Roman Dolidze doesn’t mind shooting his shot, but he’s also smart enough to know what kind of opponent he’s more likely to get after his win over Marvin Vettori in the UFC Vegas 104 main event.
That’s why the Georgian middleweight named former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker as two ideal opponents for his next fight. Not because he sees either of them as an easy target much less unattainable based on his own standing in the division, but rather because he knows Adesanya and Whittaker are available without a fight booked currently and both are in a position where it’s going to be difficult to turn down any opponent the UFC offers them.
“All these guys need opponents,” Dolidze said at the UFC Vegas 104 post-fight press conference. “They need to fight somebody. They need to have some opponent. I don’t care if [it’s] somebody else from the top 5. I’m also ready. I don’t really care much.
“But I said more realistic fights because both of them are [coming off] losses and that’s why I said. I don’t really care who it will be from the top 5.”
Dolidze makes a good point with Adesanya coming off of three straight losses after falling to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov. Meanwhile, Whittaker hasn’t fought since getting his teeth shattered by Khamzat Chimaev this past October at UFC 308.
Technically, there are other potential opponents further down the rankings ladder, but Dolidze thinks some of those names are probably looking for a title shot or possibly a No. 1 contender’s fight. In that instance, Dolidze won’t stand in anybody’s way by asking for a fight the UFC is unlikely to give him.
“Realistic. Being realistic who is ready and who needs an opponent,” Dolidze said. “Because there are some guys who really deserve to fight for the title like Caio [Borralho], [Nassourdine] Imavov also. There are a couple of guys. Good guys. They are waiting and they are in line.
“If they will give me these guys, I am ready anyways. But they are more realistic fights and that’s why I said these names.”
Truth be told, Dolidze doesn’t have a preference when it comes to his next fight if the UFC offers him somebody ranked in the top 5 at middleweight. The 36-year-old veteran understands how much stylistic matchups, name value, and past accomplishments play into how much a win matters in the UFC.
So in a perfect world, Dolidze would get the chance to face Adesanya, undoubtedly still one of the biggest stars in the sport and one that Dolidze views as a fun fight.
“Both of these guys have good names,” Dolidze said. “More important for me the name. Of course, Adesanya was more on the top and it would be better for me, for my name to fight Adesanya. But Whittaker was also a champion. He’s well skilled, a very good fighter. It’s not about personality or something. It’s all about name and quality of opponent.
“Adesanya will of course will be better if we’re telling more about a loud name. Of course, Adesanya, he’s more of a striker. Very fast. Dangerous. Adesanya will be better probably.”
