If this upcoming middleweight matchup is not the main event, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has something big in store for the fans in December.
According to ESPN on Friday, Roman Dolidze (12-2) has been pulled from UFC 295. Initially slated to face Derek Brunson, Brunson withdrew from the bout and announced that he was no longer under contract with the promotion. The middleweight has had his Octagon return pushed from Nov. 11 to Dec. 2, where he will now collide with Jared Cannonier (17-6). The two 185ers will battle it out on the main card ? but not the main attraction ? of an unnamed UFC Fight Night card at a currently undetermined location.
Cannonier last prepared for competition back in September, where he weighed in as the alternate for the Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland title fight. Nearly tapped for the event due to an incident involving Strickland and a fan during fight week, Cannonier ended up watching on the sidelines and will not be receiving the next crack at the belt. The former title challenger has won his last two, in the form of decisions over Marvin Vettori and Strickland in June and December, respectively. Since dropping down to 185 pounds against David Branch in 2018, the only two men to beat Cannonier have been former champ Robert Whittaker and sitting champion Adesanya.
Dolidze last competed in March, where he saw a four-fight stretch that included three knockout victories grind to a halt at the hands of Vettori. Like Cannonier, the Georgian initially started his career as a heavyweight, only to eventually move down multiple divisions. The first two outings for Dolidze in the Octagon came at 205 pounds, and he officially made his first cut to middleweight in early 2021. His tenure in the division has been bookended by losses to Trevin Giles and Vettori, with three post-fight bonus-earning victories along the way.
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