Anthony Hernandez and Ikram Aliskerov will collide in an explosive matchup of middleweight finishers at UFC 298.
MMA Fighting confirmed the matchup with sources close to the situation on Friday. UFC 298 takes place Feb. 17 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Hernandez (11-2, 1 NC) rides a four-fight win streak into the bout highlighted by stoppages of Edmen Shahbazyan, Marc-Andre Barriault, and Rodolfo Vieira, the latter of which was a top-three finalist for MMA Fighting’s 2021 Submission of the Year. Affectionately nicknamed “Fluffy,” the 30-year-old veteran holds a 5-2 overall record with one no-contest over his five-year octagon run, having fallen short against Kevin Holland and Markus Perez.
Aliskerov (15-1) is one of the most intriguing up-and-comers at 185 pounds. The 30-year-old Dagestan native has looked sensational thus far in his UFC career, scoring first-round knockouts over Phil Hawes and Warlley Alves. Aliskerov’s lone professional loss notably came at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev in a 2019 bout under the Brave FC banner.
UFC 298 is headlined by a featherweight title bout between longtime UFC champion Alexander Volkanovski and undefeated contender Ilia Topuria.
Damon Martin contributed to this report.
