The continuing dominance of Anthony Hernandez remains evident. UFC Vegas 109 served as another illustration of the No. 10-ranked middleweight contender “Fluffy’s” skill this past Saturday, culminating in a fourth-round submission victory over Roman Dolidze via a brutal choke, marking his eighth consecutive triumph.
The contest was possibly Hernandez’s most impressive demonstration of his abilities yet, arriving at a moment when the middleweight division is overflowing with contenders eager to challenge the reign of the current champion, Dricus du Plessis. This assumes, of course, that du Plessis manages to retain the title he has possessed since January 2022.
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For his next title defense, the champion is scheduled to face the undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319 this coming Saturday. Fresh off his significant victory, Hernandez plans to travel to Chicago, expressing his desire to witness his future adversary in person.
“I’m aiming to attend the event and observe what the UFC intends for me,” Hernandez conveyed during Monday’s edition of Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “If their intention is for me to challenge the champion, I am fully prepared. My health is optimal. I merely need the removal of these stitches before resuming my training camp.
“Hopefully, [UFC CEO] Dana [White] found my declaration satisfactory. I engaged with him during the fight, underscoring Roman’s formidable strength, though I was unaware of his fence-grabbing, to be honest. However, my interactions with Dana were pleasant, as were my conversations with ‘D.C’ (Daniel Cormier). I believe they are beginning to acknowledge the seriousness of my intentions. The title shot is what I’m after. … I am determined to become the next champion.”
In terms of the imminent title fight itself, the MMA community has rarely anticipated a contest with such fervor as this one in 2025. Regarding the challenger, Chimaev, anticipation has grown for years about his inevitable pursuit of UFC gold, but that has been delayed because of unrelated factors.
However, in spite of Chimaev’s history of dominant performances, Hernandez, a fellow contender, predicts that the reigning champion will finally bring about his downfall.
“I anticipate ‘DDP’ will once again surprise everyone,” Hernandez remarked. “He is an exceptionally resilient individual. He possesses an indomitable spirit, and I hope to encounter him in the near future.
“The specific identity of my opponent is not a major concern for me. At the end of the day, respect is paramount. Therefore, my aspiration is to face whoever holds the belt, as possessing the belt has the ability to transform one’s life. The identity of the person holding it is secondary. I am willing to fight anyone.”
Hernandez’s main event appearance against Dolidze represented his second time headlining a UFC event, preceded by a co-main event in Seattle during February. Despite a competent performance and a second career victory over Brendan Allen, Hernandez voiced disappointment at the fight’s duration, leading to a win via unanimous decision rather than a decisive finish.
Pointing to a rib injury that complicated the previous fight, he mentioned that, in the contest against Dolidze, he was healthy enough to move without restriction or injury. However, that did not mean he was not confronted by another kind of difficulty.
“It was undeniably my most outstanding performance, but I acknowledge that there is always room for improvement,” Hernandez commented. “Adjustments are perpetually necessary. There were instances where I lost my balance, necessitating further refinement. I intend to resume training promptly once these minor stitches are removed. There are areas requiring attention, and we will continue to address them in a systematic fashion.
“That was simply asserting dominance over an opponent and making my intentions clear. I conveyed that the fight would conclude on my terms. He resorted to grabbing the cage and my gloves. I understand the reluctance to be defeated, but it is necessary to accept the outcome rather than resorting to unfair tactics, even if that is not cheating exactly.”
Ultimately, Hernandez seeks to remain active and further bolster his argument for a title challenge. Looking ahead to the coming year, “Fluffy” voices confidence that circumstances will align in his favor, projecting a title victory by the midpoint of 2026.
“I am hopeful that I will possess the title by that point, but I also acknowledge that events will unfold as they are destined to, and the outcomes have been favorable thus far,” he stated. “I am committed to progressing one fight at a time, if necessary.
“I believe I am fully prepared for a title shot. Dana is aware of this, having observed my performances on numerous occasions, and I am prepared to continue showcasing my capabilities if required. I am genuinely indifferent. I am inherently suited for combat. That is one of my strengths.”
