Roman Dolidze avenged his previous loss to Marvin Vettori with a dominant performance in their UFC Vegas 104 rematch, winning by unanimous decision and expressing his desire for a top 5 opponent next.
Roman Dolidze exacted sweet revenge with a dominating performance against Marvin Vettori in their UFC Vegas 104 rematch. Their first meeting, back in 2023, saw Vettori emerge victorious after three rounds. But this time, with five rounds to showcase his skills, Dolidze demonstrated marked improvements. His superior output and precision in striking were evident throughout the fight.
Despite some close rounds, Dolidze consistently finished strong, swaying the judges’ decision in his favor. All three judges scored the bout identically: 49-46 for Dolidze. This win marked his third consecutive victory and allowed him to settle the score with Vettori.
After the fight, Dolidze expressed gratitude towards Vettori for accepting the challenge. “It was a big and important test for me,” he shared. Mentally, proving he could go hard for five rounds was crucial.
Reflecting on their first encounter, Dolidze noted his previous aggression-driven approach. Now, he emphasized control over his aggression—a key factor in his performance.
When the fight began, it mirrored their initial clash, with both fighters cautiously exchanging strikes. Their similar styles made scoring difficult. The first two rounds were evenly matched until referee Herb Dean intervened to warn Dolidze about extended fingers.
An eye poke from Dolidze paused the action briefly, but no points were deducted. In round three, Vettori landed a significant right hand that staggered Dolidze momentarily. However, Dolidze quickly recovered and ramped up his aggression.
Dolidze started pressuring Vettori with bigger combinations as the fight progressed. Although Vettori smiled through exchanges, Dolidze’s consistent strikes began taking their toll.
In the final round, Vettori attempted to regain momentum but faded again as time ticked away. Dolidze capitalized by landing a massive head kick and knee strike that nearly ended the fight.
With a strong finish, Dolidze secured the victory while Vettori walked away visibly frustrated. Looking ahead, Dolidze has his sights set on higher-ranked opponents—specifically targeting former champions Robert Whittaker or Israel Adesanya.
Meanwhile, this loss adds to Vettori’s recent struggles. Falling to 1-3 in his last four fights and coming off a lengthy layoff, his ranking is likely to drop further after this setback.