Anthony Hernandez Forced to Withdraw from UFC 302 Due to A Terrible Injury

In a disappointing development, rising middleweight star Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez has been forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated matchup against Roman Dolidze at UFC 302. Sources close to the situation have confirmed that Hernandez suffered a torn ligament in his hand during a recent training session.

Anthony Hernandez has been on an impressive run, winning five straight fights inside the Octagon. His most recent victory came against Roman Kopylov at UFC 298 in Anaheim last month, where he secured a submission win. As a result, Hernandez climbed to #12 in the middleweight rankings and was set to face the #9-ranked Roman Dolidze at UFC 302 on June 1.

🚨| Anthony Hernandez is OUT of his scheduled fight with Roman Dolidze at #UFC302 on June 1st.
Hernandez has torn a ligament in his hand.
He hopes to return before the end of the summer. pic.twitter.com/DuqDXHZXkl
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) April 29, 2024

Roman Dolidze’s Recent Struggles

Roman Dolidze, on the other hand, had a successful 2022, recording three knockout wins over Kyle Daukaus, Phil Hawes, and Jack Hermansson. However, his 2024 campaign got off to a rocky start with a main event loss to Nassourdine Imavov. Now, with Hernandez out of the picture, Dolidze will have to wait for a new opponent to be announced for UFC 302.

Anthony Hernandez’s Recovery Timeline

Despite the setback, Anthony Hernandez remains optimistic. He hopes to return to action before the end of the summer, provided his hand heals properly and for that, he needs to be patient and work towards his recovery. With the right treatment and procedures, Anthony Hernandez will surely get back to his prime. Fans were eagerly anticipating the clash between these two middleweights, and it’s unfortunate that we won’t get to see it unfold as scheduled.

As the UFC scrambles to find a replacement for Hernandez, fight fans will have to wait for an official announcement regarding Dolidze’s new opponent. UFC 302 is expected to take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and it promises to be an exciting event for MMA enthusiasts.