Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze full fight preview | UFC 286

Final Combating Championship (UFC) Middleweight veterans Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze will go to battle this weekend (Sat., March 18, 2023) at UFC 286 inside The O2 in London, England.

It’s going to be very fascinating to see how Vettori responds to his most up-to-date efficiency, a one-sided loss to Robert Whittaker. “The Italian Dream” has misplaced fights beforehand, however he’s by no means been picked aside and battered beforehand. He’s at all times been capable of imagine that he deserved the nod — even when nobody else agreed — however there’s no such argument to be made right here. He’ll be defending his Prime 5 spot reverse a streaking finisher in Dolidze. The Georgian expertise has gained 4 straight, stopping his final three opponents through strikes and displaying off an unimaginable grappling recreation within the course of. He’s a novel contender, and this can be a huge alternative for him.

Let’s take a better have a look at the keys to victory for every man:

Marvin Vettori

File: 18-6-1Key Wins: Jack Hermansson (UFC Vegas 16), Kevin Holland (UFC Vegas 23), Karl Roberson (UFC on ESPN 10), Cezar Ferreira (UFC Combat Night time 155), Andrew Sanchez (UFC Combat Night time 161)Key Losses: Israel Adesanya (UFC 263, UFC on FOX 29), Robert Whittaker (UFC Paris), Antonio Carlos Junior (UFC 207)Keys to Victory: Vettori is a superb instance of a well-rounded fighter with wonderful bodily attributes. He’s not probably the most technical kickboxer nor probably the most highly effective, his jiu-jitsu just isn’t world-class, and his wrestling recreation just isn’t notably advanced. Nonetheless, he’s excellent in any respect of these issues, which mixed with an amazing fuel tank and iron chin has produced a former title challenger.

I see no motive Vettori ought to have interaction Dolidze on the canvas right here. Hermansson is arguably the superior submission grappler to Vettori, and he nonetheless discovered himself trapped in Dolidze’s wonderful submission chain from his again, which in the end value him a combat that he was profitable on the toes.

Vettori ought to keep away from repeating that mistake.

He’s the higher striker between the 2, extra constant in his capacity to place collectively mixtures and handle distance. He’s acquired some good pop in his punches, and even when Dolidze does handle to land a number of laborious ones, Vettori has by no means had a problem with consuming huge pictures and firing again.

Sprawl-and-brawl is the technique right here, and Vettori can be sensible to not take any diversions from that path.

Roman Dolidze

File: 12-1Key Wins: Jack Hermansson (UFC Orlando), Phil Hawes (UFC Vegas 63), Kyle Daukaus (UFC Austin), Laureano Staropoli (UFC Vegas 28)Key Losses: Trevin Giles (UFC Vegas 22)Keys to Victory: I don’t know that there are a lot of fighters like Dolidze on UFC’s roster. It’s a brief pattern dimension, however his final two fights have demonstrated maybe the very best backside recreation in UFC, one which has rapidly torn knees and resulted in knockout stoppages. On the toes, his recreation doesn’t really feel tremendous cohesive, however he’s aggressive and highly effective sufficient to make it work most of the time.

One way or the other, Dolidze has to get this one to the canvas. Clearly, it will be nice if he might simply slip a left hand and take down Vettori. It’s price a shot! That stated, Vettori is traditionally robust to take down, and Dolidze has but to point out the extent of offensive wrestling to essentially overcome that barrier.

As a substitute, Dolidze is probably going going to should land one thing huge to alter the dynamic. Pressuring Vettori looks as if a superb technique, because the Italian athlete likes to be the person controlling the tempo. If Dolidze can as a substitute stroll him down and hurl heavy punches his route, the chances of Vettori getting uncomfortable and willingly participating him in grappling go up significantly.

Backside Line

Vettori’s spot within the Prime 5 is on the road.

Let’s be sincere: Vettori was by no means going to get a 3rd shot at Adesanya. Now that Alex Pereira is champion, nonetheless, there’s a far more actual path to gold for Vettori. The Whittaker loss complicates issues, however it’s essential to do not forget that Vettori remains to be simply 29 years previous. He’s nonetheless younger in his prime, so there’s time for the appropriate scenario to develop.

Till then, he simply has to remain within the combine by profitable fights like this.

Conversely, 34-year-old Dolidze’s scenario is extra pressing. He’s acquired momentum already and has actually developed his recreation within the final couple years, however this actually looks like a make-or-break run. His type depends on sudden moments, that means it’s not straightforward to place collectively win streaks, as a result of typically they only don’t occur (as within the Trevin Giles combat). He’s at present only one or two extra wins away from a title combat, and his opportunistic ending capacity makes him a really fascinating challenger.

At UFC 286, Marvin Vettori and Roman Dolidze will open the primary card. Which man earns the victory?

Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC 286 combat card proper right here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard on ESPN2/ESPN+ at 3 p.m. ET, earlier than the PPV predominant card begin time at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

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