Roman Dolidze
Roman Dolidze | |
---|---|
Born | Batumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union | 15 July 1988
Nickname | The Caucasian |
Nationality | Georgian |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight (2016) Light Heavyweight (2017–2020, 2024) Middleweight (2021–present) |
Reach | 76 in (193 cm)[1] |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Batumi, Georgia |
Team | American Kickboxing Academy Xtreme Couture MMA |
Years active | 2016–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 17 |
Wins | 14 |
By knockout | 8 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Roman Dolidze (born 15 July 1988) is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[2] A professional competitor since 2016, Dolidze was the former World Warriors Fight Championship (WWFC) light heavyweight champion,[3] ADCC Asia & Oceania champion, and Grappling FILA world champion. As of 28 October 2024, he is #10 in the UFC middleweight rankings.[4]
Background
[edit]Dolidze was born on 15 July 1988, in Batumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (now Georgia). Dolidze played soccer for eight years, the last three years of which spent as a professional goalkeeper in Turkey.[5] At the age of 20, he moved to Ukraine to study shipbuilding engineering at Odesa Maritime Academy, and started training in sambo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and eventually grappling.[5] He then also earned a degree in business administration.[5] He went on to become the World Grappling Champion and the European Grappling Champion under United World Wrestling rules, as well as becoming the ADCC Asia & Oceania Champion at 99 kg (218 pounds) in 2016. This earned him a spot in the prestigious ADCC Worlds Tournament in 2017, however he was defeated in the first round. Aged 28, he started to train in MMA.[6]
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Dolidze made his MMA debut in 2016, where he was fighting out of Odesa, Ukraine. After winning his debut fight against Alexander Kovbel, Dolidze would go on to amass a 4–0 record in the Ukrainian circuit, before being given the chance to fight Eder de Souza for the vacant WWFC Light Heavyweight title. He beat de Souza by a second-round knockout.[7] He was scheduled to defend his title against Michał Pasternak at WWFC 13.[8] Dolidze beat Pasternak by a third-round knockout.[9]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Dolidze got signed to the UFC but before he made his debut, he tested positive for clomiphene and its metabolites M1 and M2, as well as a long-term metabolite of dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), 4-chloro-18-nor-17β-hydroxymethyl,17α-methyl-5α-androst-13-en-3α-ol (M3), as the result of an out-of-competition urine sample collected on 12 March 2019. He was suspended for one year due to this violation and he was eligible to fight on 12 March 2020.[10]
On 3 September 2020, Dolidze along with Ryan Benoit, were granted temporary licenses following special hearings by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after they had recurring issues with the long-term metabolite of Turinabol pulsing in their system in trace amounts, long after ingestion. Both Benoit and Dolidze have already been suspended by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the UFC's anti-doping partner. Neither were facing a violation in Nevada, but the UFC wanted to get ahead of a potential issue. This was after USADA added a threshold for the presence of the M3 metabolite of DHCMT. If a test result is below 100 picograms per milliliter of the substance, it is no longer considered a violation, but an atypical finding, providing there is no evidence of new ingestion or performance-enhancing effects. Benoit and Dolidze were granted temporary licenses to compete beginning 1 December following a six-month period of bimonthly testing by USADA.[11]
A bout between Khadis Ibragimov and Roman Dolidze was initially scheduled for the promotion's inaugural event in Kazakhstan planned a month prior.[12] However, the fight was postponed after the card was moved to Las Vegas due to travel restrictions for both participants related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pairing was left intact and eventually took place on 19 July 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2.[13] Dolidze won the fight via technical knockout in round one after in process of high kick, Ibragimov tried to go for a takedown, during which Dolidze hit him with a knee, knocking Ibragimov out.[14]
Dolidze faced John Allan at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori on 5 December 2020.[15] He won the bout via split decision; however 19 out of 19 media members scored it a 30–27 for Dolidze.[16][17]
