For the better part of 25 minutes, Hernandez and Allen mostly battled on the mat. Hernandez was able to control Allen in the majority of the exchanges, while Allen, who collected half his professional wins to that point via submission, fished for creative submissions, including several unsuccessful leg locks.
That strategy came much to the chagrin of his corner, which included UFC veteran Gerald Meerschaert. They wanted the young stalwart to get into the dominant positions Hernandez was finding himself in instead. Allen, though, couldn’t get out of his own way as the fight went long.
“I just mentally quit on myself,” he said. “I didn’t want to be there no more. I slipped twice on the canvas when he was hurt, and I just got so frustrated. I just remember being super immature, and so those are the holes I’m looking to fix. Still, to this day, I’d like to fix it. Just being open and not putting too much pressure on anything and just letting the fight transpire how it’s going to happen is the biggest key for me.”
Although Allen perhaps didn’t give his best effort for all 25 minutes, he stayed alive and dangerous in the fight while Hernandez sought a finishing shot or submission. Hernandez complimented Allen, calling him a “tough mother******” and remembering how much his hands and elbows hurt from striking his young foe.
