The UFC’s Fight Night spree continues Saturday night with UFC Vegas 109 at the UFC APEX. The 12-fight card is headlined by a key middleweight fight between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez.<\/p>\n
Hernandez missed weight by a half-pound at Friday’s weigh-in, but the fight will proceed as scheduled. “Fluffy” seeks his ninth UFC win in 11 appearances, having won his last seven fights dating to Feb. 2021.<\/p>\n
Hernandez (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC said a victory against Dolidze (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will be enough to keep him in the UFC middleweight title picture with the impending UFC 319 main event taking place a week from Saturday. However, he isn’t rushing any opportunities and is taking what the UFC gives him, he said.<\/p>\n
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Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Anthony Hernandez (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Brendan Allen (red gloves) in the middleweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images \/ Steven Bisig-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
“The true people that know martial arts, they know that I know my s***, so whatever, it will all work out soon,” Hernandez told MMAJunkie.<\/a><\/p>\n Hernandez said Dolidze matches up well with him stylistically and expects a difficult yet worthy opponent come Saturday night. Dolidze has won his last three, marking back-to-back appearances at the APEX after beating former middleweight title challenger, Marvin Vettori (19-8 MMA, 9-7-1, UFC), by decision in March.<\/p>\n “I watched his tape, and I’ve watched him fight a few times, too,” Hernandez said. “Like I said, he’s a big f***** brute, he moves forward, and he throws everything to knock you out. I think it’s going to make for a great f***** fight.”<\/p>\n Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Roman Dolidze (red gloves) reacts after defeating Kevin Holland (not pictured) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images \/ Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Dolidze expects a similar fight himself. The one aspect holding Hernandez back, he says, is his willingness to wait for a title fight, as opposed to Dolidze’s straightforward outlook.<\/p>\n “Of course. ‘Fluffy’ is on a seven-fight win streak, and when we win, we will take this part of him,” Dolidze said. <\/a>“I think after this fight, I will be one fight, one step to a title fight. And I deserve it.”<\/p>\n Check out the current running bout order (subject to change) and DraftKings Sportsbook betting odds<\/a> as of Friday evening. Similarly to last week, the event can be seen in its entirety on ESPN and ESPN+.<\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC Fight Night full picks & predictions for Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez<\/a><\/p>\n Main card (Start time 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+, ESPN)Preliminary card (Start time 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+, ESPN)<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Khamzat Chimaev crushed former UFC champ’s jaw to earn Dricus du Plessis title fight<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC reportedly brings back fighter after nearly 3 years to save Shanghai matchup<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ex-UFC title challenger officially set for bareknuckle boxing debut at BKFC 80<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ex-UFC fighter drops wild claim about Dricus du Plessis’ future after Khamzat fight<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n