Jack Hermansson’s rise into contention at middleweight continues at UFC Ft. Lauderdale
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UFC middleweight Jack “The Joker” Hermansson (19-4) was relatively unknown to most fight fans just a few months ago. He now finds himself #10 ranked, on a 3-fight win streak and in the main event against top contender, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
A win puts his dream within touching distance as he aims to upset Souza and propel himself into title contention.
What may seem like a meteoric rise to some, has in reality been a long hard journey for the 30-year-old fighter from Sweden.
The early MMA years
After turning professional in 2010, Hermanssons quality was clear for all to see. He quickly amassed a 5-0 record, finishing all his opponents. The call quickly came to sign for Bellator in what was ultimately proved to be too big of a step too early. Hermansson went 0-2 in the organization and was ultimately cut.
This failure didn’t seem to affect “The Joker” at all, he picked back up where he left off, competing most of the time in UK based promotion Cage Warriors. Throughout his career Hermansson has competed in Cage Warriors seven times, emerging victorious in each bout. After picking up the middleweight title and defending it twice during an 8-fight win streak, he got the call to the big show, this time with the UFC.
Making the UFC home
Hermansson’s early time in the UFC was nothing to write home about. The former Cage Warriors champion dropped two of his first five fights. Being stopped by both Cezar Ferreira and Thiago Santos in quick fashion, the jump in competition appeared once again appeared to be too much as he struggled against the upper echelon fighters.
Since 2018, “The Joker” has looked nothing short of spectacular, picking up three wins and three finishes over Thales Leites, Gerald Meerschaert and David Branch. The latest came in under a minute against a guy many expected Hermansson to struggle against. At 30 years of age, it appears Hermansson is hitting his peak, now in the middleweight top 10.
He is primed to make a real run at the title this year.
The jump to Jacare
The UFC Ft. Lauderdale card has been something of a mess. Several changes have disrupted the event as location and fights was subject to much change. Yoel Romero was slated to headline against Ronaldo Souza in an exciting rematch but fell out presenting a huge opportunity for a whole host of middleweights to main event against a true contender at 185 pounds. Hermansson fresh on the back of his spectacular win against Branch at UFC Philadelphia, got the call.
With such an opportunity comes a mighty foe. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is the number four ranked 185-pound fighter who has been consistently fighting and beating the worlds best for what seems like an eternity. Last time out Souza knocked Chris Weidman into another dimension to cap off his fight of the night performance.
A late notice call against the most talented fighter Hermansson has ever faced is less than an ideal situation, but this opportunity is too big to pass up. A win keeps the streak going, propels him into the top five and proves to fight fans Jack “The Joker” Hermansson is the next guy at middleweight.
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