and again in 2024, but both fights fell through.
After that, he went quiet — leaving fans wondering what exactly happened. Now, we finally have an answer. “Life,” Vannata told UFC.
com when asked where he’s been. “Life, man. I had some medical stuff going on, had life going on.