On the night of February 4 at UFC Vegas 85, Georgian middleweight Roman Dolidze will have the first five-round bout in his career. Roman will face Nassourdine Imavov, a French fighter of Dagestan origin, in the main event of the night.
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In an exclusive interview, Dolidze told Telecomasia.net:
- how he prepared for the first five-round fight in his career;
- why he does not want to entrust judges with deciding the outcome of the fight;
- what he doesn't like about Khamzat Chimaev's behavior and why he doesn't consider him worthy of a title fight;
- when Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria will become champions;
- how Khadis Ibragimov went at him at the weigh-in;
- and how goalkeeper background helps in MMA.
"I thought I was winning throughout the whole fight with Vettori"
- Are you ready for the first five-round fight in your career? What are the specifics of preparation for this fight?
- Of course, the preparation has changed. First of all, I was focused on the proper distribution of my energy throughout the five rounds. I am happy we had a good training camp and made a lot of adjustments, although it was hard at first. Now I am used to it and I feel good. I'm one hundred percent ready to go all five rounds if the fight goes the distance.
- Can you compare Nassourdine Imavov with Jared Cannonier? Last fall your fight with Jared was canceled.
- I had several fights last year. I was supposed to fight both Derek Brunson and Jared. There were other negotiations before that that didn't work out. Stylistically, all the top guys are unique in their own way. They're both strikers. Jared is physically gifted, he's stronger, but Nassourdine has his own advantages. I haven't really looked into what the difference is between the two. I think all of my opponents are worthy and I never underestimate them, so I always prepare for a definite opponent. The difference between them is in the size and physical characteristics. There is also experience.
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- Imavov has experience in five-round fights. Does that give him any advantage this coming weekend?
- I don't know. I haven't thought about it. Everything will depend on who will be ready for these five rounds.
- Did you learn anything from the fight against Marvin Vettori? What did you think of the referee's verdict in favor of your opponent in a very close fight?
Of course, I don't accept it. Throughout the whole fight I thought I was winning. Then many people asked me why I don't speak up or talk about it. I believe that there is nothing to be done after the fight, especially since there are no cases of changing the decision. I either accept this game or not. There were a lot of fights when the judges made some controversial decisions, even worse than in my fights. For example, when Paddy Pimblett won the fight against Jared Gordon, it was completely baffling why he was awarded the win. Unfortunately, such things happen. I learned that it probably makes sense not to take it to the referees' decision and to settle everythings before the fight ends.
"Pereira is going to have a lot of trouble in the light heavyweight division"
- Speaking of controversial judges' decisions - I can't help but ask about the title fight in your division between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. Who do you think deserved to win more?
- I think Strickland won. As a challenger, du Plessis should have done more to take the belt and become champion, but like I said, the judges see something different. They can make totally different decisions in similar fights, all in the same night. It's impossible to say what they're guided by.
- Do you feel more comfortable after moving to middleweight from light heavyweight? Did you change anything in your diet to make 84 kg?
- Of course, there is a huge difference, first of all in training and in diet. When I performed at 93 kg, I didn't lose much weight. I used to weigh about 95-96 kg and made weight very easily. It could be done literally in one day, without any preparation at all. Now I have to prepare beforehand, start drinking water. It's pretty hard, but I wouldn't say it affects my fitness for the fight. There are advantages too. I am physically big compared to my opponents and stronger than many. That works in my favor. There are downsides and upsides to it.
- How would you estimate Alex Pereira's move to the light heavyweight division? Will he be able to keep his championship there for long?
- He doesn't have good wrestling. If guys wrestle him and make him wrestle, he's going to be in trouble. There's no way to predict that. If you even take our division, you'll see how often the champions changed in the last year and a half, and the new guys can't defend the belt. There was Alex Pereira, then Adesanya, then Strickland and now du Plessis. I think Pereira is going to have a lot of trouble in the light heavyweight division.
Bet on MMA with 1xBet"Chimaev doesn't deserve to fight for the belt"
- Earlier you challenged Khamzat Chimaev to a fight. Why did you choose him and is a fight between you possible in the future?
- Of course it is possible, why not? When I challenged Khamzat Chimaev, he didn't have any rating in 84 kg and he couldn't make 77 kg anymore. I beat Jack Hermansson then and became number eight, and he was about to take his first steps at 84 kg. Usually he always responds either negatively or positively to challenges like this, but back then he was completely silent.
I wasn't disrespectful to him at all, I wanted to perform with the best, and I consider him one of the best, but he remained silent. Then he started with this "I smash everybody" act towards me and other guys. I think it's immature and he just keeps going. If he says that, then he shouldn't have agreed to fight with someone who performed at 77 and went to fight with him on short notice. I was also ready back then and I made an offer. I don't know whether he got it or he rejected it, but in the end they agreed to Usman. I don't understand why he got such a high rating after that.
– Khamzat believes that this victory earned him a title fight and demands that he be given this right now. Do you think this claim is fair?
Khamzat may think whatever he likes, but this does not mean it's real. I don't have a beef with him except for his boasting and "smash everybody" acts with photos. I hated them. Before that, I had a completely different attitude to him. I understand that everything can happen in the UFC, and sometimes strange things happen. Merab Dvalishvili has been unable to get a title fight for a while. It will be strange if Khamzat gets a fight for the belt. I don't think he deserved it.
"UFC is fine withTopuria becoming the champion"
- Merab fights with Henry Cejudo instead of fighting for the title. He is a very strong wrestler, but is his wrestling enough to take on an Olympic champion?
– I think Merab has already confirmed more than once that he not only has enough strength, but he has it all to become a champion in this weight category. Strangely enough, he still hasn't fought for the title. Of course, there is a part of his fault in the current situation, since he refused to fight Aljamain Sterling when he was champion. But that time has long passed, we need to stop punishing him. He deserved a fight for the title long ago, and it was possible to give it to him. Cejudo is a good fighter, but MMA wrestling and freestyle wrestling are different things. The fight will show everything. I don't like to praise one fighter and belittle the other, but I think Merab is ready to become a champion.
– Ilia Topuria is considered the most dangerous opponent for Alexander Volkanovski in his weight class in recent years. What are your expectations from this fight?
– Of course, Ilia is young and hungry. He wants to win. Everything is going well for him, and he is rapidly moving up. I think the UFC is also fine with Ilia becoming the champion. He has everything to win this fight. Ilia is a very good wrestler, his arms are strong, so I think in February we will have a new champion and the first belt of Georgia.
– In one of the first fights in the UFC, you contended with the Russian fighter Khadis Ibragimov. What did you think about him then? Do you know that he has now become a champion in several Russian organizations and a very popular fighter who earns well?
– I don't follow him right now. When I saw him, I thought well about him, but then something went wrong at the weigh-in. I think it's part of the show, the way he presents himself, but I don't think it's normal. We were standing and talking before the weigh-in, and then we went up there, and he went at me. Well, that's how he prepares for the fights. I haven't followed his further career, but I wish him good luck. We are human, we all have our own plans and our own lives. I don't wish anyone any harm and I'm glad if he's doing well right now. Coming to the UFC was difficult for him then.
– You used to be a football goalkeeper. Does reaction and other skills help you in martial arts now?
– I didn't think about the reaction, but physical fitness and endurance help me a lot. When I was a goalkeeper and did exercises with my team, I was in good shape. This played a significant role in becoming a good athlete and helped me adapt to physical exertion. Then I started grappling, and it helped me. My friend used to say at the time: "You're good at g guillotine chokes because you're used to catching the ball, and now you're catching heads." But I don't know if it's true.
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