MMA Knockout

Anthony Hernandez demolishes Roman Dolidze in UFC Fight Night masterclass

"Fluffy" put on a dominant showing in a huge UFC Fight Night headliner.
Drew Beaupre|
(Zuffa LLC)

Anthony Hernandez and Roman Dolidze put their respective win streaks on the line in the main event of UFC Vegas 109.

Entering the night as the UFC's #10-ranked middleweight contender, Hernandez put on a dominant showing against Dolidze before he finally submitted the Georgian in the fourth round.

An impressive victory over the UFC's #9-ranked middleweight puts "Fluffy" on an eight-fight win streak overall, and the 31-year-old could only be one fight away from a title shot with Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev set to fight for the middleweight belt next week at UFC 319.

Anthony Hernandez Runs Roman Dolidze Ragged In Las Vegas

Hernandez didn't waste much time before trying for a single leg attempt that he abandoned when Dolidze willingly went to his back, and after that early exchange the two men settled into a back-and-forth striking battle on the feet.

READ MORE: UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Hernandez free live stream results & highlights

Dolidze looked to utilize an apparent size advantage with a cage clinch after the opening two minutes, but after Hernandez landed some big shots on the feet it opened up a chance for "Fluffy" to briefly bring things to the mat. The American continued to push the pace as the opening round went on, and while Dolidze increased his output to start the second frame it was Hernandez who largely continued dictating the striking exchanges.

The two men started to open up with wild strikes until Hernandez brought things to the mat once again. "Fluffy" decided to let the Georgian return to his feet for a brief period before dragging him back to the canvas, where Dolidze was still unable to find success with his leg lock attempts.

A big flurry from Hernandez forced Dolidze to turn and retreat before the two middleweights returned to the canvas, and after briefly looking for a guillotine choke Hernandez was happy to finish off the round with some big ground and pound.

READ MORE: UFC KO artist flatlines fighter in just 63 seconds during Fight Night prelims

It only took 30 seconds into the third round for Dolidze to hit the mat before Hernandez decided to let him up again. An increasingly-tired Dolidze found himself caught up in this cycle for the rest of the round, and after that theme carried on into the fourth frame "Fluffy" finally grabbed a rear naked choke that the Georgian quickly tapped to.

Dricus Du Plessis Set To Defend Middleweight Title At UFC 319

Though he's likely still at least one more big win away from a title shot, Hernandez's eighth-straight victory comes shortly before a pair of huge bouts for the UFC middleweight division.

READ MORE: UFC fighter recreates iconic MMA moment with incredible slam KO

The middleweight belt will be on the line next weekend in Chicago, IL when Dricus du Plessis steps into the cage to face undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. "Stillknocks" has already defended his belt on two occasions, while Chimaev enters his first UFC title fight after a dominant showing against former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker.

Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena.
Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Top-ranked middleweight contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are also set to square off in the main event of UFC Paris on September 6. The winner of that bout could be next in line for a title shot, while Hernandez could potentially look towards a matchup with Reinier de Ridder or former title challenger Paulo Costa following their recent victories.

More MMA Knockout News

• Conor Benn sends clear message to UFC fighters: boxing YES cage NO

• Dustin Poirier confirms return to UFC in new job on major PPV

• Charles Oliveira’s next fight could define his future in the UFC

• MMA fighter floors opponent in just 14 seconds with rarely-seen technique

Stick with MMAKnockout for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.

Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Published
Drew Beaupre
DREW BEAUPRE

Drew is an MMA writer that regularly watches regional events in addition to major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and ONE Championship. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023.

Home/News