Anthony Hernandez put the UFC 319 headliners on notice with an astounding win at UFC Vegas 109.
UFC middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez mauled Roman Dolidze en route to a submission win in the UFC Vegas 109 main event on Saturday at the Apex. Hernandez, who is riding an eight fight winning streak, put on the best performance of his career under his biggest spotlight.
After being dismissed from the middleweight title mix repeatedly during his winning streak, Hernandez sent a message of defiance to his detractors at UFC Vegas 109. He could earn a No. 1 contender fight against the likes of Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya, or another top contender.
On top of it all, Hernandez’s UFC Vegas 109 domination came at a perfect time in the UFC middleweight division.
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Anthony Hernandez praised as UFC’s best middleweight after UFC Vegas 109
We’re days out from UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis battling Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event in Chicago. Du Plessis, one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, faces arguably the toughest test of his title reign against the undefeated Chimaev.
Du Plessis vs. Chimaev is one of the biggest fights in UFC middleweight history, and is arguably the biggest fight of the year. Hernandez will keep a keen eye on how things transpire at UFC 319.
But one analyst believes the best middleweight in the UFC isn’t fighting at UFC 319, after watching Hernandez’s showing at UFC Vegas 109.
During the UFC Vegas 109 post-fight show, analyst Din Thomas shared a hot take on Hernandez’s performance.
“I had my doubts, you know I had my doubts,” Thomas began.
“But what I saw tonight, I think we’re looking at the best middleweight on the planet. Who gave the best middleweight performance we’ve seen in the last three years.”
Thomas’s praise comes just days before Du Plessis and Chimaev square off at UFC 319. Hernandez entered UFC Vegas 109 at No. 10 in the middleweight rankings, and will likely need at least one more win before warranting a title shot.
Hernandez’s rise includes recent wins over Brendan Allen, Michel Pereira, and Roman Kopylov. He hasn’t lost since a TKO defeat to Kevin Holland in May 2020.
Just months after being one of the ‘dark horses’ of the middleweight division, Hernandez is a fast-approaching train moving forward a title shot. The current titleholder took notice of Hernandez’s performance in a recent social media post.
Dricus du Plessis reacts to Anthony Hernandez’s performance at UFC Vegas 109
After watching Hernandez’s win, Du Plessis took to X to credit Hernandez for his victory.
“What a performance by Fluffy!” Du Plessis posted.
Hernandez adds to a crowded middleweight title picture that features Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, and recent victor Reinier de Ridder. De Ridder defeated Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi last month, and Imavov and Borralho will headline UFC Paris in September.
It’s a fun time in the UFC’s middleweight division as Hernandez moves one step closer to potentially hoisting UFC gold.