Anthony Hernandez is preparing to face Sean Strickland this Saturday at UFC Fight Night, aiming to secure a coveted title fight opportunity. Hernandez, ranked fourth in the middleweight division, openly expressed his willingness to fight aggressively to claim his spot against the current champion, Khamzat Chimaev.
Hernandez’s Determined Mindset and Winning Streak
At 32 years old, Anthony Hernandez has built momentum through an eight-fight winning streak, with his last defeat coming against Kevin Holland in 2020. His opponent, 34-year-old Sean Strickland, is a former middleweight champion who recently suffered a loss to the top-ranked Dricus Du Plessis.
Hernandez said,
“I know we’re both gonna try to kill each other and I’m okay with that,”
adding,
“And I hope [fans] enjoy the show. That’s all that matters, you know what I mean?”
Title Shot Ambitions Drive Hernandez Forward
Hernandez hopes that beating Strickland will position him to challenge Chimaev for the middleweight championship. Although he has not received official confirmation from the UFC about becoming the next contender, Hernandez remains confident.
He stated,
“But if not, I mean, there’s only two more people in front of me to take out. You know what I mean? So like I said, if I got to take every mother f***** out, then I will!”
When asked about the UFC’s acknowledgement of his title shot prospects, Hernandez responded,
“No, I haven’t heard s***. But I mean, I’m not worried about it. Like I said, there’s two more in front of me. They can’t keep denying me. So I just got to go keep beating the f*** out of these guys.”
Looking Toward a Defining Moment in Hernandez’s Career
With this fight serving as a pivotal test, Hernandez is prepared to do whatever it takes to earn his chance at the middleweight crown. The stakes are high as both fighters bring intensity and experience into the Octagon. UFC Fight Night’s upcoming event will reveal if Hernandez can capitalize on his winning streak and advance toward the title he is determined to claim.
