Dec 3, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Roman Dolidze (blue gloves) reacts after fighting Jack Hermansson (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

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Two Huge Fights Announced For August 9 Fight Card And UFC 319!

UFC 319 and UFC Vegas 107 just got bigger with two high profile bouts officially added to their lineups!

The UFC matchmakers have been busy lately, dropping two exciting fight announcements that have fans buzzing. August is shaping up to be one heck of a month for mixed martial arts enthusiasts.

The promotion has a knack for timing these announcements perfectly. Just when fight fans start getting restless between events, Dana White and company drop some news that gets everyone talking again. This time around, fans are looking at fights that could shake up divisions and potentially create new title contenders. Both cards feature matchups that make perfect sense from a rankings perspective, which isn’t always the case in this wild sport.

Roman Dolidze vs Anthony Hernandez Headlines UFC Vegas 109

The August 9th card at UFC Apex has found its main event, and it’s a middleweight showdown that’s been a long time coming. Roman Dolidze will finally face Anthony Hernandez in what promises to be a gritty five-round battle. These two were supposed to throw down back at UFC 302 in June 2024. However, Hernandez had to pull out with a torn hand ligament.

Dolidze enters this fight riding high on a three-fight winning streak. The Georgian fighter has been steadily climbing the middleweight ladder with impressive wins over big names like Kevin Holland and Anthony Smith. His most recent victory came against Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 104, where he went the full five rounds and showed he belongs in the top tier of the division. At 36 years old, Dolidze knows his window is closing, which makes fighters dangerous in the best possible way.

Anthony Hernandez vs. Roman Dolidze targeted to headline #UFCVegas109 👊

Who ya got?? pic.twitter.com/9jDjEqCVm9
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 23, 2025

On the other side, Anthony Hernandez has been on an absolute tear lately. The guy has won seven straight fights! His latest victory over Brendan Allen at UFC Seattle was another statement win that proved he’s ready for the next level. He’s 31 years old and hitting his prime at exactly the right time.

Kai Asakura vs Tim Elliot Gets Added To UFC 319

UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16th has added an intriguing flyweight matchup. Kai Asakura will try to get his first UFC victory when he faces veteran Tim Elliott. This fight tells two very different stories about where these fighters are in their careers.

Asakura came into the UFC with massive hype after dominating in Japan’s Rizin promotion. The former bantamweight champion there got an immediate title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310. That gamble didn’t pay off as Asakura got submitted in the second round. Now he needs to prove he belongs among the elite flyweights before getting another shot at the big names.

Elliott represents the perfect test for Asakura’s UFC debut bounce-back. The 38-year-old veteran has seen it all during his long career. He’s had his ups and downs but remains a crafty opponent who can make life difficult for anyone. His recent submission win over Su Madaerji showed he still has plenty left in the tank. Elliott sits at number eleven in the rankings, four spots ahead of Asakura, making this a must-win fight for the Japanese fighter.

Kai Asakura vs. Tim Elliott has been added to UFC 319.

Any early picks? 👀 pic.twitter.com/yhTsaq4bb0
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) May 27, 2025

This Chicago card already has fight fans excited with the middleweight title fight between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev headlining the show. Adding Asakura versus Elliott provides a great opportunity for both fighters to make their mark!

(Image Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck – Imagn Images)

Anthony Hernandez

Kai Asakura

Roman Dolidze

Tim Elliot

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!