Hey, guess what? A middleweight matchup is on the horizon. We’re talking Anthony Hernandez versus Ikram Aliskerov. Yeah, you heard that right. It’s been added to the UFC 298 card, scheduled for Feb. 17.
The news first broke on MMAFighting.com. Both fighters confirmed it on their social media. So, it’s legit.
Now, let’s talk about Hernandez. He’s got an 11-2 record. He’s also on a four-fight winning streak. Impressive, right? His most recent win? A Round 3 technical knockout against Edmen Shahbazyan at UFC Fight Night 223.
Hernandez started his UFC journey with a 1-2 record. Not the best start, but hey, he bounced back. He’s been on a roll since his loss to Kevin Holland in May 2020.
On the other side of the ring, we have Russia’s Aliskerov. He’s got a 15-1 record and is one of the most intriguing prospects in the UFC’s middleweight division this year. His only professional loss? That was against top contender Khamzat Chimaev back in 2019 when they competed under the Brave Fighting Championship banner.
But don’t let that fool you. Aliskerov’s been on a winning spree since then. He’s racked up seven consecutive victories, two of which were in the UFC. Six of these victories were inside the distance. He’s coming off back-to-back first-round stoppages against Warlley Alves at UFC 298 and Phil Hawes in his promotional debut at UFC 288.
And the cherry on top? UFC 298 will be headlined by a title fight. It’s Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning featherweight champion, versus undefeated contender Ilia Topuria. The venue? The Honda Center in Anaheim, California. So, mark your calendars!