Dolidze looks to end Hernandez’s rise

Roman Dolidze will look to end the rise of Anthony Hernandez in the UFC’s middleweight division when the pair meet for the main event match of a Fight Night at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 9 August 2025.

Dolidze (15-3) has established himself as one of the fringe title contenders at 185 lbs (84 kg), having claimed three successive wins over Anthony Smith, Kevin Holland and Marvin Vettori since June of 2024 to rise to eighth in the rankings.

The 36-year-old Georgian remains humble and focused as he continues in his ambition of winning the middleweight championship: “No statement. I'm just stepping forward to the title,” he said.

“Nothing goes through my head [on the walk to the cage]. I’m just glad to be there. I worked a lot for that, and I just need to do what I was training to do, and so I'm ready to go.”

Hernandez (14-2, 1 NC) has been on a tear since early 2021, racking up seven straight wins to rise to ninth in the rankings. His last fight saw him overcome the highly-regarded Brendan Allen via unanimous decision in February of this year.

The 31-year-old American, nicknamed ‘Fluffy’, plans to continue his winning streak and is targeting a fight with middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis (who will put his title on the line later this month against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319).

“I think [what] would be a great fight realistically and who mixes it up really well would be Du Plessis,” Hernandez explained. “He mixes it very f***ing well, and that’s why he’s champion right now. He’s just a tough motherf***er, and he goes.

“He looks like he’s gassed, and he keeps pushing,” Hernandez continued. “I’d love to fight him. I’m just going to keep climbing the ladder so I can get to him. Great job to him. Keep up the great work, man.”

The rest of the main card features a high-class bantamweight battle between Alex Perez and Steve Erceg; Isamin Lucindo v Angela Hill in the women’s strawweight division; a featherweight fight pits Andre Fili against Christian Rodriguez; Miles Johns and Jean Matsumoto will meet in another bantamweight clash; and a middleweight match will see Eryk Anders throw down with Christian Leroy Duncan.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DOLIDZE VS. HERNANDEZ – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Middleweight: Roman Dolidze v Anthony Hernandez

- Bantamweight: Alex Perez v Steve Erceg

- Women’s strawweight: Isamin Lucindo v Angela Hill

- Featherweight: Andre Fili v Christian Rodriguez

- Bantamweight: Miles Johns v Jean Matsumoto

- Middleweight: Eryk Anders v Christian Leroy Duncan