Latest news with #Dolidze
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
If UFC's Roman Dolidze can't fight Adesanya or Whittaker, there's a name\u00a0below he'd take
If UFC's Roman Dolidze can't fight Adesanya or Whittaker, there's a name below he'd take Middleweight standout has interest in rising wrestling standout On a three-fight winning streak, Roman Dolidze has some pretty lofty ideas about what should be next on his resume. But Dolidze also knows getting whom he most would like standing across from him could come down to timing. In the case of former middleweight champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker, whom he's called out, that be the situation. Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) told MMA Junkie Radio he would prefer to fight someone ahead of him in the rankings – naturally – and Adesanya or Whittaker wins on top of what he's already got could warrant a title shot. He'd almost rather just take what the UFC gives him instead of getting his hopes up. "I'm not saying a (specific) name because there are many guys who are on top of me (in the rankings)," Dolidze said. "There's Jared Cannonier, there's Caio Borralho. The one guy maybe I don't want to fight is Sean Strickland because we are training in the same gym." Cannonier and Borralho hold the two spots above his slot at 8 in the UFC's official rankings. Further up are Adesanya and Whittaker, Strickland, presumed next title challenger Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov — and champ Dricus Du Plessis. After three straight wins over former 205-pound title challenger Anthony Smith in a light heavyweight one-off, Kevin Holland and former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori, Dolidze clearly wants another recognizable name. If he had to fight down, though, he'd consider it – and thinks late June for International Fight Week in Las Vegas would be a great time for it. "I always wanted to fight Bo Nickal," he said. "Smart-style wise? (I'd fight him) International Fight Week. But Roman-style wise? I can fight next week – no problem." Check out Dolidze's full interview in the video above.
USA Today
26-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Roman Dolidze responds to Robert Whittaker's 'pub fight' criticism: 'He got destroyed in his last fight'
Roman Dolidze fired back at Robert Whittaker for criticizing his past fight at UFC Fight Night 254. Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) called out both Israel Adesanya and Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) after avenging his loss to Marvin Vettori in their main event earlier this month at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Whittaker shut down the callout. The former UFC middleweight champion said Dolidze's rematch with Vettori was a continuation of their first fight at UFC 286, and resembled a pub brawl. Dolidze didn't appreciate Whittaker's comments, and returned fire by mocking his quick submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308. 'This is a talking guy who was knocked out a couple of times and he got destroyed in his last fight,' Dolidze said of Whittaker in an interview with Home of Fight. 'It's even funny to me to listen to a guy like that. Yes, I will always respect my opponents and fighters. He's a great fighter, he was a great champion, but listen: You're speaking too loud. You need to prove that you are so tough. 'If you're on your downfall, it doesn't mean anything. If you're scared to say normal words and speak normally – he's not a person whose words I can take like that. It's too loud for him to speak like that. We already saw what he's capable of doing and how many times he was stopped, and he tapped. Me and Vettori are two guys who have never been stopped before.' Dolidze is currently on a three-fight winning streak – defeating former title challenger Anthony Smith, stopping Kevin Holland, and most recently a unanimous decision over Vettori in their rematch.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Roman Dolidze after UFC Fight Night 254 win?
(ALSO SEE: Mick Maynard's Shoes: What's next for Marvin Vettori after UFC Fight Night 254 loss?) Roman Dolidze avenged a key loss in his career Saturday when he defeated Marvin Vettori in their UFC Fight Night 254 main event rematch. After dropping a unanimous decision in the first meeting at UFC 286 in March 2023, Dolidze (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) got a unanimous decision of his own over Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC), except this time over five rounds and in a headlining spot at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Dolidze now has strung together three consecutive victories, and afterward called out former middleweight champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. Should he get either of those matchups, though, or is it too much of a step forward for the Georgian? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on Dolidze's future after UFC Fight Night 254. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Roman Dolidze 'being realistic' with Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker callouts after UFC Fight Night 254
LAS VEGAS – Roman Dolidze has set his sights on a pair of former champions after emerging from the UFC Fight Night 254 main event with his hand raised. Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) avenged a key career loss on Saturday when he outworked Marvin Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) to a unanimous decision in their middleweight rematch at the UFC Apex. In the octagon, the Georgian said he is looking for a top five fight next, and called out ex-titleholders Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. After taking some time to digest the result, Dolidze went backstage to speak to reporters and doubled down on the callouts, explaining that he feels both matchups are logical given the state of the 185-pound division. 'Why not? All these guys need opponents,' Dolidze told MMA Junkie and other media members. 'They need to find somebody. They need to have some opponent. I don't care if it will be somebody else from top five, I'm also ready. I don't really care much. But I said more realistic fights because both of them lost. That's why I said I don't really care who it will be from the top five. '(I'm) being realistic of who is ready and who needs opponent. There are some guys who really deserve to fight for title, like Caio (Borralho), like (Nassourdine) Imavov, also. There are a couple guys – good guys, and they are waiting and in line. If they will give me these guys, I'm ready. But there are most realistic fights and that's why I said those names.' Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) is currently sitting on a three-fight losing skid with defeats to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis and most recently, a second-round knockout vs. Imavov in February. Whittaker (26-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC), meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from a 2024 Submission of the Year loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October. Either fight coming to fruition would be a massive opportunity for Dolidze to put a signature win on his resume, but if he was given a choice, thinks Adesanya brings more value to his resume. 'Both of these guys have good names,' Dolidze said. 'More important for me is the name. Of course Adesanya was more on the top and it would be better for me as a name to fight Adesanya, but Whittaker also was champion. He's very good fighter. It's not about personality or something. It's all about name and quality of opponent. Adesanya will of course be better if we are talking about the more loud name.' For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
USA Today
16-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Roman Dolidze willing to give Marvin Vettori trilogy fight if UFC wants: 'Just out of respect'
LAS VEGAS – Roman Dolidze is relieved to get one back. At UFC Fight Night 254, Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) avenged a March 2023 loss when he defeated Marvin Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, 9-6-1 UFC) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46). It's a performance Dolidze is proud of. 'Any win is a good win, but one over Vettori is very important because I wanted to take my win back, what they took away from me in London,' Doldize said. 'I hope my opponent will get well soon. He's a strong, durable fighter. I knew for anybody it's tough and hard to finish him. I was ready for five rounds, if needed. As you can see, I worked five rounds hard. And that was important for me.' It was two years between the first and second fights. While Dolidze doesn't see a third one happening any time in the immediate, he's willing to reciprocate the favor to Vettori if the UFC ever wants a third booking between them. 'Let's be fair. That's a good question,' Doldize said. 'He gave me this rematch. If UFC needed it and they tell me about it, I'll probably do it, just out of respect, because I respect that he agreed to fight me. Why would he do this? Back then, I was No. 10. He was No. 7. He even said he thought it was Roman Kopylov, but I don't trust him. He agreed to fight me. Just because of that respect of mine to him, I can do this. But I think the UFC will have other plans for me.' Dolidze, 36, has now won three fights in a row. He entered Saturday's main event off back-to-back wins over Anthony Smith and Kevin Holland. For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254. Gallery UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas View 126 photos
