UFC fighter Jack Hermansson, who recently won a unanimous decision over Joe Pyfer, has expressed his desire to move on from fighting at the UFC APEX, citing a preference for larger arenas and crowds, though he would not reject a good opponent even if the fight were to take place at the APEX.
Jack Hermansson’s had enough of the UFC APEX. He’s itching for a change.
Just this past Saturday, he got back in the game, winning a unanimous decision against Joe Pyfer. UFC Vegas 86 was the event, and many thought it was a setup for Pyfer. He’s a hot prospect in the division, after all. But Hermansson? He saw it as a golden opportunity.
“He had a lot of hype,” Hermansson admitted in a chat with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. Everyone was talking about Pyfer. So when Hermansson got the fight, he wondered, “Why is this good for me?”
But then he realized. A main event, right after a loss? Not a bad deal. Plus, all eyes were on Pyfer. Hermansson thought, “This is my chance to shine.”
And shine he did. The win was Hermansson’s eleventh in UFC. It kept “The Joker” (that’s Hermansson, by the way) right up there in the division’s top-15 rankings. But there was a downside. The fight happened in the UFC APEX.
UFC’s been hosting events at the APEX for years. Fans and fighters alike have noticed the lack of a crowd. It changes the vibe, you know? Hermansson knows it all too well. Four of his last six fights were at the APEX. And he’s ready for something new.
“I’ve had enough of it,” Hermansson confessed about the venue. He’s had his share of fights there, plus those COVID-era fights without an audience. He’s just sick of it.
He craves big arenas, big crowds. Something different. Watching fights at the APEX is cool, and it looks good on TV with the sound and all. But fighting in front of a huge crowd? Nothing compares.
Before 2020, Hermansson was a UFC road warrior, fighting worldwide. Now, he’s mostly at the APEX. The fighting’s the same, but the victories feel less sweet.
“I’m so turned on when I’m in there,” Hermansson said. It doesn’t affect his performance, but it does affect the enjoyment. Especially after a win, soaking in the crowd’s energy. Without the crowd, the experience isn’t as great.
But Hermansson won’t outright reject the APEX. Headlining events is a strong motivator. The opportunity is key.
“The most important thing is the opponent,” he said. If it’s a good opponent, he won’t turn it down. But he’d really prefer to fight somewhere else.
Hopefully, that opponent will be Nassourdine Imavov. He won a majority decision over Roman Dolidze at UFC Vegas 85, the weekend before Hermansson’s big win. That’s who “The Joker” hopes to face next.
“I would like Imavov,” Hermansson said. It’s a good fight, especially after his recent win. They’re close in the rankings, so it makes sense. He’s fought a lot of other guys high up, and he doesn’t think he’ll face a top-five guy. So Nassourdine Imavov? Makes sense for the next fight.