Dolidze suffers third straight UFC loss but vows dignity intact after de Ridder stoppage

Roman Dolidze suffered his third consecutive UFC defeat on Saturday when Reinier de Ridder stopped him in the opening round at UFC Sacramento, dropping the Georgian light heavyweight to 15-6 overall.

Dolidze returned to the light heavyweight division for the bout, but the contest was effectively decided in the wrestling exchanges. He shot for a takedown in the opening seconds, only for de Ridder to reverse the position, establish top control, and land unanswered ground-and-pound until the referee intervened. The finish marked a significant rebound for de Ridder (22-4), who had dropped back-to-back bouts at middleweight before the victory.

In the aftermath, Dolidze published a lengthy statement on Instagram directed at his supporters, particularly those in Georgia, acknowledging the weight of their expectations while refusing to treat the defeat as a source of shame.

“I know today’s battle didn’t go well. I know many had different expectations of me, and I may have let you down. I am neither afraid to admit this nor do I shy away from it,” Dolidze wrote. “I fight on behalf of Georgia, and when I win, your joy is my joy too. But when I lose — that, too, is part of the sport. No one enters the UFC with a guaranteed victory; every time, you face someone who is trying to defeat you.”

Dolidze also opened the door to scrutiny of his performance, framing it as part of his development as a fighter.

“You may criticize my fight,” he added. “You might say I made the wrong decisions or should have performed better; as an athlete, I accept this and will analyze it. I lost the fight. I did not lose my country, my dignity, or my path.”

Dolidze closed his message by pointing fans toward a homecoming appearance in Georgia on September 19, suggesting he intends to face his supporters directly rather than retreat from public view during the losing run.