Admittedly, fighting at the Apex instead of the O2 Arena in London, England a month later isn’t ideal thanks to the lack of fans, middleweight Jack Hermansson said this week. At the same time, it means a headlining spot at UFC Vegas 47, so “The Joker” is more than happy to be where he is.
“You’re privileged as a fighter to be headlining a card,” Hermansson (22-6) said during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 47 media day. “It means that the UFC are appreciating you, and se you as one of their main fighters.”
The easy-going Hermansson is something of a stark contrast to opponent Sean Strickland, who tends to trash talk his way through fights. “You never know what you get with him,” Hermansson acknowledged. “Our relationship is friendly, but at the same time, he’s a loose cannon. You never know what’s going to jump out of his mouth.”
Hermansson isn’t expecting any antics or trash-talk during Friday’s face-offs, but Fight Night is another story. “I don’t think so, during the face-off, but during the fight, definitely.”
With that in mind, he had his training partners mimic Strickland’s style ahead of UFC Vegas 47. Not just his fighting style, but his trash talking.
“I think it can be annoying, but I asked my sparring partners to do the same, just to be prepared for it,” Hermansson revealed. “And I’m visualizing it. I’m ready for anything coming out of his mouth, or whatever techniques he’s throwing at me.”
Jack Hermansson faces Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC Vegas 47 this Saturday, February 5, 2022 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Watch his full media day appearance above.
