After a career-best version last night against Roman Dolidze, the MMA world now asks what the next step is for Anthony Hernandez. The American showed excellent skills, both on the feet and on the ground, eventually obtaining the entry victory in round four through a rear naked choke. The victory for Hernandez is expanding its winning series to eight in the UFC and adds its name to a growing list of contenders in the middleweight division.
Hernandez dominated the striking fairs and landed 120 strikes on Dolidze 39, while also securing nine branchedowns in the fight, which eventually led to the submission of the fourth round. Hernandez is something of an entry artist, with 9 of his 15 wins through entry.
There has never been as much competition in the middleweight division as there is now. The state of the game in the division can be very different in two months, with Dricus du Plessis next Saturday defending his belt against Khamzat Chimaev and a number one ranked Nassourdine Imavov on number six ranked Caio Borralho, Caio Borralho, Caio Borralho, and ABASOE ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page ‘Page’ Page and ABUSOEL ‘. to take. It is difficult to choose an opponent for Hernandez.
Yet there are various options on the table for Hernandez. Although he has called for a title shot in his interview after the fight, it is very doubtful that he will be the next one in line, and he will probably have to fight twice before he gets a title shot.
Perhaps the most logical next fight for Hernandez Robert Whittaker is. Whittaker is currently on a biling losing series. This is a good matchup for both hunters. If Hernandez wins, it is his most renowned victory so far and for Whittaker a victory against someone in an eight-fog winning series will be a huge trust and bring him into a position to look up in the middleweight division.
Another potential fight would be against Israel Adesanya. Just like Whittaker, he is a former champion on a losing series, so he might have to look down in the division for his next fight, and a fight against Hernandez would be a nice matchup. It would be an extremely intriguing collision of styles between a BJJ expert and a world-class striker.
Perhaps Hernandez will wait to see how the cards fall in the middleweight division, possibly fighting against the winner of the MVP and Cannonier. Although it is perhaps one of the most competitive moments in the history of the middleweight, Hernandez will only fight up in the division, and his victory against Dolidze has protected his name as a danger for everyone in the division.
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