Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez are protecting their names on the forefront one week earlier than UFC 319. Doldize and Hernandez headline Saturday’s UFC Struggle Night time shortly earlier than UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev meet.
Dolidze (15-3) is on a stable rebuild. The Georgian fighter has gained three consecutive fights, together with avenging a loss to Marvin Vettori. His solely different loss since 2021 is a majority resolution to Nassourdine Imavov, at present No. 1 within the UFC’s official middleweight rankings. Dolidze is in adequate standing, however his latest run hasn’t impressed confidence in a title marketing campaign. Beating a revered contender like Hernandez is the assertion win he wants.
“He by no means confronted someone with grappling like me,” Dolidze instructed reporters at Thursday’s media day. “And everyone knows that he has good cardio and he likes to be on the bottom and management folks there, however I am very energetic on the bottom. I do not give a relaxation to no person.
“I believe we each deserve higher opponents, increased ranked, however it’s what it’s.”
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Hernandez (14-2, 1 NC) is perhaps one of the best darkhorse contender in any division. “Fluffy” rides a seven-fight profitable streak with 5 finishes. It is insulting that he continues getting incremental upward fights. He is just one spot behind Dolidze (No. 9) within the rankings. In the meantime, Reinier de Ridder climbed eight spots after upsetting Robert Whittaker, and Roman Kopylov, who Hernandez beat, was given an opponent three locations north of him.
It is doubtless not private. Hernandez is a gamer, averaging greater than two fights yearly on this profitable stretch. Extra doubtless, it is a consequence of who’s out there when the UFC has a date to fill on its busy calendar. “Fluffy” is pissed off, however will not let these emotions dictate his efficiency.
“I figured if I am violent as f— and hold beating everybody, I am going to get a giant battle,” Hernandez instructed CBS Sports activities. “I’ve seen many followers hella pissed that I am on the Apex and combating this man. They need me to get somebody who will get me to the belt. It’s what it is, I am simply having fun with the violence, one paycheck at a time. Hopefully, this assertion is sufficient to say, ‘This motherf—er is prepared for the belt.”
There is not a lot meat on the bones this week. You would possibly acknowledge a couple of names like Steve Erceg, Angela Hill, Andre Fili and Eryk Anders, however nothing jumps off the web page.
Beneath is the remainder of the battle card for Saturday with the equity odds earlier than we predict the primary occasion.
UFC Struggle Night time card, odds
| Anthony Hernandez -330 | Roman Dolidze +260 | Middleweight |
| Steve Erceg -550 | Ode Osborne +400 | Flyweight |
| Iasmin Lucindo -205 | Angela Hill +170 | Girls’s strawweight |
| Christian Rodriguez -240 | Andre Fili +200 | Featherweight |
| Jean Matsumoto -300 | Miles Johns +240 | Bantamweight |
| Christian Leroy Duncan -500 | Eryk Anders +380 | Middleweight |
UFC Struggle Night time viewing data
Date: Aug. 9 | Begin time: 7 p.m. ET (important card)
Location: UFC Apex — Las Vegas
TV channel: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Begin watching, save $20!)
Prediction
Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez: Dolidze is perhaps a extra embellished grappler than Hernandez, however so was Rodolfo Vieira. Dolidze has potent however incomplete abilities. His submissions and high management are disrupted by underwhelming wrestling. Unrefined method limits his highly effective hanging. Hernandez is not with out his flaws: he eats too many strikes and leaves pointless openings. “Fluffy” finishes folks by sporting them down. Hernandez’s relentless stress is the ace up his sleeve. I worry Dolidze fatigues with out an early end. Hernandez is hard as nails and skillful sufficient to pull the battle out. Hernandez by way of Unanimous Choice
Who wins UFC Struggle Night time: Dolidze vs. Hernandez, and the way precisely does the battle finish? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who’s up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.