<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9602123" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jack-Hermansson">Jack Hermansson</keyword> has been through the wars to get to his fight Saturday.</li><li>The 32-year-old veteran suffered broken bones in his last fight, and has also since battled COVID.</li><li>Now, he's looking to inflict damage of his own as he chases a <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> title shot.</li></ul>Battle-hardened Jack Hermansson woke up after his last <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> bout with broken bones after he'd engaged Marvin Vettori in a five-round war, winning "Fight of the Night" honors, at a Las Vegas show.Though Hermansson suffered an eye injury early and had to fight more than four rounds with compromised vision, the two competitors combined to throw an absurd 741 strikes in the 25-minute fight.Hermansson told Insider this week it wasn't really the broken orbital bone that hurt the most in the days that followed the December 2020 brawl, but rather his broken toe.Eventually, he recovered, returned to his training camp, and got ready to rebound from that decision loss to Vettori by preparing for Edmen Shahbazyan, a renowned striker, at the UFC's event Saturday in Vegas. But Hermansson had to endure another fight in recent month, as he tested positive for the coronavirus, succumbing to flu symptoms, before testing negative, and rearranging the fight for this weekend."Me and my team got COVID," he told Insider. "We definitely got some physical challenges and of course, mentally as well, when you don't know how you're going to be feeling. Everybody's clear now, negative, and we are ready to go."We definitely felt it [the virus]," Hermansson added. "It was like … when the news came out, we already had it for a while. It was like flu, but we were sick. We kept ourselves positive, and I knew myself if I was getting well again, cleared to fight, we would make it. I'm just happy the fight is still on."On Shahbazyan, Hermansson said: "He's a sharpshooter, a good size, and he has his best skills in the boxing department - stand-up. I think with my movement and my pressure and everything I bring to the table, it should be a good fight.""Different how we handle a loss. Some people might not be very affected, others might be nervous. What if I lose this one as well. But I think we are all prepared for a loss every time we step into a cage so it shouldn't make any difference."<h2>Hermansson has been through a gauntlet run in the UFC</h2><div type="image" title="Jack Hermansson UFC" height="1333" width="2000" msid="82867309" hostid="261"></div>In his last four fights, Hermansson has beaten Ronaldo Souza, lost to Jared Cannonier, rebounded against Kelvin Gastelum, before dropping a points win to Vettori in what has been a gauntlet run of top tier UFC opponents.He told us he's used to the level of opposition in the top five rankings at middleweight, and is envisioning a win this weekend, so that he can make a push for a title shot."The next step is the title," he said.The current champion is Israel Adesanya, who returns to the 185-pound division to defend his title after an unsuccessful attempt at two-weight champion status when he lost to Jan Blachowicz earlier this year.It was a result that may have exposed a blueprint to beating Adesanya, but Hermansson said only one or two athletes at middleweight have the skills to be able to do that."Not everybody's going to be able to exploit that Adesanya, but there are a few people that probably can use [what Blachowicz did]. Vettori is probably one of them, me, and we have Chris Weidman who is a good wrestler/grappler."But I think it's going to be tough for anybody anyway … Adesanya is really good at keeping the distance. It might have been Blachowicz had the striking to hang with Adesanya before the takedowns. I think it's really hard to just take him down in desperation. You need to set it up, which is what Blachowicz did so well."With one eye on Adesanya, Hermansson is looking at a pathway that can get him to a championship spot. Beating Shahbazyan gets him one step closer, he said, but added that he'll likely need another win over a big-name opponent to secure the fight he wants most."I'm hoping to get another high-profile fight after this one. I'd love to fight against Paulo Costa, or someone like that, to put me into that position for a title fight."The UFC's Fight Night event in Vegas will be broadcast on ESPN in the US and BT Sport in the UK.

