Alexander Hernandez | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

UFC on FOX 30 Preview, Predictions & Analysis

Who are you picking to win at tomorrow’s UFC on FOX 30?

The post UFC on FOX 30 Preview, Predictions & Analysis appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

UFC on FOX 30 equals can’t-miss TV.

The UFC returns to FOX this weekend (July 28, 2018) with one of the best main card offerings since signing their TV deal with the network back in 2011.

The Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada will host this weekend’s event that will feature three former UFC champions on the main card. Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will rematch “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier in the evening’s main event.

Former longtime featherweight king Jose Aldo will take on surging veteran Jeremy Stephens in the co-main event. Former strawweight champ Joanna J?drzejczyk will fight Tecia Torres, while Olivier Aubin-Mercier will meet Alexander Hernandez in a pivotal lightweight showdown.

Let us take a deeper look at the four-fight main card:

Eddie Alvarez vs. Dustin Poirier

If we learned anything from the first time these two collided back at UFC 211, it is that neither of these guys has an ounce of quit in them.

At 34 years old, Alvarez may not be the fighter that was once considered the best lightweight outside of the UFC. That being said, “The Underground King” has had something of a career resurgence as of late and looks to continue his path back to the lightweight title against Poirier.

“The Diamond,” however, has different ideas. The 29-year-old Poirier is riding a three-fight win streak and looks to make it four straight against the former champ at UFC FOX 30. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native has turned a lot of heads in his rise to the top of the lightweight division and looks to continue his ascent to the title against Alvarez.

This one should be a war like their first match-up was, with tons of damage being landed on both sides. In the end, I think Poirier rides his recent momentum to a hard-fought victory.

Prediction: Dustin Poirier def. Eddie Alvarez via split decision

Jose Aldo vs Jeremy Stephens

Jose Aldo is the questioned GOAT of the featherweight division. The Brazilian held the UFC title for over four years, a feat that is almost unheard of in MMA.

Be that as it may, Aldo has been in some wars during his tenure as champ, and although he is only 31 years old, his body has accumulated far more wear and tear than his age would lead you to believe.

Stephens, on the other hand, is 32 years old and has experienced a second-half resurgence of his career that few fighters ever see. “Lil Heathen” will look to make it four straight wins against Aldo and in so doing setting himself up for a title shot in the near future.

This is another fight that could be a striking war. Stephens appears to have a lot more confidence and momentum at this point in his career, and we just don’t know what Aldo has left after three knockout losses in his last four fights.

Prediction: Jeremy Stephens def. Jose Aldo via round one KO

Joanna J?drzejczyk vs. Tecia Torres

Thought to be by far the best strawweight fighter in the world during her decorated run as champion, Jedrzejczyk is on a quest to redeem herself and win back the 115-pound strap.

If J?drzejczyk is to get a third match-up with current division champion Rose Namajunas she must first get past a “Tiny Tornado”. Torres enters UFC FOX 30 on a one-fight skid. However, she believes that an impressive victory over J?drzejczyk will put her right back in title contention.

Be that as it may, this should be Jedrzejczyk’s fight to lose. She owns a decided advantage over Torres on the feet – and over most of the women dcompeting in the strawweight division – so expect her to outwork Torres on her way to a clear-cut decision win.

Prediction: Joanna J?drzejczyk def. Tecia Torres via unanimous decision

Alexander Hernandez vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier

Hernandez made quick work Beneil Dariush in his debut at UFC 222, finishing the veteran in just 42 seconds. “The Great” boasts a 9-1 record, and he is riding a seven-fight win streak. At just 25 years old the future looks bright for this Texas native.

Olivier Aubin-Mercier is tasked with derailing the young fighter’s hype train at UFC FOX 30. “The Quebec Kid” has won seven of his last eight fights and a win over Hernandez could cement his place in the top 10 of the lightweight division.

This one is a bit of a classic striker vs. grappler match-up, with Aubin-Mercier obviously attempting to clinch and get the fight to the ground while Hernandez will be looking to strike and score the KO. I think the massively powerful “Great” will be able to impose his gameplan more effectively.

Prediction: Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via round one TKO

The post UFC on FOX 30 Preview, Predictions & Analysis appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Six Future Stars The UFC Can’t Afford To Miss On

Each year, a new class of prospects catch the attention of fight fans. With Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, the biggest stars of the past few years – and perhaps ever – now gone from the sport for the time being, the UFC is in a transitionary period as Endeavor attempts to build new dependable […]

The post Six Future Stars The UFC Can’t Afford To Miss On appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Each year, a new class of prospects catch the attention of fight fans.

With Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, the biggest stars of the past few years – and perhaps ever – now gone from the sport for the time being, the UFC is in a transitionary period as Endeavor attempts to build new dependable pay-per-view draws.

Fighters like Sage Northcutt and Paige VanZant initially made a big impact and the expectations were high, but not all prospects pan out in the cage. Those once-hyped prospects are still around, but they’ve given way to a new crop of potential future stars who are performing in the cage in addition to having their own highly marketable qualities.

So the UFC has potential stars in their midst, but with PPV sales slumping as the promotion seems to be waiting around for McGregor to return, the time is now for them to build for the future as they cannot afford more down years by failing to promote their best chances at box office success.

With the majority of a new year of MMA ahead of us, let’s take a look at six future stars the UFC simply can’t afford to miss promoting throughout this year.

6. Sean O’Malley

O’Malley captured UFC president Dana White’s attention and the exec quickly signed him.

