UFC Fight Night 252's Anthony Hernandez: 'I have the skills to beat' Dricus Du Plessis

SEATTLE – Anthony Hernandez doesn’t pay much mind to the comings and goings of the middleweight division, but current champion Dricus Du Plessis is one name who has his attention.

Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who will attempt to repeat January 2018 victory over Brendan Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in their co-main event rematch on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 252 card at Climate Pledge Arena (ESPN+), was once scheduled to face Du Plessis at UFC 273 in April 2022.

The bout didn’t materialize because Du Plessis (23-2 MMA, 9-0 UFC) was shifted to another matchup and date, but it has lingered for Hernandez. “Flurry” is currently riding a six-fight winning streak, and if he get past Allen, he doesn’t think a title shot is far off.

“I’m just look ing at this fight for sure because this is the biggest fight that matters,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 252 media day. “Finish this guy, get my hand raised, make a statement and then the UFC has a plan. They’ve always got a f*cking plan. You’ve seen guys that weren’t even ranked get title shots. I figure if the timing matches up and they give me the shot, I’ll be f*cking ready. No matter what.

“I like the fight with DDP. I was supposed to have that fight already. I said yes on like two weeks’ notice or some sh*t. I believe I have the skills to beat the guy. It’s crazy because I keep telling people, ‘It looks like he’s gassing,’ but then the motherf*cker keeps coming forward. And he’s awkward, so that throws people off. I definitely would like that fight, but for now, it’s just Brendan Allen that’s on my mind.”

In his first meeting with Allen at LFA 32, Hernandez earned a five-round unanimous decision win to claim the promotion’s vacant middleweight title. Both men had less than 10 professional fights each then, but have now involved into the elite.

Allen, No. 11 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, has surpassed No. 12-ranked Hernandez in stature under the UFC banner thus far. However, this weekend’s rematch proves as a major opportunity for Hernandez to change that.

“He’s gotten better everywhere,” Hernandez said. “All the places I feel like I messed up late time, the first time we fought, I understand now. I understand how to shut it down, so I’m planning on going out there and having a great performance. I know it’s going to be a war. He was a tough f*cking kid last time I fought him, so whatever it is, it is. We’ll see who wins.

“I mentally broke him, and I was f*cking exhausted, so I’m in great shape and I’m ready to go to war and stay in a motherf*ckers face and drown him.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.