Anthony Hernandez
Fluffy
USA
Winning streak snapped at eight
Hernandez lost to Sean Strickland via TKO (strikes) at 2:23 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Houston.
ANALYSIS
You can't help but feel for Hernandez. He entered having won eight straight and almost certainly would have earned the next title shot at 185 pounds with a strong effort against Strickland. Instead, he looked like a shell of himself and now has to go to the back of the line. Fluffy wins with pace and wrestling. He was able to get neither going against Strickland. Sean simply leaned on his jab, as usual, and Hernandez had no answers. The finish came midway through Round 3 when Anthony was damaged by a knee to the body which led to the sequence which resulted in the stoppage. Hernandez is talented enough to rebound from a performance as bad as this one, but set to turn 33 years old in October, time isn't on his side.
You can't help but feel for Hernandez. He entered having won eight straight and almost certainly would have earned the next title shot at 185 pounds with a strong effort against Strickland. Instead, he looked like a shell of himself and now has to go to the back of the line. Fluffy wins with pace and wrestling. He was able to get neither going against Strickland. Sean simply leaned on his jab, as usual, and Hernandez had no answers. The finish came midway through Round 3 when Anthony was damaged by a knee to the body which led to the sequence which resulted in the stoppage. Hernandez is talented enough to rebound from a performance as bad as this one, but set to turn 33 years old in October, time isn't on his side.
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Gets title eliminator
Hernandez will take on Sean Strickland in a middleweight matchup at UFC Houston on Feb. 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Hernandez may have as good of a case for a title shot as anyone in the middleweight division, as he's riding an eight-fight winning streak with POTN bonuses in three of his last four. He'll first have to get through the former champion in Strickland, however, who last his last shot at the 185-pound strap to Dricus du Plessis back in February. Hernandez is a high-volume striker, though his numbers don't quite stack up to Strickland's. He offers a much more significant wrestling threat, though Strickland defends the takedown at a respectable 76 percent clip. The winner of this main-event fight will almost certainly be next in line for a shot at Khamzat Chimaev's 185-pound belt.
Hernandez may have as good of a case for a title shot as anyone in the middleweight division, as he's riding an eight-fight winning streak with POTN bonuses in three of his last four. He'll first have to get through the former champion in Strickland, however, who last his last shot at the 185-pound strap to Dricus du Plessis back in February. Hernandez is a high-volume striker, though his numbers don't quite stack up to Strickland's. He offers a much more significant wrestling threat, though Strickland defends the takedown at a respectable 76 percent clip. The winner of this main-event fight will almost certainly be next in line for a shot at Khamzat Chimaev's 185-pound belt.
Won't compete at UFC Vancouver
Hernandez (undisclosed) won't fight Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver on Oct. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
It's unclear why Hernandez is unable to fight, though de Ridder will now compete against Brendan Allen. Hernandez has won eight consecutive bouts dating back to February 2021.
It's unclear why Hernandez is unable to fight, though de Ridder will now compete against Brendan Allen. Hernandez has won eight consecutive bouts dating back to February 2021.
Facing De Ridder in Vancouver
Hernandez will take on Reinier de Ridder in a middleweight bout at UFC Vancouver on October 11, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Hernandez has won eight straight bouts and hasn't lost a UFC fight -- or any fight for that matter -- since 2020. "Fluffy" will now look to push his winning streak to nine and notch his 10th UFC victory in the process. He'll have to do it against an opponent in De Ridder, however, who remains unbeaten in the promotion. This should be a very entertaining duel.
Hernandez has won eight straight bouts and hasn't lost a UFC fight -- or any fight for that matter -- since 2020. "Fluffy" will now look to push his winning streak to nine and notch his 10th UFC victory in the process. He'll have to do it against an opponent in De Ridder, however, who remains unbeaten in the promotion. This should be a very entertaining duel.
Runs winning streak to eight
Hernandez defeated Roman Dolidze via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:45 of Round 4 at UFC Vegas 109 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
This will go down as a submission victory, but it was the striking of Hernandez that set up the final moments. The numbers were lopsided in each round leading up to the finish, with Hernandez recording multiple takedowns in each of the first three rounds and not losing a single frame. The finish happened after a massive knee to the head sent Dolidze to his knees, and "Fluffy" responded by jumping on the RNC that ripped Dolidze backwards. He was tapping moments later. Hernandez has now ran his winning streak to eight and will go home with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. He'll enter the top-10 with his win and could be a victory or two away from a title shot.
This will go down as a submission victory, but it was the striking of Hernandez that set up the final moments. The numbers were lopsided in each round leading up to the finish, with Hernandez recording multiple takedowns in each of the first three rounds and not losing a single frame. The finish happened after a massive knee to the head sent Dolidze to his knees, and "Fluffy" responded by jumping on the RNC that ripped Dolidze backwards. He was tapping moments later. Hernandez has now ran his winning streak to eight and will go home with a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts. He'll enter the top-10 with his win and could be a victory or two away from a title shot.
Looks to keep winning
Hernandez will take on Roman Dolidze in a middleweight bout at UFC Vegas 109 on August 9, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Hernandez hasn't lost since May of 2020. Since then, he's won a staggering seven straight fights, most recently taking care of business against Brendan Allen via unanimous decision back in March. His next opponent is no slouch either, however. Dolidze has won three straight himself and boasts an impressive 9-3 record in the promotion. This should he a highly entertaining fight between two of the world's best middleweights.
Hernandez hasn't lost since May of 2020. Since then, he's won a staggering seven straight fights, most recently taking care of business against Brendan Allen via unanimous decision back in March. His next opponent is no slouch either, however. Dolidze has won three straight himself and boasts an impressive 9-3 record in the promotion. This should he a highly entertaining fight between two of the world's best middleweights.