Preview: UFC Fight Night 189 ‘Rozenstruik vs. Sakai’

Middleweights

NR | Roman Dolidze (8-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. NR | Laureano Staropoli (9-3, 2-2 UFC)

ODDS: Dolidze (-140), Staropoli (+120)

This is a strange fight that was not on anyone’s radar, but it should hopefully entertain in practice. Dolidze is a strange fighter. The Georgian came in as a light heavyweight prospect dependent on big power strikes and an ugly but effective grappling game with a surprising reliance on leglocks. That led to him winning his first two UFC bouts, but from there, Dolidze made the surprising cut down to 185 pounds; and one fight in, it is difficult to say the move has paid off. Dolidze’s wrestling game was still effective against Trevin Giles, but he looked worse against a better level of athlete and also flagged as the fight went on, eventually losing a narrow decision. Dolidze was initially slated to face Alessio Di Chirico, but with Di Chirico out, he now meets a former welterweight in Staropoli.

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Despite missing weight in his last fight, Staropoli’s move to middleweight comes out of left field and should make for some interesting dynamics. As a welterweight, Staropoli has been a high-volume striker who has essentially gotten by on that approach alone. The Argentinian is not particularly powerful or accurate, but he is willing to keep fighting even as he eats whatever his opponent provides in return. If nothing else, Dolidze should be able to outwrestle his counterpart. Staropoli was not a particularly strong defensive wrestler as a welterweight, and Dolidze should be the much physically stronger fighter. However, the Giles fight showed that there is a chance that Dolidze exhausts himself even if he is winning the bout, so Staropoli figures to take over on pace and volume if the fight makes it to a third round. This should be ugly, but the call is that Dolidze can overpower Staropoli enough early to bank rounds; and the combination of Dolidze’s durability and Staropoli’s relatively low power should allow the Georgian to make it to the finish line. The pick is Dolidze via decision.

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