Roman
Dolidze went for name value when he called out Israel
Adesanya and Robert
Whittaker following his victory over Marvin
Vettori in the
UFC Vegas 104 headliner on Saturday night.
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According to “The Caucasian,” seeking fights against the former
champions also makes sense from a matchmaking perspective. Dolidze
is also willing to take on some of the middleweight division’s
rising contenders, but he believes some of those potential
opponents might already be on the verge of a title shot.
“Why not? All these guys need opponents. They need to fight
somebody. They need to have some opponent,” Dolidze said at
Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I don’t care if it will be
somebody else from Top 5, 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 5.
“[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 is in the midst of a three-bout losing streak and is
coming off a second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine
Imavov at UFC
Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1. Prior to that slump, “The Last
Stylebender built a resume that ranks among the best in UFC
middleweight history. Whittaker, meanwhile, suffered a first-round
submission loss to Khamzat
Chimaev in his last outing at UFC 308 this past October.
Whittaker is also a former title holder, but Dolidze says that
Adesanya would be his first choice between the two.
“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.”
Dolidze has won three straight in the Octagon, with victories over
Vettori, Kevin
Holland and Anthony
Smith to his credit. The 36-year-old Georgian is 9-3 during his
tenure with the Las Vegas-based promotion.