‘Sugar’ certainly has delivered thus far, winning both of his UFC fights with stylish striking and adept grappling.

He even won his last fight after severely damaging his leg in the third round. With his charisma and fighting style, it’s no wonder the company wants to push this kid into star territory.

As O’Malley works his way up the bantamweight division, he’s certainly a fighter to watch out for. At just 23 years old, the Montana native could be a star in a post-McGregor world.

But let’s see him against a step up in competition before the hype train really starts to start. A fight against Rob Font or Thomas Almeida is a perfect test to really see where O’Malley is at, and if he wins that, the UFC should seriously consider pushing his promotion into high gear.

The post Six Future Stars The UFC Can’t Afford To Miss On appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

[ARCHIVES] How Many Alex Hernandezes Are Out There?

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2018, 9:45 PM] There are millions of tough people in the world today who can scrap. There are thousands who, given the right gym, could have successful MMA careers on the regional circuit. There are thousands of active MMA fighters in the world today and hundreds who are competing with a […]

Continue Reading [ARCHIVES] How Many Alex Hernandezes Are Out There? at MMA News.

[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 5, 2018, 9:45 PM]

There are millions of tough people in the world today who can scrap. There are thousands who, given the right gym, could have successful MMA careers on the regional circuit. There are thousands of active MMA fighters in the world today and hundreds who are competing with a lot of promise right now. Each of the above facts cannot be questioned. The question we are left with after what took place at UFC 222 is: How many Alex Hernandezes are out there?

One year ago, Alex Hernandez was still working a day job as a loan officer while competing in MMA. And one week ago, he was one of the hundreds competing at a high level and yet waiting and hoping for a call up to the UFC. After starching Beneil Dariush via first-round KO, he’s no longer one of the hundreds…he is likely to be hairs away from being in the top 10….Just. Like. That.

Heading into UFC 222, there were new names being hyped up, to be sure…neither of which were Alex Hernandez. And how could anybody hype him? Unlike Sean O’Malley and Mackenzie Dern, Hernandez is not an easy guy to find film on. And more to the point, the name itself was one that, two weeks ago, hadn’t been known to even the most hardcore of MMA fans. While Hernandez did not exactly provide fans or experts with a ton of film to work with on Saturday, he was sure to properly introduce himself. To paraphrase the truthful words of Alex Hernandez, if you didn’t know him before, you definitely know him now.

Sadly, although we all know him, not everybody is properly remembering him. In the post-fight presser, Dana White was peppered with questions about the fresh-faced, gutsy Sean O’Malley (deservedly so), but Alex Hernandez’s name didn’t come up, even after a first-round KO of the #12 ranked lightweight in the company. So it looks like Alex is going to have to keep putting his name out himself with his words, and then ensuring it is properly translated with the universal language of both hands.

Prior to UFC 222 in an interview with MMANews contributor James Lynch for Fightful.com, Hernandez was very clear on his approach to his fight with Beneil Dariush:

“I know this is mine. I’m going to eat him.”

The self-assurance in Hernandez’s speech had a different tenor than the almost scripted, predictable false bravado we hear from fighters all the time. Here was a guy who was speaking as someone not just happy to be granted an opportunity but who had a true, unwavering belief that he would make the most of it. And why wouldn’t he? His only career loss came in 2013 in his third career fight, and five of his last six fights have been won by stoppage. And did I mention he has only been training full time for a year now? And when he trains, his mindset is focused on one thing: himself. “I don’t train for any opponent ever,” Hernandez said when asked about getting the short-notice call up to face Dariush.

“Dariush or anybody, man, it doesn’t really matter.”

When asked if that meant he had no respect for his ranked foe, Hernandez was quick to clarify,

“Of course I respect him, but I’m going to run through him.”

And run through him is what he did. From the word “fight,” Hernandez charged forward and put action behind his words:

“He’s just another guy. The UFC’s just another promoter.”

The kick said to the world, and more importantly Dariush, “Damn your ranking. Damn standing on ceremony. Damn etiquette. And damn your experience. For these next short minutes, this Octagon belongs to me.”

Coming into UFC 222, Beneil Dariush was my second most confident prediction of the night. After all, what are the odds someone could just come off the street and beat a fighter at the level of Beneil Dariush on less than two weeks’ notice? I will confess to basing that prediction on this false assumption and not on any film breakdown. It just seemed logical to assume that if someone could beat Beneil Dariush on two weeks’ notice, that person would already be in the UFC.

Well, it wasn’t logical. It was wrong. And Beneil Dariush’s demeanor seemed to be the embodiment of that assumption. He was a man unwilling to change his strategy when faced with a young competitor who was starving and ferocious.

No, even though Dariush’s best work has historically been on the mat, he decided to stand right in front of a fighter who had already shown his game plan and a decisive speed advantage on the feet, and he paid the price for it. Dariush had an almost overconfident and overrelaxed disposition, and he was met with a dynamic, precise, and swifter fighter. Hernandez predicted that Dariush would not be able to match his pace or his physical or mental cadence; and as Hernandez stated after the fight, the bout materialized just as he said it would.

So how many Alex Hernandezes are out there in the world? I don’t know. But if his performance Saturday night, his palpable confidence inside and outside of the cage, and his post-fight message to the world of who he is are any indicators….maybe, just maybe, there is only one.

Be sure to stick with MMANews.com daily for the latest breaking news in the MMA world and also follow MMA Logic on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMALogic/

Continue Reading [ARCHIVES] How Many Alex Hernandezes Are Out There? at MMA News.