Event Overview

Marvin Vettori stepped back into the octagon after a near two-year hiatus for his anticipated rematch against Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 104. However, the Italian fighter suffered a defeated decision and left the Apex with a crushing loss.

Date: March 15, 2025

Venue: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Fight Breakdown

Nearly two years ago to the day, these fighters squared off in a tight contest at London’s O2 Arena, where Vettori won by decision. Since then, Vettori has seen limited action, losing to Jared Cannonier in a Fight of the Night effort. Dolidze, on the other hand, compiled a two-win streak over three fights.

Both fighters found themselves on the fringes of the middleweight division, aware that a victory could launch them up the rankings. Vettori’s top-10 status proved to be a critical advantage, as it kept him relevant despite his inactivity.

Round-by-Round Analysis

• Preliminaries: A classic case of wardrobe malfunction saw Vettori delayed during his ring walk as he forgot to put on his cup. Both fighters showcased power in the early exchanges, but Vettori’s crisp boxing shone through, including a call to referee Herb Dean for eye pokes during the second round.
• Third Round: An explosive exchange saw both fighters hurt by the halfway mark. Vettori seemed to be the more dominant boxer in this round but got a temporary reprieve when Roman Dolidze broke the guard with an accidental low blow in the fifth with Vettori having to take a pause.
• Final Result: With both fighters pushing for the stoppage in the closing seconds, Dolidze managed to land more with his high output before the scorecards handed Dolidze the unanimous decision, 49-46 across the board.

Undercard Excitements

The UFC Vegas 104 undercard produced a thrilling finish for fighters, with just three of the undercard bouts being decided by judges.

• First-round knockout: Kevin Vallejos secured a decisive knockout against SeungWoo Choi in the featherweight division, showcasing a terrifying feat of raw aggression and power.
• Under-the-radar performers: First UFC appearance and a well deserved victory for 37-year-old Carlos Vera, securing his maiden win against the night’s biggest favorite Josias Musasa.
• The Ultimate Fighter alums: Da’Mon Blackshear continued his submission mastery with a decisive victory over Cody Gibson in a night that featured several competitors from The Ultimate Fighter season 31. Kurt Holobaugh was defeated, bringing the ultimate fighter alums record to 1-2 for the event.