Brendan Allen and Anthony Hernandez meet Saturday on the UFC Fight Night 252 main card at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
Last event: 2-2-1
UFC main cards, 2025: 10-10-1
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez UFC Seattle preview
Allen (24-6 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) met many moons ago in LFA, with Hernandez winning by unanimous decision in 2018. Seven years later, they will meet as ranked middleweights in a high-stakes co-headliner. Hernandez is on a six-fight winning streak after most recently finishing Michel Pereira in the fifth round of an October headliner to earn a Performance of the Night bonus. Allen most recently had a seven-fight winning streak snapped by top contender Nassourdine Imavov last September.
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez UFC Seattle expert pick, prediction
Death, taxes and the UFC matchmakers drowning us with rematches – particularly at middleweight.
But despite my disdain for the UFC’s fetish with featuring middleweights, I’d argue that this fight between Allen and Hernandez deserves some five-round distinction.
Given Hernandez’s endless gas tank, a three-round affair favors Allen, on paper. That said, history tells us that if you can’t finish “Fluffy” early, then Hernandez only gets stronger from the middle rounds onward.
To Allen’s credit, he’s sharpened his striking since their first fight and does a good job of targeting the body with kicks and knees (which will certainly serve him well when looking at Hernandez’s suspect history of absorbing body shots).
Still, I have a hard time going against the superior scrambler and wrestler in Hernandez. And since ‘scrambles win fights,’ as my old coach used to say, I’ll be siding with Hernandez to dig out another decision here.
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez UFC Seattle odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the fighter who won the first encounter, listing Hernandez -320 and Allen +245 via FanDuel.
Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez UFC Seattle start time, how to watch
Allen and Hernandez are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 10:40 p.m. ET. The fight will stream on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