Dolidze, as a replacement for Dricus du Plessis, faced Trevin Giles in his middleweight debut on 20 March 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21[18] He lost the close bout via unanimous decision.[19]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Alessio Di Chirico on 5 June 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.[20] However, Di Chirico pulled out of the contest in mid-May due to an injury.[21] Di Chirico was replaced by Laureano Staropoli.[22] In a lackluster fight where Dolidze mostly held Staropoli in the clinch, he won the fight via unanimous decision.[23][24]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Eryk Anders on 13 November 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[25] However, Anders was pulled the event for undisclosed reasons,[26] and he was replaced by Kyle Daukaus.[27] In turn, the bout was scrapped due to COVID-19 protocols related to Dolidze’s camp.[28]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Brendan Allen, replacing Brad Tavares on 4 December 2021, at UFC on ESPN 31.[29] However, Dolidze was forced to pull from the bout due to complications in his recovery from COVID-19 and he was replaced by Chris Curtis.[30]
Dolidze was rescheduled to face Kyle Daukaus on 18 June 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37.[31] He won the bout via knockout in round one.[32] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[33]
Dolidze faced Phil Hawes on 29 October 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213.[34] He won the fight via knockout in round one.[35]
Dolidze, replacing undisclosed injury Derek Brunson, faced Jack Hermansson on 3 December 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42.[36] He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the second round.[37]
Dolidze faced Marvin Vettori on 18 March 2023, at UFC 286.[38] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[39]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Derek Brunson at UFC 295 on 11 November 2023.[40] However, Brunson announced on 14 September that he was parting ways with the organization, and the bout was scrapped.[41]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Jared Cannonier on 2 December 2023, at UFC on ESPN 52.[42] However, Cannonier suffered an MCL tear in October during training and the bout was scrapped.[43]
Dolidze faced Nassourdine Imavov on 3 February 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235 in his first UFC main event.[44] He lost the bout by majority decision.[45]
Dolidze was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez on 1 June 2024 at UFC 302.[46] However Hernandez was forced out of the bout due to a torn ligament in his hand and the bout was cancelled.[47]
It was briefly announced that Dolidze would face Michel Pereira on 8 June 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57.[48] However, Pereira claimed he never signed any contracts for the fight and the bout fell through.[49]
Dolidze, on short notice and as a replacement for Carlos Ulberg, faced Anthony Smith in a Light Heavyweight bout on 29 June 2024 at UFC 303.[50] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[51]
Replacing an injured Chris Curtis, Dolidze faced Kevin Holland on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307.[52] Dolidze won the fight by technical knockout due to a corner stoppage as a result of a rib injury at the end of the first round.[53]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes and Jack Hermansson[33]
- World Warriors Fight Championship
- WWFC Light Heavyweight Championship [54]
- One successful title defense
- WWFC Light Heavyweight Championship [54]
Grappling
[edit]- ADCC Asia & Oceania Champion
- 2016 ADCC Asia trials (99 kg)[54]
- Grappling World Champion FILA [54]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]17 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 8 | 0 |
By submission | 3 | 0 |
By decision | 3 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 14–3 | Kevin Holland | TKO (corner stoppage) | UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | 1 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
Win | 13–3 | Anthony Smith | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 303 | 29 June 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight bout. |
Loss | 12–3 | Nassourdine Imavov | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov | 3 February 2024 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Imavov was deducted one point in round 4 due to an illegal soccer kick. |
Loss | 12–2 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 286 | 18 March 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
Win | 12–1 | Jack Hermansson | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland | 3 December 2022 | 2 | 4:06 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 11–1 | Phil Hawes | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | 29 October 2022 | 1 | 4:09 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 10–1 | Kyle Daukaus | KO (knee and punches) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett | 18 June 2022 | 1 | 1:13 | Austin, Texas, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 9–1 | Laureano Staropoli | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai | 5 June 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 8–1 | Trevin Giles | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland | 20 March 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Middleweight debut. |
