Anthony Hernandez enters the octagon this Saturday as a significant favorite against Roman Dolidze in the UFC Fight Night main event in Las Vegas. The middleweight clash pits two top-10 fighters against each other, with Hernandez looking to extend his impressive seven-fight winning streak.
Hernandez has been on a tear lately, most recently defeating Brendan Allen by decision in February. Though he lost the first round of that bout, "Fluffy" dominated the final two rounds, outstroking Allen 27-6 and controlling him for eight minutes.
"This is going to be a pace that Dolidze can't handle," a member of Hernandez's camp might say about their preparation strategy.
On the other side, Roman Dolidze brings his own three-fight winning streak into the cage, having defeated Marvin Vettori by decision in a five-round main event back in March. The Georgian fighter possesses serious knockout power and high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, making him dangerous despite being the underdog at +260 odds.
Interestingly, while Hernandez has finished six of his eight UFC wins inside the distance, Dolidze has never been finished in his professional career. All three of his defeats have come via decision.
The matchup presents an intriguing stylistic clash. Hernandez lacks one-punch knockout power but compensates with relentless pressure and superior cardio. Dolidze hits harder but tends to slow down in later rounds—a vulnerability Hernandez will likely exploit.
Worth noting, Dolidze isn't just any grappler—he was the ADCC Asia & Oceania Champion in grappling at 99 KG back in 2016. This elite background could make him difficult to submit, even for someone with Hernandez's ground skills.
Can Hernandez maintain his winning ways against perhaps his most dangerous opponent yet? The odds suggest yes, but in the UFC's middleweight division, nothing is ever guaranteed.
