Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez delivered a statement win in the UFC Vegas 109 main event at the APEX, smothering Roman Dolidze with pace and pressure before sealing a fourth-round rear-naked choke. The dominant effort extends Hernandez’s win streak to eight and puts him squarely in the middleweight title conversation.
Hernandez set a blistering tempo from the opening horn, walking Dolidze down, chaining takedowns with heavy ground-and-pound, and showing no signs of fatigue as the rounds wore on. The second round ended with a brief moment of confusion when Herb Dean stepped in at the horn to separate the fighters; Hernandez and his corner momentarily thought the fight had been stopped before Dean clarified it was the end of the round. The finish came in Round 4 at 2:45, capping a one-sided performance that highlighted Hernandez’s cardio, wrestling transitions, and composure.
Post-fight, Hernandez called for a title shot and also said he’d be open to a BMF opportunity. The middleweight title picture could clear up soon, with champion Dricus du Plessis scheduled to defend against Khamzat Chimaev next week at UFC 319. Hernandez entered the night ranked No. 10, but with eight straight victories and a showcase win over a dangerous opponent, a top-five matchup or a title eliminator feels like a logical next step.
In the co-main event, former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg halted a skid and made a successful bantamweight debut, defeating Ode’ Osbourne by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Erceg weathered big shots early, steadied the pace, and outworked Osbourne down the stretch to snap a three-fight losing streak that followed his rapid rise to a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja and subsequent losses to Kai Kara-France and Brandon Moreno. With his contract potentially on the line this week, Erceg’s disciplined performance could mark a turning point.
Elsewhere on the card, finishes came in bunches. Christian Leroy Duncan lit up Eryk Anders with a spinning back elbow and punches for a first-round TKO. Elijah Smith produced a rare slam knockout against Toshiomi Kazama. Joselyne Edwards and Uroš Medić scored quick KOs, while veterans and prospects alike banked valuable rounds across a competitive slate.
UFC Vegas 109 results
Main Card
– Middleweight: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Dolidze via submission (rear-naked choke), 2:45 of Round 4
– Bantamweight: Steve Erceg def. Ode’ Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
– Women’s Strawweight: Iasmin Lucindo def. Angela Hill via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
– Featherweight: Andre Fili def. Christian Rodriguez via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
– Bantamweight: Jean Matsumoto def. Miles Johns via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Middleweight: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Eryk Anders via TKO (spinning back elbow and punches), 3:53 of Round 1
Preliminary Card
– Light Heavyweight: Julius Walker def. Rafael Cerqueira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
– Bantamweight: Elijah Smith def. Toshiomi Kazama via KO (slam), 4:10 of Round 1
– Women’s Bantamweight: Joselyne Edwards def. Priscila Cachoeira via KO (punches), 2:24 of Round 1
– Welterweight: Uroš Medić def. Gilbert Urbina via KO (punch), 1:03 of Round 1
– Women’s Flyweight: Gabriella Fernandes def. Julija Stoliarenko via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
– Light Heavyweight: Eric McConico def. Cody Brundage via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
What it means and what’s next
– Hernandez’s surge: Eight straight wins in a deep division rarely go unrewarded. With the champion booked next week, Hernandez is well-positioned for either a top-five opponent or a title eliminator. His relentless pace and grappling transitions make him a tough stylistic assignment for anyone near the top of the rankings.
– Erceg’s reset at 135: The move up to bantamweight brings fresh matchups and, importantly, momentum. Surviving a rough first round and rallying to a clear decision shows the composure he needs to rebuild.
Positive outlook
– Middleweight gets a fresh contender with championship-level cardio and finishing instincts.
– Several emerging names added highlight-reel moments, signaling new blood across multiple divisions.
Summary
– Anthony Hernandez dominated Roman Dolidze and finished him via fourth-round rear-naked choke to extend his win streak to eight and call for a title shot or BMF opportunity.
– Steve Erceg earned a much-needed unanimous decision in his bantamweight debut, stopping a three-fight slide.
– Standout finishes included Christian Leroy Duncan’s spinning back elbow TKO and Elijah Smith’s slam KO, with additional quick knockouts from Joselyne Edwards and Uroš Medić.