Tag: Anthony Hernandez

Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland reinstated for May 16 UFC event

The UFC has reinstated Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland for May 16 – but with a different location.

The matchup between [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] has been reinstated for the same date – but at a different location.

A matchup between Hernandez (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Holland (16-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC) was on tap for May 16 at Tachi Palace Resort and Casino in Lemoore, Calif., prior to the promotion postponing all events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. With the UFC preparing for a relaunch on May 9, the middleweight fight has been reinstated.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the in-the-works booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

The event takes place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. The card is expected to air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.

Hernandez, 26, is coming off his first UFC victory. After he lost his promotional debut against Markus Perez in February, Hernandez rebounded in August when he defeated Jun Yong Park by submission.

As for Holland, the 27-year-old Texas-based fighter lost his most recent fight to Brendan Allen in October. Prior to the second-round submission defeat, Holland had defeated John Phillips, Gerald Meerschaert, and Alessio Di Chirico back-to-back-to-back.

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With the addition, here’s the current UFC lineup for May 16:

  • Walt Harris vs. Alistair Overeem
  • Eryk Anders vs. Krzysztof Jotko
  • Anthony Hernandez vs. Kevin Holland

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Kevin Holland replaces Puna Soriano, meets Anthony Hernandez on UFC’s May 16 card

The second UFC appearance of Puna Soriano is once again pushed back after his withdrawal from a planned bout with Anthony Hernandez.

The second octagon appearance for [autotag]Puna Soriano[/autotag] is once again pushed back after his withdrawal from a planned bout with [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] next month.

Soriano (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is out of his middleweight matchup against Hernandez (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on the UFC’s planned May 16 card, according to two people familiar with the matter but not authorized to discuss it publicly. He will be replaced by [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag] (16-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

The reason behind Soriano’s withdrawal was not disclosed.

Holland, 27, will attempt to bounce back from a submission loss against Brendan Allen last October at UFC on ESPN 6. He’d won three consecutive bouts prior and is keen to return to the winning track.

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It won’t be easy against Hernandez, 26, who picked up his fist octagon triumph in August when he submitted Jun Yong Park at UFC on ESPN+ 15. “Fluffy” has finished his opponent in all but one of his career wins.

The UFC card on May 16 originally was scheduled to take place in San Diego. The coronavirus has caused California to suspended all combat sports events through May, and the UFC has since been making adjustments to its event schedule.

UFC 249, which is the promotion’s next card on April 18, reportedly will take place on tribal land at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, Calif. It will not be sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission, and UFC president Dana White said the plan is to host the next two months of fight cards in the same location.

If the UFC succeeds in its plan, the May 16 card is likely to go down there.

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Puna Soriano out of UFC on ESPN 8, rebooked for May event; Eric Spicely gets new opponent

Two cards have been shaken up after one fighter was shifted off of UFC on ESPN 8.

[autotag]Puna Soriano[/autotag] won’t compete at UFC on ESPN 8 after all, but it didn’t take long for his next fight to be booked.

Originally expected to face [autotag]Eric Spicely[/autotag] March 28 in Columbus, Ohio, Soriano (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) now will meet [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] on May 16 at an event expected to take place in San Diego.

As for Spicely (12-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC), the submission will remain on UFC on ESPN 8 card to take on [autotag]Roman Kopylov[/autotag] instead.

Two people with knowledge of the situation informed MMA Junkie of the Soriano-Hernandez booking but asked to remain anonymous as the UFC has yet to make an announcement. The promotion announced Spicely vs. Kopylov (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on Friday.

After earning a UFC contract on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Soriano made his promotional debut at UFC 245 in December. Taking on Oskar Piechota, Soriano leveled his Polish opponent en route to a knockout victory in Round 1. Soriano, 27, has finished six of seven opponents with five knockouts and one submission to his name.

Also a DWCS signee, Hernandez (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will look to turn a win into a winning streak. His most recent fight came in August, when he submitted Jun Yong Park by second-round anaconda choke. A former LFA champion, Hernandez has gone to decision only once. The MMA Gold Fight Team product has five submission victories.

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