Anthony Hernandez claimed a statement win over Roman Dolidze in the middleweight main event of a UFC Fight Night at the Apex Facility in Las Vegas on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time).
Hernandez, who moves to 15-2 (1 NC) and is on an eight-fight win streak, bossed this clash from the buzzer, bullying Dolidze and exerting relentless pressure, before ultimately sealing the win in Round 4 with a rear-naked choke.
‘Fluffy’ became the first man to stop Dolidze in nearly 20 fights, a feat that not even Nassourdine Imavov (the No 1-ranked middleweight) managed.
"I want a title shot. What the f*** do I have to do?" Hernandez said in his post-fight interview. "Give me the title shot and I promise I'll be the next champ.”
He added, "I want a belt. I want something to prove I'm the best fighter in the world."
The rest of the main card saw Steve Erceg overcome Ode’ Osbourne in a reshuffled bantamweight co-main event; Isamin Lucindo defeated Angela Hill via unanimous decision in the women’s strawweight division; a featherweight fight saw Andre Fili edge Christian Rodriguez via split decision; Jean Matsumoto also won via split decision against Miles Johns in the bantamweight division; and the middleweight opener saw Christian Leroy Duncan stop Eryk Anders in the first round.
The UFC continues next weekend with UFC 319 from the United Centre in Chicago, Illinois, as Dricus du Plessis defends his Middleweight Championship against Khamzat Chimaev.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS
- Main event: Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Dolidze via submission (rear-naked choke), R4, 2:45
- Bantamweight: Steve Erceg def. Ode’ Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Women’s strawweight: Isamin Lucindo def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Featherweight: Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via split decision (29-28 28-29 30-27), R3, 5:00
- Bantamweight: Jean Matsumoto def. Miles Johns via split decision (29-28 28-29 29-28), R3, 5:00
- Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Eryk Anders via TKO (back elbow and punches), R1, 3:53