Israel Adesanya Challenged By Dolidze, Adesanya is the former undisputed king of the UFC middleweight division is at a crossroads. The first such streak, three losses in a row, has put doubts in the ring regarding how long will the former champion continue to dominate.
The previously unbeatable Last Stylebender’ now finds himself caught in a world of contenders hungry to capitalize on what they perceive as a chink in his armor. Among them, Roman Dolidze has sent out a bold challenge that could change the course of the division.
Dolidze’s Blunt Callout: A Demand for a Showdown

Coming off a dominant win against Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 104, Roman Dolidze has made his plans clear as day: he desires a high-level fight. In a post-fight statement, Dolidze directly called out Israel Adesanya, along with Robert Whittaker, saying,
“There are two realistic fights for me. It’s [Robert] Whittaker or [Israel] Adesanya. Let’s go! Just give me a date. That’s all I need. Nothing more.”
This confident callout is well-timed, as Adesanya struggles with his recent performances and considers his way back into title contention. Dolidze, on a roll with three consecutive fight wins, recognizes this as an ideal time to propel himself into the rankings.
Stakes and implications behind this clash

The match potentially taking place between Israel Adesanya and Roman Dolidze will play a huge role in the lives of both men as well as the middleweight department in general.
Adesanya’s Road to Redemption: Adesanya aims to silence the unwanted dubious critics after a victory over Dolidze. However, vice-versa would result as a major blow in his career.
Elevation for Dolidze: A win over Adesanya will put Dolidze into the elite level of contenders in the division.Dolidze’s Shot at Glory: With mostly strikers in the octagon, Dolidze presents a tough test for Adesanya because of his clinch grappling and knockout power. Dolidze will gain real recognition as a contender if he gets past Adesanya.
A Changing of the Guard: Just like Robert Whittaker considers his options, the possibilities of an Adesanya-Dolidze fight make waves in the title fight possibilities. It could be a de facto eliminator that determines who stays in the championship contention.
Adesanya’s Response and the Future of the Middleweight Division

Even with his recent losses, Israel Adesanya is still a big draw in the UFC. His celebrity status and exciting fighting are still drawing crowds and creating excitement.
Dolidze’s offer gives him the chance to claim his past status and show everybody that he has not lost what it takes. The question then is whether or not Adesanya will rise to the offer and return to the octagon to fight against Dolidze. As Dolidze aptly summarized,
“Just give me a date.” The ball is now in Adesanya’s court, and his choice will certainly determine the future of the middleweight division.
ALSO READ: Marvin Vettori UFC Comeback, “I Can Beat Everybody”