UFC 298 presents an exciting lineup of fights, highlighting a middleweight showdown between the 15^th-ranked Anthony Hernandez and Roman Kopylov as the opening bout on the main card. The action begins on Saturday, February 17, at 10:00 PM ET at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Hernandez has a moderate moneyline advantage, with odds at -255.

Hernandez has been successful in his last four fights, where he has not lost since 2020. His most recent win was a third round TKO over Edmen Shahbazyan back at UFC Fight Night 223.

He secured 11 victories, with two knockouts, seven submissions, and two decisions. Notably, five triumphs occurred in the first round, with just one loss each due to submission and knockout.

Known as "Fluffy," he demonstrates a 62 percent accuracy in striking and a 57 percent success rate in takedowns. With a significant strike ratio of 4.33 per minute and an absorption rate of 3.36, these stats are crucial for his upcoming battle, indicating a slightly positive balance between the two averages.

Hernandez averages 4.33 takedowns and 3.66 submissions per 15 minutes. His defense is impressive, boasting a 47 percent success rate against significant strikes and a 63 percent success rate against takedowns.

Kopylov has also won his last four battles, showing he has great momentum as well in comparison to Hernandez. His most recent win was a second round knockout over Josh Fremd in UFC Fight Night 227 in September of last year.

He has achieved 12 victories, including 11 knockouts and one decision. His sole first-round win stands out among his triumphs. Regarding losses, one was by decision and the other by submission.

In striking, he boasts a commendable 53 percent accuracy, and his success rate for takedowns is 50 percent. His combat stats show an average of 4.72 significant strikes per minute, absorbing only 4.11, reflecting a slightly positive striking output with little room for error.

In a standard 15-minute bout, he secures 0.47 takedowns. Defensively, he shines with a 61 percent success rate in defending significant strikes and an impressive 92 percent success rate in thwarting takedowns.

MyBookie provides appealing UFC 298 odds, as Anthony Hernandez is a moderate favorite to win (-255). Bettors that are seeking his performance to win might want to consider adding him to a parlay with other fights on the night or choose a prop bet in order to find better value on the potential payout.

The two stack up well on paper and should offer a great battle, but Kopylov is not quite ready to enter the rankings just yet. Look for Hernandez to potentially end this one early.