logo
Alexander Hernandez in-camp neck injury gave him a big scare at UFC Fight Night 254

Alexander Hernandez in-camp neck injury gave him a big scare at UFC Fight Night 254

USA Today17-03-2025

LAS VEGAS – Alexander Hernandez beat Kurt Holobaugh with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 254 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Hernandez, who won for the second straight time on the heels of a rough 1-4 two-year stretch.
Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh
Result: Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Hernandez (16-8 MMA, 8-7 UFC), Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC)
Key stats: Hernandez landed four of his five takedown attempts and had more than six minutes of total control time.
Hernandez on the fight's key moment
'I'm proud of the adjustments I made securing the takedowns. That's something I've wanted to do in my career for a while, is blend. I've always said I'm not the best at any one thing, but I'm pretty damn good all around. I think I finally showed that.'
Hernandez on his pre-fight injury
'I was dealing with four bulging discs in my neck (and) two herniations. It was a headache this whole camp. It was a longer notice than I like. I think we had a nine-week notice, and five of those weeks we had to tip-toe around a lot of training, and then we were able to rip it kind of hard toward the end. Whatever happened toward the end of that first round, I got hit with a clothesline or something … and I had this paralysis feeling in my arms afterward. I wasn't able to fire off shots the way I like to. … It was an alarming moment when you get up and your fingers are numb. 'OK, what are we going to do now?' You make the adjustments and you make it happen.'
Hernandez on working with a new team
'I don't know if that was necessarily according to plan. We were prepared. I'm proud of my effort, I'm proud of the team. … I knew it was going to go one of two ways, whether it be a dogfight or whether I was going to able to find him and (finish him cleanly).'
To hear more from Hernandez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
Gallery UFC Fight Night 254: Best photos from Las Vegas
View 130 photos

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Aljamain Sterling: Sean O'Malley won't get another 'layup' after UFC 316 loss
Aljamain Sterling: Sean O'Malley won't get another 'layup' after UFC 316 loss

USA Today

time21 minutes ago

  • USA Today

Aljamain Sterling: Sean O'Malley won't get another 'layup' after UFC 316 loss

Aljamain Sterling: Sean O'Malley won't get another 'layup' after UFC 316 loss Aljamain Sterling thinks Sean O'Malley won't be getting any more favorable matchups from the UFC. O'Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) suffered his second straight loss to bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) when he was submitted in Saturday's UFC 316 main event. Sterling (24-5 MMA, 16-5 UFC) has been very vocal about O'Malley's road to the top, which saw him jump from a controversial win over Petr Yan at UFC 280, to a title fight against him at UFC 292. O'Malley knocked out Sterling to claim the bantamweight title. But now that O'Malley has lost to the champion two-straight times, Sterling says "The Suga Show" will have to face the top contenders at bantamweight, which may not be favorable stylistic matchups for him. "The UFC is probably not going to do him another layup favor in terms of stylistic matchup," Sterling said on his YouTube channel. "He's going to have to fight the toughest guys at this point. I'm curious to see what is he going to look like in his approach, what is he going to change, and will people look at his style now, and realize what I've been saying from before years ago: He's good, but there's a couple of things. His style is very good and catered to winning against guys who are stationary fighters, and they don't move a whole lot and predominantly not a grappler – and he looks like a world beater. "Now we've seen with some opposition and everyone kind of figuring him out, in the top five we know is a different ball game. Just like the Yan fight when he went from Pedro Munhoz to Yan. So, I'm curious to see how he's going to bounce back. Even if he loses the next one, will it be a good performance? Because if he stays the same, a lot of people realize he's good, but if you do X, Y and Z like Mario Bautista, those are tough fights for you. Kyler Phillips, those are tough fights for you. Merab, Umar (Nurmagomedov), those are tough fights. Even a Petr Yan, who's a little bit more stationary, but once he gets moving and starts putting those hands on you, it's a tougher fight for him." Sterling, who initially threw his own name in the hat, had a few suggestions of who the UFC could match O'Malley up with next. "The only person I can think of stylistically which would be a relatively favorable fight for him would be a guy like Patchy Mix," Sterling continued. "Maybe Aiemann Zahabi because Aiemann's kind of just in the pocket with you. Those would be some good stylistic fights for him. Give him Song Yadong."

