Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker are REALISTIC options for UFC middleweight from Georgia

Rising middleweight Roman Dolidze plans to fight Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya next after his latest victory.

Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker are REALISTIC options for UFC middleweight from Georgia

Georgian fighter has called out big names - Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya (via Imago)

In the main event of UFC Vegas 105, former middleweight title challenger Marvin Vettori fought rising star Roman Dolidze. The Georgian fighter was able to outpoint his opponent, and win the bout via unanimous decision. Following the victory, Dolidze has made his intentions clear to fight the top opponents in the 185-pound division. 

The five-round fight received criticism for being one of most boring main events in recent times. However, there are many fans who liked the fight and credited Dolidze for showing a great skillset. During the post-fight presser, the middleweight from Georgain was asked about his next bout. He made sure to drop some big names in the mix. 

Being realistic, who’s ready and who need opponent….More important for me, the name. Of course, Adesanya was more on the top. It would better for me to fight Adesanya but Whittaker also was champion. He’s very skilled. Very good fighter. 

Roman Dolidze via UFC Vegas 104 post-fight presser 
YouTube video

Both Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker are former UFC champions and lost their last bout. Adesanya was submitted by the current champion, Dricus Du Plessis, at UFC 305 while trying to reclaim the title. His latest loss came against Nassourdine Imavov last month. On the other hand, the Aussie national got his jaw broken by Khamzat Chimaev last October. 

FS Video

Recently, both veteran fighters collaborated and even made videos together for their social media fans. Adesanya has already accepted his new role as the gatekeeper and could potentially fight Dolidze. Similarly, it won’t be surprising to see Whittaker fight the Georgian star next.

Roman Dolidze’s ultimate revenge against Marvin Vettori

Roman Dolidze and Marvin Vettori fought each other at UFC 286 in a closely contested bout. At that time, the ‘Italian Dream’ won via unanimous decision in a three-round contest. Two years later, Dolidze got an opportunity to take his revenge, and didn’t miss the opportunity at all. The Georgian middleweight star showcased improved tactics and resilience, effectively countering Vettori’s strikes. 

Roman Dolidze beats Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 105
Roman Dolidze beats Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 105 (via MMA Fighting)

He maintained the pressure throughout the five rounds and didn’t let Vettori get back his momentum. Following the win, the Georgian was incredibly impressed with his performance. In an interview, the rising star shared what changes he made this time to beat the former title contender. 

Main thing in me is my anger. I always fight with anger and this time I learnt how to control it and control it for five rounds not only one hard round.

Roman Dolidze via ESPN MMA 
YouTube video

Dolidze credited his coach Erick Nicksick who is extremely popular in the MMA community. Nicksick has already carved three UFC champions with Sean Strickland being his latest one. It would be interesting to see if the popular coach manages to take the Georgian to a middleweight title bout.

Rise of Georgian fighters in the UFC 

The UFC being the premier MMA promotion in the world attracts top fighters from all around the world. Recently, there has been a rise in Georgian fighters in the promotion. Known for toughness, strong wrestling, and relentless pressure, these fighters have taken UFC by storm. The current UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili is a prime example of this. 

Top Georgian UFC fighters featuring Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili etc
Top Georgian UFC fighters featuring Ilia and Aleksandre Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili (via X)

‘The Machine’ has dominated the division with relentless grappling and cardio and has defeated some of the best in history. Apart from him, Ilia Topuria, representing Spain but with Georgian roots, is a well-rounded fighter. He combines powerful striking with excellent grappling ability. Last year, ‘El Matador’ knocked out two of the best featherweights and carved an everlasting legacy at the 145-pound division. 

Ilia’s brother, Aleksandre Topuria, has also made his UFC debut recently and remains hungry to win the belt soon. Roman Dolidze is definitely one of the best among these and has the potential to become a middleweight champion. Apart from that, Giga Chikadze, Guram Kutateladze are some other big Georgian names in the UFC.

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