Even with the physical aspects, for Hernandez it solely comes down to the mental game.
“For me though, again, it’s just cliche, you vs you bulls**, but that has never resonated more deeply than after that last fight,” Hernandez said. “For me, it’s just going in there, finding my tempo, my pace, and just agreeing with myself the entire fight and not getting in my way.”
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When he reflects on his last fight, which was a second-round TKO loss, Hernandez has anger, which has turned into motivation for this weekend.
“I felt like I found a way to lose that fight and I’m angry about it,” Hernandez said. “I haven’t had that kind of passion, both good and bad, in a little bit. For me it’s entirely a decision to go win in this fight, to go completely destroy the side of me that can sabotage those opportunities. That’s what I’m eager to take advantage of this week.”