5 Defining Moments: Roman Dolidze

“It’s time for new blood.” For Roman Dolidze, these words are not just inspirational affirmations but embody a narrative he treasures, inspiring him to imprint a lasting legacy in the middleweight ranks.

The Georgian fighter announced his presence with authority in 2022, stringing together an impressive winning streak that featured electrifying “Performance of the Night” finishes against Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes and Jack Hermansson. Each victory showcased a different facet of Dolidze’s evolving game, proving unequivocally that he was ready to face the best in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight ranks. As he prepares for a high-stakes confrontation against Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Fight Night 235 main event this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Dolidze is hungry for redemption following a setback against former title challenger Marvin Vettori.

In a sport where seizing opportunities defines a fighter’s trajectory, Dolidze has proven his mettle. As the Georgian contender prepares for his upcoming battle, he remains confident, viewing every fight as an opportunity to refine his technique and showcase his ever-evolving skill set. For Dolidze, the journey to the top is not just a climb but a chance to redefine the narrative of the middleweight division. With that, let us look at five of the defining moments that have sculpted him into the fighter we see today:

1. From Soccer to Grappling Excellence

Dolidze’s journey into combat sports had an unconventional route. Initially a professional soccer goalkeeper in Turkey for three years, Dolidze transitioned to a new chapter at the age of 20. Moving to Ukraine to pursue shipbuilding engineering at Odesa Maritime Academy, he concurrently delved into the disciplines of sambo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling. Beyond his physical prowess, Dolidze’s intellectual pursuits led him to earn a degree in business administration.

2. Grappling Adventures and ADCC Glory

Dolidze’s venture into grappling proved transformative, culminating in his becoming the World Grappling Champion and European Grappling Champion under United World Wrestling rules. In 2016, he claimed the Abu Dhabi Combat Clumb Asia/Oceania Championship at 99 kilograms (218 pounds). Although the prestigious ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship awaited him in 2017, a first-round defeat did not deter the Georgian. Embarking on this grappling odyssey at the age of 28, Dolidze’s success on the mats laid the foundation for his transition into the world of mixed martial arts.

3. An Undefeated Run

A pivotal phase in Dolidze’s career unfolded as he embarked on an eight-fight winning streak to start his professional mixed martial arts debut. During that stretch, Dolidze showcased his dominance with a diverse set of victories, from securing a split decision against John Allan to delivering decisive knockout finishes and submissions. Remarkably, he accumulated seven of those eight victories via stoppage. During that time, he also won the World Warriors Fighting Championships light heavyweight crown and defended it once before signing with the UFC.

4. Flexing Resilience

Dolidze made a noteworthy comeback following a unanimous decision setback against Trevin Giles at UFC on ESPN 21. In a dominant unanimous decision victory over Laureano Staropoli at UFC Fight Night 189, “The Caucasian” got back to winning ways and redefined his adaptability in the ever-competitive UFC middleweight division.

5. A Display of Ruthless Precision

Dolidze made his mark in 2022 with a remarkable three-fight finishing streak that echoed his killer instinct. The streak commenced with a devastating knockout victory over Kyle Daukaus at UFC on ESPN 37, where Dolidze’s well-placed knee and vicious punches secured a first-round stoppage in just over a minute. His pursuit of “Performance of the Night”-worthy finishes continued with a knockout victory over Phil Hawes at UFC Fight Night 213. The streak culminated with a second-round technical knockout win against perennial contender Jack Hermansson at UFC on ESPN 42.