Baysangur Susurkayev stated at a media day that he plans to secure a top-15 opponent following his upcoming bout with Jorden Santos this weekend. Susurkayev expressed his ambition to move up the rankings after the Santos fight. Some observers suggested a potential matchup with Roman Dolidze, though others questioned whether Susurkayev is ready for that level of competition. The post indicates Susurkayev is looking to establish himself in the upper tier of his division. Details on the specific weight class and timing beyond "this weekend" are not provided in the post.
Baysangur Susurkayev declared at a media day this week that he intends to pursue a top-15 ranked opponent once he gets past Jorden Santos in their bout this weekend, signaling his ambitions to break into the upper tier of his division.
Susurkayev enters the Santos fight with clear goals beyond the bout itself, publicly stating his desire to climb the rankings with a strong performance. His camp has drawn attention to a potential matchup with Roman Dolidze as one option that could emerge, though some observers have questioned whether Susurkayev is yet ready for that step up in competition.
Dolidze, a 37-year-old Georgian fighter representing Xtreme Couture, currently sits at No. 12 in the middleweight division with a professional record of 15-5. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, Dolidze brings well-rounded pressure to his bouts, landing 3.19 significant strikes per minute while averaging 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at 41 percent, and he supplements his output with 0.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a genuinely versatile threat at that level of the rankings.
Why it matters
- A win over Santos this weekend would give Susurkayev the platform to formally call for a ranked opponent.
- Dolidze sits at No. 12 in middleweight, meaning a matchup there would carry direct top-15 implications for Susurkayev.
- The style contrast between a rising contender and a veteran with Dolidze's grappling and striking blend would represent a meaningful step-up test.
- Debate around Susurkayev's readiness reflects the broader question of how quickly the division's emerging fighters can be pushed toward its established names.
