UFC Fight Night this week presents two of the most unflinching fighters on the stage. One is a powerful grappler who masters receiving submissions from his opponents. And the other is a tactical fighter who draws experience from his amateur wrestling matches. This fight features them in a single stage, forcing them to prove their worth. Roman Dolidze vs Anthony Hernandez is the awaited MMA battle that is making headlines in the octagon. UFC Fight Night brings these fighters in the UFC middleweight category on August 09, 2025. With a hope to rise in the rankings, Dolidze aims to add another victory to his three-game winning streak. At the same time, Hernandez has a seven-game winning streak and still ends up behind the Georgian. Will this fight change their statures? Let’s wait and see. Until then, get our regular UFC Fight Night updates and best picks from predictions.
What To Expect in This UFC Fight Night Clash
Grab a pair of drinks and nachos to enjoy the gritty fight between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez. This fight features a mix of grappling techniques and approaches, so the possibilities are endless. Anthony’s seven-game winning streak boasts his superior form and unbeatable strength. But Roman’s expertise in grappling and submission is the real deal here. Roman Dolidze is poised to break Hernandez’s winning streak, and Hernandez is reluctant to lose. At the fight’s end, there will be only one winner. One thing to notice here is the matchmaking. Both fighters embody the same level of skills and determination, so the match holds more uncertainty and suspense. Nevertheless, this fight will be more of a fan-favorite battle that will keep you biting your nails. Whose side are you on? Pick your favorite and see if he wins. If you’re unsure who to pick, refer to our exclusive MMA fight predictions.
advertisement
Roman Dolidze’s Fighting Legacy
Early Career Feats
Roman Dolidze is a Georgian MMA fighter who initially played soccer as a goalkeeper. His career transitioned from goalkeeper for eight years to seasoned mixed martial artist at 28. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and quickly excelled in grappling. Eventually, he won major grappling tournaments, including the ADCC Asia & Oceania Championship. Additionally, he became the Grappling FILA World Champion and the European Grappling Champion. When he learned about MMA, he found his calling and was destined to fight for life. Dolidze debuted in MMA in 2016, winning against Alexander Kovbel. After that, he went on to take Eder de Souza and claimed the vacant WWFC Light Heavyweight Title. He defended his title successfully, setting the stage for him to enter UFC Fight Night matches and establish himself. View our predictions and analysis if you are more into sports and predictions.
UFC Championship Entry
Roman Dolidze stepped into UFC Fight Night with the momentum he had in Ukrainian martial arts matches. He made his first UFC debut on July 18, 2020, against Khadis Ibragimov at UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2. Roman Dolidze stopped his opponent by TKO in the opening round. This first victory marked his first notable jumpstart in his UFC Fight Night career. After his debut victory, he fought with John Allan and won by split decision. In 2021, he fought in the middleweight division for the first time; sadly, he lost. But he returned to fight Laureano Staropoli and won by UD in the same middleweight category. Dolidze then delivered a jaw-dropping knockout win against Kyle Daukaus in June 2022. He secured the Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. His success screams that he is an emerging star of the UFC Fight Night, further heightening his competitiveness.
Anthony Hernandez on the Stage
Amateur Career
Anthony Hernandez is an emerging MMA fighter whose background is in America. Rooting from his interest in Wrestling matches, Hernandez developed a deep passion for mixed martial arts. He got his first chance in 2010 to fight in the Ring of Fire 1. Hernandez continued on a winning spree seven consecutive times, ultimately ending in a submission against Justin Jones. He rose to prominence while competing in the LFA (Legacy Fighting Alliance. Eventually, he captured the LFA Middleweight Championship, which marked his name as a prominent fighter. In 2018, he was suspended, accused of using cannabis, despite winning the match within a minute by KO. After the fall, he returned to the track with more focus and determination. He debuted in UFC Fight Night in 2019, facing Markus Perez. However, his debut was a defeat for him, losing the match by submission. Despite the setbacks, Hernandez rose again.
Established Fighter
Hernandez debuted in UFC Fighting Championship matches in 2019. Even though his fight against Markus Perez was a defeat, he never gave up. In his second fight against Jun Yong Park, he won by the anaconda choke technique, which had defeated him earlier. Right after his first victory in UFC Fight Night, he was scheduled to square off against Kevin Holland. But this time, Hernandez lost within seconds. For a while, he was constantly withdrawing or pulling out of the fight. But he never allowed failures and obstacles to get in the way of his determination. Hernandez was firm in his approach and fought with passion in his fights. His strikes, punches, and grapples became stronger. In time, Hernandez stacked up multiple wins in the UFC Fight Night fixtures. He has kept himself proactive for the last eight fights, striking and choking at the right moments.
Event Details for UFC Fight Night
Main Event: Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez
Date: August 09, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 07:00 p.m. ET | 04:00 p.m. PT | 04:30 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, United States.
Where to Watch the Thrilling Showdown Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez?
Fans in America, watch the UFC Fight Night live on ESPN and ESPN+ this weekend, 09 August 2025. Catch the main card at 07:00 p.m. ET.
Beloved Canadians, tune in on Sportsnet+ to see the UFC Fight Night battle between Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez. Catch the UFC match on August 09, 2025, at 07:00 p.m. ET.
Stream UFC Fight Night on TNT Sports 1 or Discovery+ early from England on August 09, 2025. Catch the fight at 07:00 p.m. ET.
Australian fans, catch all the action on Kayo Sports, Foxtel, or UFC Fight Pass. Watch UFC Fight Night on August 10, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ACST.
You can watch UFC Fight Night on Sony Sports Network or SonyLIV in India on August 10, 2025. The main card goes live at 04:30 a.m. IST.
Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez – Fight Card
Main Card
Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight)
Steve Erceg vs. Ode Osbourne (Bantamweight)
Iasmin Lucindo vs. Angela Hill (Women’s Strawweight)
Andre Fili vs. Christian Rodriguez (Featherweight)
Miles Johns vs. Jean Matsumoto (Bantamweight)
Eryk Anders vs. Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight)
Prelims
Julius Walker vs. Rafael Cerqueira (Light Heavyweight)
Elijah Smith vs. Toshiomi Kazama (Bantamweight)
Joselyne Edwards vs. Priscila Cachoeira (Women’s Bantamweight)
Uroš Medić vs. Gilbert Urbina (Welterweight)
Gabriella Fernandes vs. Julija Stoliarenko (Women’s Flyweight)
Cody Brundage vs. Eric McConico (Light Heavyweight)
Roman Dolidze Stats and Bio
Nationality: Georgian
Age: 37
Height: 6’3″
Reach: 76″
Total Fights: 18
Record: 15-3-0 (8 Knockouts)
Anthony Hernandez Stats and Bio
Nationality: American
Age: 31
Height: 6’0″
Reach: 75″
Total Fights: 17
Record: 14-3-0 (3 Knockouts)
A Preview of Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez
Roman Dolidze’s Previous Fights
In his last match, Roman fought Marvin Vettori in a battle filled with grapples, kicks, and blows. This showcased Dolidze’s growth and adaptability. Dolidze effectively managed the distance and delivered mixed combinations. When Vettori tried to close the distance, Dolidze’s effective grappling technique resisted and avoided dangerous positions. He took down Marvin by unanimous decision. This fight was short, but action-packed. Dolidze strategically closed the distance with overhand rights to set up clinches against the cage. Furthermore, Dolidze effectively focused on body shots and relentless pressure. As a result, he earned a stoppage at the first round’s end, causing a rib injury to Kevin Holland. In another UFC Fight Night clash against Anthony Smith, Dolidze fought for the light heavyweight title. Dolidze displayed strong cage-fighting skills in this fight, often pinning Smith and attacking with short strikes. The fans eagerly anticipate Roman Dolidze’s next fight.
Anthony Hernandez’s Previous
Anthony Hernandez recently fought against Brendan Allen, initially overwhelming him with pressure and pace. He extensively relied on his forward footwork, deploying effective combinations with jabs and cross hooks. Anthony repeatedly created chances to get the dominant position. Hernandez transitioned from striking to grappling, slowing Allen’s chances to respond. In a separate UFC Fight Night bout, he unleashed rapid-fire strikes against Michel Pereira. Facing Pereira’s athletic build, Hernandez maintained a tight guard, pushed the pace, and broke him down with constant pressure. Hernandez landed brutal shots, eventually forcing a technical knockout. Anthony Hernandez won Roman Kopylov in an aggressive UFC Fight Night clash, where he delivered a deadly choke. He started aggressively, cornering Kopylov with low kicks and straight punches to dictate ranges. He finished the fight in a textbook way, scrambling and deploying a rear-naked choke, and earned a submission. His game mainly prefers forward pressure and pace.
Roman Dolidze’s Fighting Style
Roman Dolidze has a strong foundation in Jiu-Jitsu and additional proficiency in grappling. His striking style favors low kicks and overhands, preferring to pick spots with heavy single shots. Dolidze is a thoughtful and methodical fighter who adapts his game plan mid-fight. He displays patience and real-time adjustments. Defensively, he has a tight guard with improved counterattacking ability in recent matches. He uses his physicality to maximize power, managing distance with forward and reach. Moreover, Roman Dolidze maintains a strong base, which helps him to move beyond guard and attack. His footwork is functional and heavily relies on closing the distance effectively. If we look at the power and volume, we can see his inclination towards power-packed strikes. He prefers to land cleaner shots that wear down his opponent’s stamina and durability. The Georgian UFC Fight Night star is disciplined with power-based strikes, along with elite shot selection.
Anthony Hernandez’s Fighting Style
Anthony Hernandez is originally a wrestler and submission grappler. He has a strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu foundation, a complementary fight style to his grappling. In terms of striking, he prefers pressure-based boxing and kickboxing techniques. He throws fundamental combinations, jabs, and low kicks mostly. Hernandez tactically uses strikes to close the distance and set up for a clinch or takedown. His defense primarily prefers forward movement and pressure rather than classic head movements. Eventually, his defense improves as the fight progresses due to opponent fatigue. Regarding fight IQ, Hernandez effectively blends striking, wrestling, and grappling. Moreover, he has outstanding durability, recovering quickly from hits. Hernando moves forward with his quick speed and footwork. He prefers volume over power punching threats. Hernandez breaks opponents with accumulative damage and pace, emphasizing consistency and attrition. He uses chain wrestling to repeatedly attack takedowns, often in the clinch or against the cage.
Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Hernandez – Prediction
Anthony Hernandez enters this UFC main card against Roman Dolidze as one of the middleweights’ most relentless fighters. Hernandez has a seven-fight winning streak built on suffocating pressure and high-volume punching. His greatest strength is his seamless ability to blend crisp boxing combinations with effective chain wrestling. He breaks his opponent’s defensive wall as the fight progresses.
On the other hand, Dolidze offers an equally dangerous contrast. He is more methodical and powerful, often targeting legs and body early. Dolidze mainly aims to land more damage and wear down his opponents with single shots. However, Hernandez’s pace and diversity give him the slight edge to win this UFC Fight Night.
The Pick: Anthony Hernandez via Submission.