Anthony
Hernandez is quietly constructing a powerful resume within the
Final Combating Championship’s middleweight division.
The previous Dana White’s Contender Sequence competitor earned his
fourth straight victory at
UFC Struggle Night time 223, pulling away for a third-round technical
knockout victory over as soon as highly-touted prospect Edmen
Shahbazyan within the night’s co-main occasion on the UFC Apex in
Las Vegas. “Fluffy” endured a robust begin from his opponent earlier than
overwhelming him with takedowns, submission makes an attempt and
ground-and-pound.
Within the aftermath, Hernandez discovered loads of room for
enchancment.
“I bought hit, so clearly I’ve started working on head motion,” he
mentioned on the post-fight press convention. “My coaches advised me I used to be
making a pair errors once I was shifting backward. Simply again to
the drafting board. We simply come again and we attempt to carry out higher
subsequent time.”
Hernandez was assured that he would ultimately have the ability to impose
his will on Shahbazyan, regardless of how lengthy it took.
“I knew it could possibly be both method. It’s a struggle, you by no means know what
to anticipate. I simply went in there able to attempt to homicide him for
each single spherical,” Hernandez mentioned. “It doesn’t matter if he needs
to remain in there for 3 or two, I’m gonna attempt to break his soul
it doesn’t matter what.
“Each struggle I really feel like’s gonna be a tough one,” he added. “When
you get to this stage, everybody’s f—ing good. Everyone is aware of all
the fundamentals, everybody is basically good right here. He was powerful similar to
everybody else within the division, however I really feel like I’m more durable and I’m
going come to indicate that each f—-ing time.”
Finally, Hernandez’s conditioning made the distinction.
Shahbazyan light badly when his preliminary push didn’t ship a
end.
“It’s by no means snug,” Hernandez mentioned. “There’s no such factor as
consolation. We kill ourselves to make weight. This complete factor is
depressing. What’s yet another distress? I’ve been via hell loads of
instances. What’s yet another (time) going via hell?”
Hernandez started his promotional tenure with losses in two of his
first three appearances however has since turned issues round with
wins over the likes of Rodolfo
Vieira, Josh Fremd,
Marc-Andre
Barriault and Shahbazyan. Whereas he hopes to face a ranked
opponent subsequent, he admittedly doesn’t have a reputation in thoughts.
“I actually barely comply with the UFC,” Hernandez mentioned. “Whoever the
f—okay is in that prime 15, I’ll struggle. So, Uncle Dana, whoever you
need to see me struggle, signal me up and I’ll be there.”
In keeping with Hernandez, his philosophy relies on self-belief, so
it doesn’t make sense to comply with any potential opponents.
“I’m not right here to be a fanboy, I’m right here to be the largest f—-ing
factor on the earth,” Hernandez mentioned. “So, I believed in myself, and
I’m simply gonna hold specializing in myself. I don’t care what everybody
else is doing. When the time comes, and I’ve to face them, I’ll
break their soul.”
