Will the fourth time be the charm for Roman Dolidze?
Three times the Georgian light heavyweight has been scheduled for his UFC debut – and three times his fights have been canceled. Now, the UFC is close to booking Dolidze (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) for the fourth time – this time against former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion Khadis Ibragimov.
The two fighters are expected to square off July 18 at a UFC event set to take place on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – also known as “Fight Island.” Both fighters recently confirmed the booking on social media after an initial report from MMA DNA.
Dolidze and Ibragimov (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) were scheduled to fight on June 13 in Kazakhstan. However, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic led to the event’s cancellation.
Dolidze signed with the UFC in early 2019. Prior to his scheduled debut, Dolidze was injured and withdrew from the bout. He was booked for a fight three months later, but was flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in the lead-up and suspended one year.
As for Ibragimov, a Russian light heavyweight, he’s lost both of his UFC appearances. After being submitted by Da Un Jung in his UFC debut in August 2019, Ibragimov lost a unanimous decision to Ed Herman this past November.
With the addition, the current July 18 lineup includes:
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Joseph Benavidez – for vacant UFC flyweight title
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Jack Hermansson
- Marc Diakiese vs. Alan Patrick
- Askar Askarov vs. Alexandre Pantoja
- Roman Dolidze vs. Khadis Ibragimov