UFC star Jack Hermansson has been through the wars but is back and ready to rumble on Saturday in Las Vegas

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> middleweight <keyword id="2899551" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kelvin-Gastelum">Kelvin Gastelum</keyword> said fighting on a beach wouldn't have been a good idea as it is way too hot in Abu Dhabi.</li><li>Gastelum is one of 24 athletes competing in the third of the UFC's four "<keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>" events Saturday, when he takes on Jack Hermansson in the co-main event.</li><li>When the UFC president Dana White first said that he had leased a private island to host international MMA events while the coronavirus pandemic restricted travel, there was great speculation as to what that could look like.</li><li>Theories included a UFC Octagon on the beach, underneath the sun, with White sitting on a throne cageside surrounded by tiki torches.</li><li>As fun as the idea sounded, Gastelum, who used the beach-side training Octagon to exercise in this week, appeared grateful "Fight Island" events are inside an air-conditioned venue.</li></ul>FIGHT ISLAND — Kelvin Gastelum poured cold water on the concept of holding mixed martial arts contests beneath a hot sun by the beach."It's not the right conditions," the UFC middleweight contender said at a pre-fight media event attended by Insider, ahead of his bout Saturday against Jack Hermansson, in the third of the UFC's four <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Island" cards</a> in Abu Dhabi.Competing in an Octagon by the sea, with the UFC president Dana White sitting on a throne surrounded by tiki torches, is perhaps a fantasy some fans may have had when White originally said he had leased a private island to host his combat <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> shows while the ongoing coronavirus pandemic restricted international travel.The world's mixed martial arts company struck a deal with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism for a four-event residency in a quarantined area on Yas Island.There is a training Octagon on the beach, and though Gastelum visited the site to take photos and exercise, he said it is far too hot and too humid to compete in an actual match, there."It's way too hot," Gastelum said. "There's too much mist in the air, I don't know what's in the air there, but the conditions to fight by the beach, in the open air, is … not right."Temperatures on Yas Beach, where the UFC's training Octagon can be found, range from 108 to 113 Fahrenheit (42 to 45 Celcius), with a humidity of 25% to 50%.Gastelum, a Californian, added: "Although fans would have liked to have seen it … and I would have liked to have seen it — I love being by the beach — But to fight in it? It's not the right conditions."Gastelum and Hermansson's match, like all "Fight Island" fights, do not take place outside, but, rather, inside the purpose-built, behind-closed doors, and air-conditioned Flash Forum venue.Gastelum is a No.7-ranked competitor in the 170-pound weight class and would leap-frog his opponent, the No.6-ranked Hermansson, should he triumph at the "UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2" show.The fighter is not only targeting a win, but the matches to take thereafter so that he can position himself into a UFC title shot."I'm always on that mindset … for gold," he told the media. "Always thinking about the path to take me to the title. [And] first stop on the list is Jack Hermansson."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/photo-calvin-kattar-cut-dan-iges-face-open-with-boxing-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Kattar landed 70 strikes on Dan Ige's face, leaving his opponent with a swollen eye, countless cuts, and many bruises</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mounir-lazzez-wins-violently-in-very-good-ufc-striking-match-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mounir Lazzez beat Abdul Alhassan in one of the most violent, fun, very good 'Fight Island' matches you'll see all summer</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-fighters-unfazed-about-fighting-in-pandemic-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC stars say MMA's new normal is 'eerie,' but they're unfazed about fighting in the middle of a pandemic</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/kamaru-usman-welcomes-a-crazy-fight-with-georges-st-pierre-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamaru Usman would welcome a 'crazy fight' with Georges St. Pierre after he dominated Jorge Masvidal on 'Fight Island'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/davey-grant-won-by-knockout-so-ufc-gave-50k-bonus-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The UFC gave a fighter a $50,000 bonus after he overcame a fractured jaw and broken nose to KO his opponent</a>

One of the UFC's best middleweights said it wouldn't have been right to have "Fight Island" bouts on the beach

