UFC On ESPN 4 Main Card Preview & Predictions

5. Alexander Hernandez (10-2) Vs. Francisco Trinaldo (23-6)

After winning his first two fights in the UFC, 26-year-old Alexander 'The Great' Hernandez ran into a roadblock in the form of Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. This Saturday he has a chance to get back on track when he faces former Brazilian kickboxing champ Francisco Trinaldo.

Hernandez shocked fans in his UFC debut when he knocked out the heavily favored Beneil Dariush. The lightweight prospect followed it up with a victory over Olivier Aubin-Mercier, before suffering his first UFC loss to Cerrone. Hernandez is an explosive, aggressive striker, who won't hesitate to take his opponents back and slip in a rear-naked choke should the opportunity present itself.

His opponent, Francisco Trinaldo, is a talented kickboxer who has quietly had a very nice career in the UFC. He's a diverse striker who possesses a good deal of power as well. The 40-year-old is 2-2 over the course of his last four fights, having defeated Jim Miller and Evan Dunham in that span.

Trinaldo is a solid technical striker, but Hernandez looks like the faster, more athletic fighter at this point in their respective careers. A three-round standup war should slightly favor Hernandez. Moreover, based on what we've seen, neither man would appear to have a significant advantage in the grappling department. It should be noted that in his twenty-nine pro MMA fights Trinaldo has never been knocked out, so it would be quite the feather in Hernandez's cap if he can get it done here.

The Pick: Hernandez via decision.

 
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From 1999-2003 Jacques performed on the Florida independent pro wrestling circuit. He also has an amateur wrestling background and currently holds a certification in Krav Maga. Jacques graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003, with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. Follow him on twitter @goodeals79.