UFC Calgary’s main card opened with lightweight battle between Alexander Hernandez and Olivier Aubin-Mercier, with Hernandez shutting down The Canadian Gangster.
Alexander Hernandez is a young bright prospect who debuted earlier this year on short notice against Beneil Dariush and knocked him out cold. With a win like that he immediately shot to the top 15 and was given a fight against Oliver Aubin-Mercier at UFC Calgary. “The Canadian Gangster” on other hand was coming off four straight wins heading into the Calgary card and has knocked out Evan Dunham last time out.
The first round was controlled by Hernandez using tons of pressure and looking for a little check right hook that landed multiple times. Hernandez also used his wrestling game and even took down Aubin-Mercier at the end of round one. The second round began with Aubin-Mericer landing on top in a scramble and looking for a straight arm-bar, but he couldn’t secure it. Hernandez then stayed on top and kept the pressure on throughout the second round; going into the third it seemed like anyone’s fight.
The third round was a razor-thin one. Hernandez spent the first half of round three on top and pressuring the action. However after a questionable standup, Aubin-Mericer took him down and tried to do damage from the top. But near the end of the round in a scramble, Hernandez took Aubin-Mericer’s back and looked for the rear-naked choke. H couldn’t secure it, but we saw the final bell, and Hernandez was likely to have claimed the round.
It was a great performance by Hernandez that showed his first octagon performance against Dariush was no fluke.
Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
