UFC Vegas 104 showcased exhilarating encounters across the card, highlighted by Roman Dolidze's emphatic victory over Marvin Vettori, which marked his revitalization as he continued his climb within the division. On March 16, 2025, Dolidze avenged his previous defeat to Vettori with a unanimous decision win, securing what can only be described as a pivotal moment for the Georgian fighter after trailing behind other contenders.
Fresh off this victory, Dolidze expressed ambitions of facing top-tier opponents, calling out former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker. “I’m ready for them, I want those fights,” he stated, projecting confidence even as observers noted the one-sided nature of his most recent victories. His previous three wins included bouts against light-heavyweight Anthony Smith and welterweight Kevin Holland – both victories raised eyebrows concerning the caliber of opponents he faced.
Making waves at UFC Vegas 104, Chidi Njokuani also had his moment of glory, marking his third consecutive victory since moving to the welterweight division. Despite weighing over the limit by 1.2 pounds, Njokuani finished Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos with strikes, becoming only the second fighter to do so via knockout. Njokuani isn't planning to back down; he appears ready to step up against unbeaten contender Punahele Soriano, who similarly moved down from middleweight and recently proved himself with victories.
Meanwhile, Alexander Hernandez secured his status by clinching back-to-back wins for the first time since 2018, overcoming the challenge of lightweights convincingly, considering his spotty past of alternating wins and losses. He conveyed aspirations of solidifying his place against rising talent such as Myktybek Orolbai as he tries to find his footing among the leaders of the lightweight division.
Da’Mon Blackshear, with his eye on higher accolades than his 4-3-1 record indicates, used his victory over Cody Gibson to draw attention. Blackshear made headlines with his unique finishing techniques, including rare twister submissions, and his next fight was contemplated to be against Brady Hiestand, another competitor on the rise.
Brendson Ribeiro surprised the betting favorites by defeating the previously undefeated Diyar Nurgozhay, allowing him to cement himself as deserving of another shot against promising opponents like Ibo Aisan.
Among the newcomers at UFC Vegas 104, 23-year-old Kevin Vallejos stood out by dismantling opponent SeungWoo Choi within just 3:09 minutes. With strong credentials stemming from his time on Dana White’s Contender Series, Vallejos demonstrated great potential and is being touted for future matchups against seasoned fighters like Canadian Gavin Tucker as he carefully navigates through the promotion.
Following the main show, heated discussions continued backstage, particularly surrounding bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili's altercation with Sean O'Malley and his coach Tim Welch. Dvalishvili, who claimed the title last September at UFC 306, confronted Welch over his controversial behavior during the championship bout. Welch allegedly attempted to throw off Sterling's performance by shouting instructions mid-fight, leading to Dvalishvili's visible discontent. “I'm not going to go 'Sean O'Malley, you’ve got to [go]!’” said noted coach Matt Serra, who has had Dvalishvili's back since he arrived in the U.S. “It’s still fighting, and I don’t think coaches should interfere to the extent they are.”
Vettori, having suffered disappointment at UFC Vegas 104, expressed frustration over fight officiation, particularly with regard to eye pokes, remarking, “This is getting out of hand.”
Back-to-back fight night signals indicate it was quite the weekend for the UFC, as Diego Brandao knocked out his opponent on March 14 or 15, 2025, positioning himself for potential contract consideration, alongside fellow events like Yaroslav Amosov taking down Curtis Millender effortlessly. UFC boss Dana White seemingly musing over recent performances, hinted at his plans for upcoming events, eyeing UFC London to take place on March 17, 2025, right after the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Social media buzz was also rife with excitement and challenges going forward. Jeremy Stephens called out Conor McGregor for a matchup at the Wells Fargo event center, stirring anticipation among fans, and Donn Davis confirmed Francis Ngannou's upcoming involvement with PFL for at least one more fight.
UFC Vegas 104 doubled down on the unpredictability and excitement of mixed martial arts, with Dolidze’s tallies weaved through narratives of challenge and victories echoing through the cages of every octagon.
