Anthony Hernandez is preparing to attend the upcoming Khamzat Chimaev UFC 319 title fight at the United Center in Chicago on August 16, where Khamzat Chimaev will face Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight championship. After securing a fourth-round submission win over Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 109, Hernandez extended his winning streak to eight consecutive victories and expressed his desire to challenge the winner of this high-stakes bout.

During his post-fight press conference, Hernandez confirmed that the UFC is arranging for him to travel to Chicago to witness the middleweight clash live. He stated,

“That’s what I’m hearing… I’m flying to Chicago. So, yeah, I’ll be there. I was just told that in the back right now, that [the UFC] are going to fly me out.”

“So, I’ll be looking forward to that.”

—Anthony Hernandez, UFC Fighter

Standing Among UFC Middleweight Title Contenders

While Hernandez’s eight-fight win streak is impressive, it still places him just outside immediate contention for a title shot against either Dricus du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev. Historically, middleweight fighters have rarely needed such a long winning streak before earning a chance to compete for the championship belt. However, Hernandez will likely need to defeat a top-five ranked opponent before securing a title opportunity.

With the middleweight division stacked with talent, the victor of UFC 319 must prepare to face a series of formidable challengers, including Hernandez, who is positioning himself as a significant threat post-fight. His presence at the event signals his intent to remain in the conversation for future title fights and maintain pressure on the division’s leading fighters.