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10159009" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jared-cannonier">Jared Cannonier</keyword> said he fought his <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> 254 match with a broken or fractured arm.</li><li>The American middleweight lost Saturday to the division's former champion <keyword id="9642214" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="robert-whittaker">Robert Whittaker</keyword>.</li><li>Whittaker apparently injured Cannonier's left arm with the first kick he threw in the fight, Cannonier said.</li><li>He posted a photograph on his Instagram account which shows bandages wrapped around his forearm.</li></ul>An American UFC fighter called Jared Cannonier said he fought three rounds Saturday with a fractured arm after his opponent injured him with his first kick of the match.Cannonier fought Robert Whittaker in the co-main event at UFC 254 on <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fight Island</a> in Abu Dhabi, losing a decision.According to his later comments, he did so with a fractured arm."That didn't go exactly how I wanted but my spirits remain high and I'm happy with how I fought all things considered," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/killagorillamma/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the 36-year-old said on Instagram</a>."The very first kick he threw broke or fractured my left ulna, I couldn't find my groove and adjust quickly to get the W [win] so I'll take my L [loss] with pride."Cannonier had won three bouts heading into the <keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword> finale, defeating David Branch, Anderson Silva, and Jack Hermansson all by technical knockout.Losing to Whittaker interrupts that winning streak, and maneuvers the Australian into a likely second title shot at the UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, as Whittaker now has two big wins in a row."Whittaker certainly lived up to my expectations before and after the fight. Congrats mate."Cannonier shared a photograph on his social media account which shows bandages wrapped around part of his left arm.Instagram Embed: //instagram.com/p/CGw74XRpNi9/embed Width: 540pxRead more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/gaethje-told-nurmagomedov-he-made-his-father-really-proud-ufc254-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Gaethje told Khabib Nurmagomedov: 'I'm so sorry for your loss. You just made your father really proud.'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/photos-liana-jojuas-ufc-uniform-stained-red-after-bloody-nose-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Post-fight photos show a female fighter stitched-up with a blood-splattered uniform after her nose was sliced open at UFC 254</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/dana-white-reacts-to-khabib-nurmagomedov-ufc254-win-retirement-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC boss Dana White reacted to Khabib Nurmagomedov's win by saying 'he's the baddest mother f----- on the planet'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-phil-hawes-struck-18-second-knockout-on-ufc-debut-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American middleweight stunned everyone on Fight Island with an 18-second knockout on his UFC debut</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/this-nurmagomedov-vs-gaethje-photo-encapsulates-mmas-beauty-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One photo perfectly encapsulates the beauty of MMA as Justin Gaethje consoles Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon</a>

An American fighter said he fought 3 rounds with a fractured arm after his UFC opponent injured him with the first kick

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9599097" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="deiveson-figueiredo">Deiveson Figueiredo</keyword> and <keyword id="9599098" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="joseph-benavidez">Joseph Benavidez</keyword> fight a flyweight rematch Saturday, and whoever wins will be awarded the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> title.</li><li>Figueiredo and Benavidez match-up for the second time this year, and though the UFC boss <keyword id="1358348" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dana-White">Dana White</keyword> said it's cool to see Benavidez get another shot at a title, he recognizes this may be the last one.</li><li>Benavidez is up against a guy who has already knocked him out once. And Figueiredo told the media this week that he intends to do it all again.</li><li>"My game-plan is … hunt him down and try and knock him out, but I'm sure he's going to try to take me down so I'll submit him," the 32-year-old said.</li></ul><keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">FIGHT ISLAND</keyword> — "It's cool to see" Joseph Benavidez rewarded with another UFC title shot, the UFC president Dana White said, but the opponent standing in his way is a man who has already knocked him out once, and is determined to do it again Saturday.Benavidez challenges for the vacant UFC flyweight championship in a 125-pound match against Deiveson Figueiredo in <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the third of the UFC's four "Fight Island" events</a> this month, the "UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2" show inside the behind-closed doors Flash Forum in a quarantined area of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.Benavidez has been a UFC staple for a decade, has competed 34 times as an MMA pro, and is recognized by White as "a hard worker, never any bulls---."But the 35-year-old's title shot this weekend will, White said, likely be his last at glory. White told the media at a pre-fight press conference Friday that even Benavidez would recognize it as his last title shot, too."[He] is one of those guys, no matter who comes into contact with that guy, everyone likes Joe Benavidez," White said. "It's cool to see him get another opportunity."That opportunity is against Figueiredo, a jit jitsu expert from Brazil who appears to be as lethal on the ground as he is in stand-up. He's already finished Benavidez once this year.Figueiredo told reporters at the same press conference, which Insider attended, that regardless of what strategy Benavidez brings into the match, he'll be waiting to finish him with strikes, or submissions."My game-plan is … hunt him down and try and knock him out, but I'm sure he's going to try to take me down so I'll submit him," the 32-year-old said.The Figueiredo and Benavidez fight headlines Saturday's show and is <a href="https://www.insider.com/kelvin-gastelum-fight-island-beach-bouts-wouldnt-have-been-good-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supported by a middleweight match between Jack Hermansson and Kelvin Gastelum</a>.There are 12 bouts on the card in total.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/photo-calvin-kattar-cut-dan-iges-face-open-with-boxing-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Kattar landed 70 strikes on Dan Ige's face, leaving his opponent with a swollen eye, countless cuts, and many bruises</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mounir-lazzez-wins-violently-in-very-good-ufc-striking-match-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mounir Lazzez beat Abdul Alhassan in one of the most violent, fun, very good 'Fight Island' matches you'll see all summer</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-fighters-unfazed-about-fighting-in-pandemic-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC stars say MMA's new normal is 'eerie,' but they're unfazed about fighting in the middle of a pandemic</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/kamaru-usman-welcomes-a-crazy-fight-with-georges-st-pierre-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamaru Usman would welcome a 'crazy fight' with Georges St. Pierre after he dominated Jorge Masvidal on 'Fight Island'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/davey-grant-won-by-knockout-so-ufc-gave-50k-bonus-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The UFC gave a fighter a $50,000 bonus after he overcame a fractured jaw and broken nose to KO his opponent</a>

