Anthony Hernandez: Brendan Allen got so much better since first fight, 'I just think I have his number'

Anthony Hernandez expects to get the best of Brendan Allen again in their rematch.

Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) run things back at a UFC Fight Night event on Feb. 22. In their first fight, which took place in January 2018, Hernandez defeated Allen by unanimous decision to claim the vacant LFA middleweight title.

Currently riding a six-fight winning streak – including a Performance of the Night TKO of Michel Pereira, Hernandez sees a fight against Allen as the correct next step, and he hopes it ends up being another five-round fight.

“It made sense,” Hernandez told Inside Fighting. “He called me out and it’s like, ‘All right, well if you want to f*cking run it back. It’s the perfect opportunity because obviously he’s ahead of me. He’s been healthy and he’s been winning and stuff, and like the kid’s gotten so much f*cking better. I just think I have his number.”

Despite winning their first meeting, Hernandez says he wasn’t as prepared as he wanted to be.

“I remember the first fight was a f*cking b*tch – I’m not going to lie,” Hernandez said. “It was very hard, but I also was hurt, and I didn’t train for that fight. I lowkey took it off the couch. It is what it is. I still won, so it worked out. But I’m stoked that this fight I’m healthy.

“I’m actually going to have a good camp, and I understand the game now. I’ve got this sh*t dialed in, so now it’s just go out there and do what I should have done the first time. The first time was an opportunity I couldn’t pass because I won that, and I got the Contender Series shot.”