Dolidze vs. Hernandez: UFC Odds & Fight Picks

A middleweight bout between ranked contenders Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez serves as the main event for UFC Fight Night on Saturday, August 9 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It looked for a while like this might be Fight Night Light before a pair of bouts were added to the card late to bring the total number on the card to 12. Don’t blame Steve Erceg if he doesn’t know who his co-main event opponent is going to be. Alex Perez was originally on the docket but he withdrew last month and was replaced by HyunSung Park. Then Park was moved up a week to take on Tatsuro Taira in a main event duel. Now Erceg is set to take on Ode’ Osbourne in a flyweight bout.

UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Hernandez Odds

The main attraction is a huge fight between contenders looking to make their way up the division rankings. Hernandez has won his last seven fights and with 14 wins and a NC in 17 career fights he’s positioned as a -325 favorite on the early UFC betting odds. Now that he knows who he’ll be fighting, Erceg can concentrate on a game plan to end a three match losing streak. Despite his recent results, the former title contender opened as a -600 favorite with Osbourne listed at +400. Several favorites boast huge opening odds with Elijah Smith the biggest at -725 for his preliminary card bantamweight tussle with Toshiomi Kazama (+484). Julius Walker is also a huge favorite (-675) in a light heavyweight fight with Rafael Cerqueira (+459). Oddsmakers foresee a close contest in a women’s strawweight bout between Angela Hill (+165) and Iasmin Lucindo (-205).

UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Hernandez Previews

Middleweight Bout

#10 Roman Dolidze (+251) vs. #9 Anthony Hernandez (-325)

The main attraction is a compelling matchup between fighters seeking a shot at a title bout. This is a catchy situation for Hernandez, who is a big favorite against a talented opponent. The former Legacy Fighting Alliance middleweight champ has won seven straight fights, a run surpassed by only two others in the division, and is 14-2-1 overall in his professional career with eight of his wins via submission. Prior to his unanimous decision over Brendan Allen last time out, Hernandez won four consecutive fights by stoppage. With a slight height and reach advantage Dolidze is in line to administer some punishment, like he did in his last fight. Facing Marvin Vettori for the second time in two years, Dolidze avenged one of his three professional losses with a UD in the main event in March. Since dropping two straight fights to Vettori and Nassouridine Imavov, Dolidze has won three in a row to get back in the rankings and in line for contention within the division. Dolidze has the combination of power and stamina that allows him to adjust to any fighter and makes him a threat in any bout.

Flyweight Bout

#10 Steve Erceg (-600) vs. NR Ode’ Osbourne (+400)

It’s not easy to adjust on the fly but Erceg will have to do it again after another schedule change. Osbourne is the third, and hopefully final, opponent that Erceg was/is scheduled to fight. Despite losing his last three fights Erceg remains in the rankings looking for another title shot. Records can be deceiving and Erceg’s is proof. He’s lost three fights in a row, but the level of completion in those bouts was through the roof. Erceg lost by UD to Alexandra Pantoja in a title fight 15 months ago and was stopped by two-time title challenger Kai Kara-France at UFC 205. Most recently Erceg lost a UD to former two-time champion Brandon Moreno in March. A veteran in the division but not really a title threat, Osbourne jumped at the chance to take on a downtrodden Erceg. And that’s likely the only chance Osbourne has at winning this fight

UFC Fight Night Prime Picks

The stage is set for a compelling main event between similar fighters. Dolidze is six years older but hasn’t shown signs of his age catching up with him. A relative newbie to the division, Dolidze showed his grit last time out avenging an earlier loss to Marvin Vettori. With all the tools to be a title contender in the division, I feel as though Dolidze is undervalued at his price and have no problem backing him for the upset.