Win | 8–0 | John Allan | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori | 5 December 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 7–0 | Khadis Ibragimov | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 | 19 July 2020 | 1 | 4:15 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 6–0 | Michał Pasternak | KO (punch) | WWFC 13 | 18 December 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Defended the WWFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
Win | 5–0 | Eder de Souza | KO (punch) | WWFC 11 | 16 June 2018 | 2 | 3:36 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Won the vacant WWFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
Win | 4–0 | Amirali Zhoroev | TKO (punches) | WWFC 9 | 14 December 2017 | 1 | 3:34 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Win | 3–0 | Ilyas Abdulaev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WWFC 7 | 14 June 2017 | 1 | 1:21 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Win | 2–0 | Rémi Delcampe | Submission (heel hook) | WWFC 6 | 29 March 2017 | 1 | 0:56 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Light Heavyweight debut. |
Win | 1–0 | Alexander Kovbel | Submission (heel hook) | RFP 53: West Fight 23 | 9 December 2016 | 1 | 0:42 | Odesa, Ukraine | Heavyweight debut. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "UFC". ufc.com. UFC. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "mixedmartialarts". mixedmartialarts.com. mixedmartialarts. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b c The Jenna Ben Show (12 February 2021). UFC’s Roman Dolidze: Undefeated Georgian 🇬🇪 with big plans to dominate the Light Heavyweight ranks – via YouTube.
- ^ "One to 'Watch' at UFC Kazakhstan: Roman Dolidze". Read MMA. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Rondina, Steven. "MMA Fighter Left Frozen After One-Punch Knockout". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Porażka Michała Pasternaka na gali MMA w Kijowie". pinczow.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Były mistrz PLMMA Michał Pasternak vs Roman Dolidze o pas na ukraińskim WWFC 13". mmanews.pl. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "USADA Statement on Roman Dolidze | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Martin, Damon. "Ryan Benoit, Roman Dolidze approved for temporary licenses in Nevada after ordeal with oral turinabol testing". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ Staff (3 March 2020). "Khadis Ibragimov meets Roman Dolidze during UFC Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 3 March 2020. (in Dutch)
- ^ Nolan King (11 June 2020). "UFC targeting Roman Dolidze vs. Khadis Ibragimov for July 18 event". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (18 July 2020). "UFC Fight Island 2 Results: Roman Dolidze Sleeps Khadis Ibragimov". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ Raphael Marinho (19 August 2020). "John Allan enfrenta Roman Dolidze no UFC 255, dia 21 de novembro". Globo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese).
- ^ "Roman Dolidze def. John Allan :: UFC on ESPN 19 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ McClory, Mike (5 December 2020). "UFC Vegas 16 Results: Roman Dolidze Better Than Scorecards Show Against John Allan". Cageside Press. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (10 March 2021). "Dricus Du Plessis out of UFC Vegas 22, Roman Dolidze steps in to fight Trevin Giles". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ Behunin, Alex (20 March 2021). "UFC Vegas 22 Results: Trevin Giles Takes Roman Dolidze's 0, Wins Unanimous Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (29 March 2021). "Alessio Di Chirico treft Roman Dolidze tijdens UFC evenement op 5 juni". MMA DNA. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee and Mike Heck (20 May 2021). "Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Dolidze off of June 5 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ Steve Duncan (22 May 2021). "Di Chirico injured, Laureano Staropoli faces Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 28". mma.uno. Retrieved 23 May 2021. (in Spanish)
