Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez met for a second time in the co-main event of UFC Seattle on Saturday, following a 2018 encounter under the LFA banner.
LFA 32 saw Hernandez pick up a decision victory over “All In,” with Allen looking for revenge at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Allen kicked off the action with just that, a leg kick. Hernandez swung around a little, but appeared okay; moments later, he caught an Allen high kick, only for Allen to scramble up his back like a spider monkey. Impressive, though he couldn’t stay there; instead they wound up in grappling battle on the mat before climbing back up to the feet alongside the fence.
Going back down, it was Hernandez landing a takedown and landing on top, soon working to get a hook in. Allen would eventually escape that perilous position, and ahead of the final minute mark found himself on top. He’d then take the back, or try to, as Hernandez worked to his knees. A small opening for the rear-naked choke was there, but Hernandez freed himself, and survived to the horn.
The grappling exchanges continued in round two, with Hernandez putting the pressure on, and putting his weight on Allen. Allen was seated, back to the cage, with Hernandez looking for a guillotine. Allen pulled his head free, but had to worry about Hernandez mounting. He went over the top, then looked to take the back, settling for one hook and three-quarter mount at times. More control from the back for “Fluffy” who had clearly shook off the beating he took at the end of the first.
Not to be outdone, Allen would free himself, then back the back. Allen had both hooks in, with “Fluffy” standing; he shook Brendan Allen over the top. That allowed Hernandez to get in control again, with under a minute to go in the round. Allen finished the frame on his back, Hernandez in side control, and the fight possibly 1-1 headed into the third.
Another action-packed, scramble-filled round played out in the third. Both men had their moments throughout the fight, but it was Hernandez finishing the frame on top, raining down ground n’ pound. With a strong second and third frame, Anthony Hernandez had almost certainly done enough to pull out of the victory – and that proved to be the case.
Hernandez extended his win streak to seven with the victory, a run that includes names like Micheh Pereira and Edmen Shahbazyan among others.
Official Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Brendan Allen by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Correction: this story originally indicated Allen had won his first fight with Anthony Hernandez. The reverse is true. Story updated to reflect.
