The UFC Apex in Las Vegas is set to host its 99th event this Saturday night, showcasing an exciting main card headlined by a middleweight bout between up-and-coming contenders Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira.

Fight Preview: Hernandez vs. Pereira

Anthony Hernandez, celebrating his 31st birthday, is stepping into the spotlight for his first main event after an impressive five-fight winning streak. This streak includes three consecutive finishes, with his latest victory coming against Roman Kopylov at UFC 298 in February. In contrast, Michel Pereira, also 31, has experienced a similar surge in his career, racking up three stoppage victories in a row, with each one coming faster as he transitioned to the middleweight division. Both fighters weighed in at 185.5 pounds on Friday.

Currently, Pereira is the betting favorite, with approximately 80% of the total bets backing him, resulting in a shift in odds from +135 to +110 at BetMGM. Meanwhile, Hernandez is listed at -135 and has attracted 54% of the overall fight money.

Main Card Matchups

• Rob Font vs. Kyler Phillips (Co-Main Event)

In a bantamweight clash, the seasoned Rob Font, 37, will face the younger Kyler Phillips, 29. Font has struggled lately, losing four out of his last five fights, making this bout crucial for his career. Phillips, coming from the MMA Lab, has found success with a three-fight winning streak. Initially, Phillips was favored at -300, but his odds have since improved to -450, with 83% of the money backing him. Font is available at +340, supported by 75% of the total bets.

• Charles Johnson vs. Sumudaerji

This fight marks Sumudaerji’s return to the Octagon for the first time this year, following two consecutive losses. A win is vital for him to reestablish his position as a contender. In contrast, Charles Johnson is on a roll, having won all three of his 2024 fights, including a knockout victory over Joshua Van. Johnson is favored at -225, with 55% of bets backing him, while Sumudaerji is getting 54% of the money.

• Cameron Smotherman vs. Jake Hadley

Smotherman is stepping in on short notice for Brady Hiestand and will make his UFC debut at age 27. Meanwhile, Hadley has experienced mixed results in the UFC, recently winning a bantamweight bout on short notice. Hadley opened as a -500 favorite, but the odds have tightened to -115, with Smotherman attracting a whopping 86% of the bets and 95% of the money at -105.

• Darren Elkins vs. Daniel Pineda

Two veteran featherweights, Elkins, 40, and Pineda, 39, will square off in this matchup. Elkins is making his 29th UFC appearance, having last won against TJ Brown a year ago. He has become the significant favorite, with his odds moving from +100 to -350 due to 87% of the bets supporting him. Pineda, on the other hand, has seen his odds shift from -120 to +275 as he looks to avoid a third consecutive loss.

• Matheus Nicolau vs. Asu Almabayev

The main card kicks off with a flyweight battle between top-10 contenders. Nicolau, 31, is looking to bounce back after suffering two knockout losses, the most recent against Alex Perez. Almabayev, 30, has an impressive record with 16 consecutive victories, including all three since entering the UFC. Currently, he’s favored at -210, attracting 54% of the bets and 79% of the money, while Nicolau stands at +170.

The main card is set to start at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+, promising an exciting night of fights for fans and bettors alike.