Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has made it clear—he has no interest in fighting Roman Dolidze. After Dolidze’s victory over Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 104, the Georgian fighter wasted no time in calling out some of the division’s biggest names, including Whittaker and Israel Adesanya. But Whittaker isn’t biting.
“I’m trying to fight a top-five fighter, man. Line up. I want to fight Sean Strickland. International Fight Week,” Whittaker said during the MMArcade podcast.
Robert Whittaker Seeks Bigger Challenges
Whittaker last stepped into the Octagon in October 2024, suffering a decision loss to Hamzat Chimaev. Now, he’s eager to bounce back against an elite opponent, and he believes a showdown with Strickland makes the most sense.
Dolidze’s unanimous decision win over Vettori was a rematch of their 2023 bout, which Vettori won. While the performance earned Dolidze another victory, it wasn’t enough to convince Whittaker that he should take the fight.
“I watched a round and a half and was like, ‘Dude, I have nothing to gain from this,’ and I went back to Monster Hunter Wilds,” Whittaker joked on the podcast. “Bro, it was just like the exact same as their first fight. They’re still at the same pub. They’re just like, ‘Ah, it’s you,’ and then they just started punching on again, bro. It’s the exact same thing. I reckon they should run it back to break the trilogy, to get some proper closure on whatever reason they’re having a brawl.”
Dolidze Eyes the Division’s Best
Dolidze’s ambition is clear—he wants a shot at the biggest names in the division. Calling out Adesanya and Whittaker proves he’s eager to break into the top tier, but convincing those fighters to take the bout is another story.
With Whittaker looking ahead to International Fight Week and a potential bout against Strickland, it seems Dolidze may have to wait in line. “The Reaper” remains focused on reclaiming his spot at the top, and unless Dolidze climbs higher in the rankings, this matchup is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
The UFC matchmakers now have an interesting puzzle to solve—will Whittaker get his wish for a fight with Strickland, or will Dolidze force his way into the conversation?
