Roman Dolidze made a pair of calculated callouts when he requested to combat Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya subsequent following his unanimous resolution victory over Marvin Vettori, which marked his third win in a row total.
He particularly focused Whittaker and Adesanya, as a result of regardless of being former champions, each are coming off losses and seeking to get again on observe within the division. Whereas he hasn’t heard a lot from Adesanya but, Dolidze wasn’t amused by the best way Whittaker dismissed a possible combat in opposition to him when reacting to the callout.
“I’m making an attempt to combat a prime 5 man, dude, be a part of the queue,” Whittaker mentioned about Dolidze on his podcast. “I watched [a round and a half] and was like, ‘Dude, I’ve nothing to realize from this,’ and I went again to taking part in Monster Hunter Wilds.”
Whittaker additionally criticized the rematch between Dolidze and Vettori, calling it “the very same as their first combat” whereas clearly expressing little interest in going through the Georgian middleweight.
“It’s humorous. It’s very infantile,” Dolidze informed MMA Preventing when reacting to Whittaker’s response. “How any individual who misplaced [to Khamzat Chimaev], who tapped really easy and didn’t present the center of a fighter can converse such issues like he mentioned after shedding like that. It doesn’t make sense. You must show totally different to talk like that. I can’t take his phrases severe. It’s very infantile for me.
“If he doesn’t wish to combat, say he doesn’t wish to combat however to seek out so many excuses of why he doesn’t wish to combat me, simply settle down, boy, and do no matter you need. If he doesn’t need it, no drawback.”
Whereas Whittaker positively nonetheless carries lots of weight within the division, he’s gone 3-3 in his previous six fights and he’s unlikely wherever close to one other title shot after being completed by reigning champion Dricus du Plessis in addition to his submission loss to Chimaev.
That’s why Dolidze doesn’t perceive why Whittaker is making an attempt to be so choosy about his opponents, particularly with the prospect to face a fighter on a strong win streak proper now.
“Adesanya additionally, these two guys, I didn’t neglect their achievements in MMA and what they did earlier than however now they’re the downfall,” Dolidze mentioned. “Similar with Adesanya, he’s an excellent man. He was a dominant champion. I don’t don’t have anything in opposition to him as a fighter, as an individual, however I simply wish to combat with one of the best guys. If I’m calling them out, it’s as a result of I feel they’re among the best, nothing extra.
“I referred to as out these guys as a result of it is sensible. They’re each on prime of the division for too lengthy. They’re each coming off losses.”
Dolidze doesn’t know if Adesanya views his callout in the very same approach as Whittaker however he admits it’s somewhat irritating with the middleweight division at a standstill and two of the most important stars at the moment sitting on the sidelines.
He acknowledges that Chimaev is nearly definitely subsequent for du Plessis whereas Nassourdine Imavov — a fighter he fought to a detailed majority resolution — positively deserves his personal alternative to combat for UFC gold. However everyone else occupying spots close to the highest of the rankings ought to begin searching for contemporary, new challenges and Dolidze believes he deserves to that type of alternative.
“The Adesanya combat I feel additionally make sense as a result of he’s additionally quiet,” Dolidze mentioned. “Who is aware of, possibly he’s interested by it and possibly the UFC supplied him one thing. However I’m prepared for anyone they provide as a result of who I needed to combat, I already mentioned. After all, I wish to combat any individual greater ranked that me. As I discussed to you, I’m not a man who’s stepping again if they provide me any individual else. After all, who is sensible for my profession, I’ll conform to combat.
“I at all times needed to combat Khamzat [Chimev], however Khamzat deserves to combat for the title. He’s preventing for the title. [Nassourdine] Imavov deserves to combat for the title. Why I referred to as these two guys, Whittaker and Adesanya, the division is caught. There’s a line for the title. They need to combat for the title. That’s why no one desires to attend, however Imavov will wait in all probability. However there’s Caio [Borralho], [Sean] Strickland, Whittaker and Adesanya. All of those guys must combat. In the event that they wish to sit and anticipate some magic, they’ll wait however I’m right here to combat and I’m able to do it.”
Dolidze additionally scoffs at the concept that he’s unfit of Whittaker’s consideration and the identical goes for Adesanya as a result of finally they’re nonetheless getting paid the identical cash to combat him as anyone else within the division.
“We’re doing all this, it’s our job. Don’t be liars,” Dolidze mentioned. “So many individuals once they say we’re not doing this for cash, I take a look at their eyes and I say you guys are liars. OK, combat me for one greenback. He’ll combat me by no means. He’ll combat precisely what’s on his contract. I’m doing this for cash. I would like to earn more money. If they won’t combat, they’ll sit dwelling and never generate income.
“That’s why this complete factor doesn’t make sense. I must combat. They should combat. Let’s go. In the event that they suppose a combat with me is very easy, then combat me and make your cash.”
In a super scenario, Dolidze would really get any individual like Whittaker or Adesanya as his subsequent opponent and people are each fights value ready for.
That mentioned, the 36-year-old veteran isn’t making an attempt to attend perpetually and as a lot as he desires a top-ranked opponent or a former champion as his subsequent opponent, Dolidze received’t flip down a possibility if the UFC comes calling.
“New Roman, he’ll wait in all probability if there shall be one thing attention-grabbing,” Dolidze mentioned. “After all, I’m the man who likes to combat. I’ve so many short-notice fights. I’ve in all probability three fights quick discover, like short-short — like one week discover, 10 days discover — like after I was preventing [Jack] Hermansson, in 10 days I minimize 14 kilos (roughly 30 kilos) — it was not simple. That was in all probability my worst weight minimize as a result of I had some imaginative and prescient issues and a few issues occurring. Issues like that may’t cease me.
“But when will make sense to combat and they’re going to provide me some combat that’s higher for my profession, higher for my future, possibly I’ll wait. However all these guys who I discussed, they haven’t fought for [a long time]. In addition they must combat. Let’s see what is going to occur. I wish to combat.”
