Roman Dolidze enters the first main event of his UFC career this weekend at UFC Vegas 85, and it was a bit of a bumpy road getting to this point.
Georgia’s Dolidze (12-2) hasn’t fought in roughly 11 months, not since a decision loss to fellow top middleweight Marvin Vettori. The loss snapped a four-fight win streak Dolidze had put together, and while he would have liked to bounce back quicker, fights kept falling through.
Among the names that didn’t stick were Jared Cannonier and Derek Brunson, the latter of whom departed the UFC abruptly after being booked opposite Dolidze last November. Most would consider that a challenging situation, but Dolidze took it in stride, he explained during this week’s UFC Vegas 85 media day.
“Not challenging. Maybe a little disappointing. Still, it’s part of the rules of the game. It’s happening,” stated Dolidze. “I’m accepting it or not accepting it. I’m accepting it. It is how it is. Everything that is destined to happen will happen, and that situation doesn’t change me. Of course I wanted to fight more but, but UFC was offering me good fights, I’ll say that also. But opponents were pulling out. [It’s] nothing. I’m good.”
Even in the moment, the Georgian kept his composure, he added.
“I was thinking about the time I’m losing yes. About the things I could do, because I also have a lot of things going on in my life and I’m achieving other sides of my life. But like I told you, I understand. What will change if I’ll be upset, what will change if I’m mad? Nothing will change. I’ll be mad, that’s what will change. That’s all. Nobody will care.”
That said, Dolidze made two requests of the UFC before booking his fight with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Vegas 85. As it turns out, both requests were granted by the promotion.
“When all this happened, we started a conversation about a new fight,” recalled Dolidze. “I asked the UFC to give me two things. Give me a new contract— it wasn’t time for a new contract, but still, give me a new contract— and the main event. They gave me these two things that I wanted, and I also was ready for anybody; they knew. That’s all.”
Heading into the first main event of his career, there’s one key difference during Fight Week, Dolidze explained on Wednesday.
“I’ll tell you what’s really different. It’s too much— I won’t say too much. It’s a lot of media. A lot of media. Starting from yesterday. And that’s definitely different from other events,” he said. Yet nothing seems to bother Roman Dolidze much; certainly not some extra media. “I accept the rules of the game. And this is part of the game, we need to do this. We need to do this for us, for our organization, to promote the fight. And I’m here to do it.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 85 media day appearance by Roman Dolidze above.
