Roman Dolidze made a pair of calculated callouts when he requested to combat Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya subsequent following his unanimous choice 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 trying 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 attempting to combat a high 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 dealing with the Georgian middleweight.
“It’s humorous. It’s very infantile,” Dolidze informed MMA Combating when reacting to Whittaker’s response. “How any person 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. It’s essential to show completely different to talk like that. I can’t take his phrases critical. It’s very infantile for me.
“If he doesn’t need to combat, say he doesn’t need to combat however to seek out so many excuses of why he doesn’t need to combat me, simply settle down, boy, and do no matter you need. If he doesn’t need it, no downside.”
Whereas Whittaker undoubtedly nonetheless carries a number 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 attempting 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 need to combat with one of the best guys. If I’m calling them out, it’s as a result of I believe they’re top-of-the-line, nothing extra.
“I known as out these guys as a result of it is sensible. They’re each on high 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 method as Whittaker however he admits it’s a bit of irritating with the middleweight division at a standstill and two of the largest stars at present sitting on the sidelines.
He acknowledges that Chimaev is sort of actually subsequent for du Plessis whereas Nassourdine Imavov — a fighter he fought to an in depth majority choice — undoubtedly deserves his personal alternative to combat for UFC gold. However all people else occupying spots close to the highest of the rankings ought to begin searching for recent, new challenges and Dolidze believes he deserves to that form of alternative.
“The Adesanya combat I believe additionally make sense as a result of he’s additionally quiet,” Dolidze mentioned. “Who is aware of, possibly he’s excited about it and possibly the UFC provided him one thing. However I’m prepared for anyone they provide as a result of who I wished to combat, I already mentioned. After all, I need to combat any person increased ranked that me. As I discussed to you, I’m not a man who’s stepping again if they provide me any person else. After all, who is sensible for my profession, I’ll comply with combat.
“I at all times wished to combat Khamzat [Chimev], however Khamzat deserves to combat for the title. He’s combating for the title. [Nassourdine] Imavov deserves to combat for the title. Why I known as these two guys, Whittaker and Adesanya, the division is caught. There’s a line for the title. They should combat for the title. That’s why no person desires to attend, however Imavov will wait most likely. However there may be Caio [Borralho], [Sean] Strickland, Whittaker and Adesanya. All of those guys must combat. In the event that they need to sit and look forward to 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 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 may sit dwelling and never earn money.
“That’s why this entire 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 really easy, then combat me and make your cash.”
In a super scenario, Dolidze would really get any person like Whittaker or Adesanya as his subsequent opponent and people are each fights price ready for.
That mentioned, the 36-year-old veteran isn’t attempting to attend endlessly and as a lot as he desires a top-ranked opponent or a former champion as his subsequent opponent, Dolidze gained’t flip down a chance if the UFC comes calling.
“New Roman, he’ll wait most likely if there will probably be one thing fascinating,” Dolidze mentioned. “After all, I’m the man who likes to combat. I’ve so many short-notice fights. I’ve most likely three fights quick discover, like short-short — like one week discover, 10 days discover — like once I was combating [Jack] Hermansson, in 10 days I reduce 14 kilos (roughly 30 kilos) — it was not simple. That was most likely my worst weight reduce as a result of I had some imaginative and prescient issues and a few issues happening. Issues like that may’t cease me.
“But when will make sense to combat and they’ll 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 need to combat.”
