March 12, 2025 6:00 pm ET
LAS VEGAS – Hold calm and combat on.
That’s Roman Dolidze’s mindset as he enters his UFC Fight Night 254 (ESPN+) important occasion Saturday vs. Marvin Vettori on the UFC Apex. The important thing to victory, as Dolidze (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) sees it, is to not let feelings issue into his determination making.
“He hasn’t fought in a very long time,” Dolidze instructed reporters, together with MMA Junkie, throughout a information convention Wednesday. “Everyone says perhaps it’s dangerous for him, he hasn’t fought in so lengthy. However I by no means take into consideration the fights from this viewpoint. I simply perceive that we’re all altering, evolving. Perhaps he has time to vary one thing in his recreation.
“However anyway, I nonetheless suppose this combat could be the identical, how he was working and what he was doing with me. As a result of I’ve energy. He is aware of. Everyone is aware of I’m highly effective. Everyone is aware of my floor recreation and grappling. That’s why it’s all the time laborious to seek out keys with me. However I nonetheless suppose that I must be extra calm and management my anger, and that’s the important thing to win this combat.”
The combat vs. Vettori (19-7-1 MMA, 9-5-1 UFC) will likely be a rematch, which presents a chance for Dolidze to avenge a March 2023 unanimous decision loss. Two years have handed since then and Dolidze sees each similarities and variations in himself and Vettori. “Lots of people suppose I’ve been knowledgeable athlete for therefore lengthy,” Doldize stated. “I’m a high fighter (for) in all probability three years. However they don’t perceive I began once I was 28 and I’m nonetheless studying one thing. I’m nonetheless discovering one thing in my recreation. Even from combat to combat, I perceive extra issues, how they must be accomplished. It’s what it’s. Even now, I’m 36 years previous. I nonetheless can be taught one thing. I nonetheless do. I nonetheless enhance one thing throughout coaching. I’m very pleased with my profession.”
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