Roman Dolidze Bio
Roman Dolidze, born on 15 July 1988 in Batumi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union, is a Georgian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known by the nickname “The Caucasian,” he has been a professional fighter since 2016 and trains with the American Kickboxing Academy and Xtreme Couture MMA. Dolidze is recognized for his grappling base and finishing ability, having built a reputation as a dangerous finisher in multiple weight classes.
Throughout his career, Dolidze has competed at heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight, holding a professional record of 15 wins and 5 losses. He is a former World Warriors Fight Championship (WWFC) Light Heavyweight Champion, an ADCC Asia & Oceania Champion, and a Grappling FILA World Champion. As of mid-2026, he remained ranked inside the UFC middleweight top fifteen.
Early Life and Background
Roman Dolidze was born in the coastal city of Batumi, located in the western part of the Georgian SSR, in what was then the Soviet Union. Growing up in this Black Sea region, he was an active youth who later described his early years as rooted in sport and physical activity. Batumi would remain his hometown and is also where he currently resides, continuing to represent the region in his professional career.
Before turning to martial arts, Dolidze played soccer for eight years, spending the last three of those years as a professional goalkeeper in Turkey. The discipline and reflexes developed between the posts helped shape his athletic foundation. At the age of 20, he relocated to Ukraine to study shipbuilding engineering at the Odesa Maritime Academy. During his time in Odesa, he also earned a degree in business administration, blending technical and business education alongside his growing interest in combat sports.
Path to MMA
While studying in Ukraine, Dolidze began training in sambo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, eventually transitioning to competitive grappling. He quickly rose through the amateur grappling ranks, becoming the World Grappling Champion and the European Grappling Champion under United World Wrestling rules. In 2016, he won the ADCC Asia & Oceania Championship at 99 kilograms, a result that earned him a place in the prestigious ADCC World Tournament in 2017, where he was eliminated in the opening round.
At the age of 28, Dolidze shifted his focus to mixed martial arts. He made his professional MMA debut in 2016, fighting out of Odesa, Ukraine. After a successful debut victory over Alexander Kovbel, he went on to compile a 4–0 record on the Ukrainian regional circuit. His grappling pedigree and finishing instincts soon drew the attention of major promotions, setting the stage for his rapid rise through the sport.
Roman Dolidze Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Dolidze’s early professional career unfolded across the Ukrainian and Eastern European circuits, where he built a perfect record and captured regional gold. Following his fourth straight win, he was given the opportunity to fight Eder de Souza for the vacant WWFC Light Heavyweight title, which he won by second-round knockout. He later defended that title against Michał Pasternak at WWFC 13, finishing the challenger in the third round by knockout.
After his regional success, Dolidze signed with the UFC, but his debut was delayed by a one-year suspension following an out-of-competition anti-doping violation. Once cleared, he was granted a temporary license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and made his UFC debut on 19 July 2020, against Khadis Ibragimov at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2. Dolidze won via first-round technical knockout, announcing his arrival on the biggest stage in mixed martial arts.
UFC Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In his early UFC stretch, Dolidze added a split decision win over John Allan at UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori in December 2020, a fight that all 19 media members scored in his favor. He then dropped a close decision to Trevin Giles in his middleweight debut in March 2021, before bouncing back with a unanimous decision victory over Laureano Staropoli at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai in June 2021. These results helped him establish himself as a ranked middleweight contender.
His career-defining run came in 2022, when he finished three consecutive opponents. He knocked out Kyle Daukaus in the first round at UFC on ESPN 37 in June, then stopped Phil Hawes in the opening round at UFC Fight Night 213 in October, before earning a second-round ground-and-pound TKO over Jack Hermansson at UFC on ESPN 42 in December. Each of these performances earned him a Performance of the Night award, cementing his status as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers.
American Kickboxing Academy Era (2022–Present)
After his breakthrough 2022, Dolidze faced his first major setback in a high-profile matchup against Marvin Vettori at UFC 286 in March 2023, losing by unanimous decision in a closely contested bout. Scheduled bouts with Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier later fell through due to injuries and opponent changes, delaying his return to the win column. In February 2024, he headlined UFC Fight Night 235 for the first time, dropping a majority decision to Nassourdine Imavov.
Dolidze rebounded in 2024 with two important wins, taking a unanimous decision over Anthony Smith at UFC 303 in June, and then earning a first-round technical knockout of Kevin Holland at UFC 307 in October after Holland’s corner stopped the bout due to a rib injury. In March 2025, he avenged his earlier loss to Marvin Vettori, winning their rematch by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 254.
Style and Strengths
Roman Dolidze combines a strong grappling base, built on his sambo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, with a dangerous striking arsenal. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall with a 76-inch reach and an orthodox stance, he has the physical tools to compete at both middleweight and light heavyweight. His ability to mix clinch work, high kicks, and grounded finishes has made him a difficult matchup for most opponents, and his comfort in extended grappling exchanges reflects his background as a world-class competitor in submission wrestling.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Dolidze’s most memorable career moments are his back-to-back-to-back Performance of the Night awards in 2022, the trio of first-round knockouts that announced his arrival as a top-tier middleweight. His unanimous decision victory in the 2025 rematch with Marvin Vettori served as a major statement, while his main-event bouts with Nassourdine Imavov, Kevin Holland, and Anthony Hernandez further established him as a recognized name in the UFC middleweight division.
Roman Dolidze Career Wins
Roman Dolidze has accumulated 15 professional victories, with 8 by knockout, 4 by decision, and 1 by submission. His finishing ability has been a defining feature of his career, and his three Performance of the Night awards in 2022 highlight his knack for ending fights inside the distance.
UFC Highlights
Since joining the UFC in 2020, Dolidze has earned notable wins over Khadis Ibragimov, John Allan, Laureano Staropoli, Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes, Jack Hermansson, Anthony Smith, and Kevin Holland. His most recent UFC victory came in March 2025, when he defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 254. He has also added three Performance of the Night bonuses across his UFC tenure.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside the UFC, Dolidze captured the WWFC Light Heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Eder de Souza, then defended it against Michał Pasternak. Earlier in his career, he won the ADCC Asia & Oceania Championship and earned a World Grappling Championship title under United World Wrestling, achievements that helped establish his combat sports credentials before transitioning to MMA.
Roman Dolidze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Roman Dolidze is a Georgian national who was born and raised in Batumi, and he continues to make his home in the same coastal city. He is of Georgian heritage, growing up in the country that is now his permanent base for training and family life.
Personal Life
Roman Dolidze is a father of three sons. Outside of training, he has pursued education in shipbuilding engineering and business administration, reflecting an interest in fields beyond sport. He continues to reside in Batumi, Georgia, while training with the American Kickboxing Academy and Xtreme Couture MMA.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a return to form for Roman Dolidze inside the UFC middleweight division. He opened the year by avenging an earlier loss to Marvin Vettori, taking a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 254 on 15 March 2025. That win reasserted his position among the top contenders and gave him momentum heading into the second half of the year.
Later in 2025, Dolidze was matched against Anthony Hernandez in a rescheduled bout at UFC on ESPN 72 on 9 August 2025, but he was submitted via rear-naked choke in the fourth round, ending his winning streak. The defeat served as a reminder of the depth of the middleweight division, and Dolidze used the close of the year to regroup with his training teams at American Kickboxing Academy and Xtreme Couture MMA.
Looking ahead, Dolidze remains ranked inside the UFC middleweight top fifteen, with a record that continues to feature high finishing rates and a versatile skill set. His mix of grappling pedigree, knockout power, and experience in main-event spots keeps him firmly in the mix for marquee matchups in the division.