Dana White Reveals Massive New Details on Canelo vs Crawford Superfight
Dana White Reveals Massive New Details on Canelo vs Crawford Superfight

Yahoo

time40 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Dana White Reveals Massive New Details on Canelo vs Crawford Superfight

Dana White Reveals Massive New Details on Canelo vs Crawford Superfight originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is already locked in, and it's turning into a global spectacle—easily one of the most anticipated boxing events in years. Excitement around the clash between two of the sport's most dominant figures has been building, but now things are heating up even more following a major announcement. The stage is set, and fans around the world are counting down the days. Advertisement Today, UFC President Dana White took to X (formerly Twitter) to drop a bombshell: 'Turki wants to make the biggest fights that the fans want to see in boxing and this is right up my alley. Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I'm going to get to promote is Canelo vs. Crawford? It's literally a once in a lifetime fight. Live on Saturday, September 13, streaming globally on Netflix, two of the GREATEST boxers in the sport will meet in a historic fight from Las Vegas.' UFC CEO Dana WhitePhoto by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Landing this fight on Mexican Independence Day weekend already elevates the moment, but pairing it with Netflix is game-changing. The platform drew massive viewership for Tyson vs. Paul, and now it's aiming to top that with a legacy-defining bout. This will be Crawford's toughest test yet, as he jumps two weight classes after a grueling win at 154 pounds over Israil Madrimov. Facing a much bigger and just as skilled Canelo presents new challenges and history-making stakes. Getty Images With two certified superstars clashing under bright lights, both hardcore and casual fans are in for something unforgettable. Advertisement To make the weekend even bigger, the UFC has confirmed that the 3rd annual Noche UFC will also take place on Saturday, September 13—this time at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. That means fight fans will have back-to-back blockbuster events across boxing and MMA on Mexican Independence Day weekend. Related: 'I'll Hang Up the Gloves' – UFC Star Warns Dana White After Title Snub Related: 'He's a Punching Bag': Fans Slam UFC Prospect After Disappointing Debut This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Henry Cejudo high on UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili but thinks loss to Cory Sandhagen coming
Henry Cejudo high on UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili but thinks loss to Cory Sandhagen coming

USA Today

timean hour ago

  • USA Today

Henry Cejudo high on UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili but thinks loss to Cory Sandhagen coming

Henry Cejudo high on UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili but thinks loss to Cory Sandhagen coming Henry Cejudo sees Cory Sandhagen as the one to dethrone UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) notched his second title defense when he submitted Sean O'Malley in Saturday's UFC 316 main event. He has already been touted by the likes of Jon Anik as the greatest bantamweight of all time. Cejudo thinks Dvalishvili can reach that territory if he can get past Sandhagen (18-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC), who is expected to be next in line. "If he beats Cory Sandhagen in this fight, yes, I'm going to put him at pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world," Cejudo said of Dvalishvili on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Kamaru Usman. "One hundred percent." However, Cejudo isn't sure if Dvalishvili is capable of beating Sandhagen, who's coming off a stoppage win over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC on ESPN 67 last month. "But that being said, check this out: As much as I complimented Merab, I don't think he beats Cory Sandhagen," Cejudo said. "I've been really good with my picks in the bantamweight division. The only reason why I feel the person that could give, that's the most problematic for a guy like Merab Dvalishvili, it is Cory Sandhagen because Cory Sandhagen brings a lot more thump than a guy like Sean O'Malley, and he is a submission threat a lot more than O'Malley. And he's big. The other thing, too, Cory Sandhagen can get up to his feet. "He's shown that against a guy like Umar Nurmagomedov. He throws knees up the middle, the one that he caught Frankie Edgar with, the dude is freaking dangerous all around. And I do believe or I have a feeling that the person to potentially get the job done with a guy like Merab – and again, I've got to compliment Merab. You have to, he's the bantamweight GOAT, but if there's a guy in that division right now with all the tools and the fact that he can get up, and he's young, and he's younger than him, it is Cory Sandhagen."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store