Roman Dolidze doesn’t bother to take shots, but he’s smart enough to know what kind of opponent he’s likely to get after beating Marvin Vettori in the UFC Vegas 104 main event.
So the Georgia middleweight is why former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whitaker are the ideal opponents for the next fight. Not because either of them thinks that one of them is not easily achieved based on his own position in the department, but because they know that Adesanya and Whittaker are not currently reserved, and both are in a difficult position to turn down the person the UFC offers.
“All of these people need an opponent,” Dritze told UFC Vegas 104’s postwar press conference. “They need to fight someone. They need to have an opponent. I don’t care if someone in the top five is (it’s) someone else. I’m ready too. I don’t care much.
“But I said a more realistic fight. I really don’t care who it will be from the top five.”
Dolidze points to the good part of Adesanya coming out of three consecutive losses after falling to Sean Strickland, Doricus du Plessis and Nassoldin Imavov. Meanwhile, Whitaker has not fought since shattering his teeth at UFC 308 this October by Khamzat Chimaev.
Technically, there are other potential opponents further down the ladder in the rankings, but Dolidze believes that some of those names are looking for a title shot or perhaps a No. 1 candidate fight. In that example, Dolidze is out of the way of anyone by asking for a fight that the UFC is unlikely to give him.
“It’s realistic. It’s realistic who’s ready and who needs an opponent,” Dritze said. “Because there are people who really deserve to fight for titles like Caio (Borralho), (Nassourdine) Imavov. There are a few. Good people. They’re waiting, they’re in line.
“If they give me these guys, I’m ready anyway. But they’re more realistic fights and that’s why I said these names.”
The truth is, if the UFC offers him someone ranked in the top five in the middleweight division, then Doritze has no preference when it comes to his next fight. The 36-year-old veteran understands how important victory is in the UFC, how important the style matchups, name values and past achievements are.
Therefore, in a perfect world, Dritze will have the opportunity to compete with Adesanya. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars of the sport, and the Drys considers it a fun battle.
“Both these guys have good names,” Dritze said. “A more important name for me. Of course, Adesanya is on the top and it would be better for me to have my name fight Adesanya. But Whitaker was also a champion. He is well-skilled and a very good fighter. It’s not about personality or anything. It’s all about the name and quality of the opponent.
“Of course, Adesanya would be better if he spoke more about the loud and loud names. Of course, Adesanya, he’s a more striker. Very fast. Dangerous. Adesanya would probably be better.”