Alexander Hernandez neck injury gave big scare at UFC Fight Night 254

LAS VEGAS – Alexander Hernandez beat Kurt Holobaugh with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 254 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Hernandez, who won for the second straight time on the heels of a rough 1-4 two-year stretch.

Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh

Result: Alexander Hernandez def. Kurt Holobaugh via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Hernandez (16-8 MMA, 8-7 UFC), Holobaugh (22-9 MMA, 2-6 UFC)
Key stats: Hernandez landed four of his five takedown attempts and had more than six minutes of total control time.

Hernandez on the fight’s key moment

“I’m proud of the adjustments I made securing the takedowns. That’s something I’ve wanted to do in my career for a while, is blend. I’ve always said I’m not the best at any one thing, but I’m pretty damn good all around. I think I finally showed that.”

Hernandez on his pre-fight injury

“I was dealing with four bulging discs in my neck (and) two herniations. It was a headache this whole camp. It was a longer notice than I like. I think we had a nine-week notice, and five of those weeks we had to tip-toe around a lot of training, and then we were able to rip it kind of hard toward the end. Whatever happened toward the end of that first round, I got hit with a clothesline or something … and I had this paralysis feeling in my arms afterward. I wasn’t able to fire off shots the way I like to. … It was an alarming moment when you get up and your fingers are numb. ‘OK, what are we going to do now?’ You make the adjustments and you make it happen.”

Hernandez on working with a new team

“I don’t know if that was necessarily according to plan. We were prepared. I’m proud of my effort, I’m proud of the team. … I knew it was going to go one of two ways, whether it be a dogfight or whether I was going to able to find him and (finish him cleanly).”

To hear more from Hernandez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.