- ^ Anderson, Jay (5 June 2021). "UFC Vegas 28 Results: Roman Dolidze Out-Grapples Laureano Staropoli". Cageside Press. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Martin, Damon (5 June 2021). "UFC Vegas 28 results: Roman Dolidze clinches his way to unanimous decision win against Laureano Staropoli". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ Heck, Mike (3 September 2021). "Eryk Anders vs. Roman Dolidze booked for UFC event on Nov. 13". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "With Eryk Anders out, Roman Dolidze vs. Kyle Daukaus targeted for UFC Fight Night 197". MMA Junkie. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (29 October 2021). "Kyle Daukaus vs. Roman Dolidze set for UFC's Nov. 13 event following Kevin Holland withdrawal". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ Damon Martin (10 November 2021). "Kyle Daukaus vs. Roman Dolidze scrapped from UFC Vegas 42 card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (18 November 2021). "Roman Dolidze steps in for Brad Tavares to fight Brendan Allen at UFC Vegas 44". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ ATSteveDuncan (23 November 2021). "Dolidze fuera, Chris Curtis enfrenta a Brendan Allen en UFC Vegas 44". MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (5 April 2022). "UFC: Kyle Daukaus vs. Roman Dolidze Back on for June 18". Cageside Press. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (18 June 2022). "UFC Austin: Roman Dolidze Makes Quick Work of Kyle Daukaus, Calls for Bonus". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b MMA Fighting Newswire (18 June 2022). "UFC Austin post-fight bonuses: All finishers earn $50k payouts". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- ^ "Roman Dolidze vs. Phil Hawes agregado a UFC Fight Night del 29 de octubre - MMA.uno, #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español". mma.uno (in Spanish). 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Dewar, Val (29 October 2022). "UFC Vegas 63: Roman Dolidze Shreds Phil Hawes' Knee, Knocks Him Out". Cageside Press. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ Staff (22 November 2022). "Derek Brunson injured, Roman Dolidze steps in to face Jack Hermansson on Dec. 3". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (3 December 2022). "UFC Orlando: Creativity On Display as Roman Dolidze Finishes Jack Hermansson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Nolan King (15 December 2022). "Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze headed to UFC 286 in London". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Dylan Rush (18 March 2023). "UFC 286: Marvin Vettori captures decision against hard-hitting Roman Dolidze". Cageside Press. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ Jay Anderson (24 July 2023). "Derek Brunson vs. Roman Dolidze Lined Up for UFC 295".
- ^ Shaun Al-Shatti (14 September 2023). "Derek Brunson and UFC part ways, fight with Roman Dolidze scrapped". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ Heck, Mike (22 September 2023). "Jared Cannonier vs. Roman Dolidze set for Dec. 2 UFC event". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (23 October 2023). "Jared Cannonier explains injury that prevented him from fighting Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ Desk, ITN News (19 November 2023). "Dolidze vs Imavov Main Event Set for UFC on February 3". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
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has generic name (help) - ^ Dewar, Val (4 February 2024). "UFC Vegas 85: Nassourdine Imavov Wins Decision in Messy Fight With Roman Dolidze". Cageside Press. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Martin, Damon (25 March 2024). "Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Dolidze on tap for UFC 302 in June". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Meshew, Jed (29 April 2024). "Anthony Hernandez out of UFC 302 fight with Roman Dolidze". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Heck, Mike (9 May 2024). "Roman Dolidze vs. Michel Pereira set for UFC Louisville". MMA Fighting.
- ^ Guilherme Cruz (10 May 2024). "Michel Pereira explains why he won't fight Roman Dolidze at UFC Louisville". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ Heck, Mike (21 June 2024). "Roman Dolidze steps in on 8 days' notice to face Anthony Smith at UFC 303". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ Matthew Wells (29 June 2024). "UFC 303 results: Roman Dolidze gets short-notice nod over former title challenger Anthony Smith". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ Damon Martin (16 August 2024). "Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Jr, Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena headlines UFC 307". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Bryson Hester (5 October 2024). "UFC 307: Injury Halts Roman Dolidze vs. Kevin Holland Early". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Bitter, Shawn (23 January 2019). "Welcome to the UFC: Roman Dolidze". Cageside Press. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Roman Dolidze". Sherdog. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
External links
[edit]- 1988 births
- Living people
- Male mixed martial artists from Georgia (country)
- Sambo practitioners from Georgia (country)
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners from Georgia (country)
- Sportspeople from Batumi
- Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
- Mixed martial artists utilizing sambo
- Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
- Expatriate sportspeople from Georgia (country) in Ukraine