Roman Dolidze is set to face Marvin Vettori in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC APEX, with the Georgian fighter looking to progress his career rather than make a statement.
Dolidze, 36, will look to improve his position in the middleweight rankings as he takes on Vettori, ranked 8th, in what promises to be an intense five-round battle. The pair first met in March 2023, with Vettori edging the judges’ scorecards in London.
Despite losing the initial fight, Dolidze is confident that his performance was not a loss, but rather an opportunity for growth. He believes that he can push Vettori onto the back foot and has learned from their first meeting.
“I think Marvin is a very durable fighter,” Dolidze said. “He has a good heart going forward, unfortunately, he didn’t go forward with me in our last fight.”
Dolidze has spent two years preparing for this rematch, working on his gameplan to exploit Vettori’s weaknesses and take advantage of the Italian’s durability.
“I think I’m a different fighter than before,” Dolidze said. “I was fighting more with anger, but now I’m more confident, and I understand what I need to do to win the fight.”
The big difference this time around is that they’re fighting in a main event bout, which will bring increased attention and a longer five-round distance. However, Dolidze remains focused on his goals and is treating the bout like just another day in the office.
“My gameplan is just to be who I am,” Dolidze said matter-of-factly. “I’m ready for the opportunity to break into the middleweight top 10.”
Dolidze’s calm demeanor and focus on progress make him a compelling opponent for Vettori, and fans are eagerly anticipating what this rematch will bring.
Source: https://www.ufc.com/news/roman-dolidze-less-talk-more-action-ufc-vegas-104