Georgia’s Growing UFC Legacy: Roman Dolidze Aims for Greatness
Georgia has become a notable source of talent in the UFC, producing several champions over the years. Among them, Ilja Topuria, who fights under the Spanish flag but hails from Georgia, has made his mark as a two-division titleholder. Another prominent name is Merab Dvalishvili, who rose to fame as the bantamweight champion and held the title for over a year, successfully defending it three times. Now, Roman Dolidze is looking to make his own name in the UFC.
At 38 years old, Dolidze is returning to the light heavyweight division to face Reinier de Ridder in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night on August 22. After spending a lot of time competing at middleweight, he finds solace in moving back up, mentioning that cutting weight has been a struggle for him. “It feels normal and natural to be back at light heavyweight. I was fighting in this category even before entering the UFC,” Dolidze explained. “I just focus on doing my job and striving to be the best.”
Carving His Niche Among the Best
When it comes to representing Georgia, Dolidze believes he has carved out a special place for himself and is optimistic about the country’s fighting future. He is excited about the new talent emerging from Georgia and hopes they will follow in the footsteps of those who have paved the way.
“I’m very happy with where I stand. I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve received,” Dolidze shared. “Georgia has been doing wonderfully in the last few years, and I believe more talented fighters are coming up as we’ve shown them the path to success.”
Dolidze’s journey in the UFC has had its ups and downs. He has experienced winning streaks and notable victories against fighters like Kevin Holland and Marvin Vettori. However, he has also faced setbacks that have affected his momentum. Currently, he finds himself on a two-fight losing streak but emphasizes that moving up to light heavyweight is more about maintaining his health than fixing any problems.
“It’s not a big issue for me. Moving to light heavyweight is about my well-being. Weight cutting can be tough. Although I’m mentally strong, my body needs to be in good shape for fights. I decided it was better to compete at a more natural weight for me,” Dolidze said.
Having been close to securing a title shot before, Dolidze feels confident about his future plans. He’s taking things step by step and has no intention of rushing. “I want to fight for the title, and I believe everything will go as planned. I’m looking at a timeline of about one to two years at most,” he stated. “The perfect timeline for me is two years.”
If Dolidze can get past de Ridder, it would be a significant boost for his aspirations. He believes he is already inspiring the next generation of fighters, and adding a title to his achievements would further solidify his status as one of Georgia’s top athletes.
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