An MMA veteran has one last shot at the UFC title but fights a guy who has already KO'd him once, and is determined to do it again

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The third of the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword>'s four "<keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>" cards may have had a main event which lasted less than a round, but it was a round that contained "pure violence" according to the UFC boss Dana White.</li><li><keyword id="9599097" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="deiveson-figueiredo">Deiveson Figueiredo</keyword> became the UFC flyweight champion after a one-sided submission victory over the MMA venteran <keyword id="9599098" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="joseph-benavidez">Joseph Benavidez</keyword>.</li><li>Figueiredo's dominance is underlined by his 40 strikes landed from 45 thrown, three knockdowns, and four submission attempts.</li><li>Benavidez cried after his first round loss. "I've died freaking 100 times, what's another death," he told the press at the post-fight conference.</li><li>Watch some of the highlights below.</li></ul>FIGHT ISLAND — Deiveson Figueiredo was so dominant in his flyweight championship win over Joseph Benavidez that the UFC boss Dana White called it "pure violence" at the post-fight press conference Sunday.Benavidez, now a four-time title challenger, has been one of the top competitors in the 125-pound weight class for more than a decade.His rematch against Figueiredo was his last shot at glory, but Figueiredo ensured there would be no Hollywood ending to the American's career."I've died freaking 100 times, what's another death," Benavidez said, before crying in the media tent adjacent to the behind-closed doors Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.Figueiredo finished Benavidez's title hopes with one brutal, merciless round. It included 40 strikes landed from 45 thrown, three knockdowns, and four submission attempts.The Brazilian battered and bloodied Benavidez, before getting a final submission attempt locked in — a rear-naked choke which Benavidez did not tap to, and instead was put to sleep.With Benavidez unconscious, Figueiredo celebrated. The 32-year-old had just returned one of the most one-sided, single-round championship victories ever seen in the modern UFC era.Watch one of Figueiredo's knockdowns here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN MMA (@espnmma) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284673025132998657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote>Watch the submission here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC (@ufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284673743785209856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote>Or here if you're in a different region:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1284673693315223553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2020</a></blockquote>"I've been saying all week I was going to finish this fight in the first round and I also wanted to put that first submission loss on his record, so I finished him in the first round and that's exactly what happened," said Figueiredo, who advanced his pro MMA record to 19 wins (nine knockouts, seven submissions, and three decisions) against one loss."I said I was going to break Benavidez … he didn't surprise me at all tonight, I actually thought he was a little bit slower than in the last fight," he added."I'm available for whoever the UFC wants to put in front of me, anyone at my level, but you have to be at my level because I'm a knockout artist, I'm going to knock you out," Figueiredo finished.Jack Hermansson defeated Kelvin Gastelum with a heel hook after 88 seconds of the first round in the co-main event.The "UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2" show was the third of the UFC's four <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Island" events</a> this month.The fourth and final event for this edition of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Island"</a> starts Saturday, July 25.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-ariane-lipski-submits-luana-carolina-in-the-first-round-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 26-year-old lived up to her 'Violence Queen' nickname as she beat her UFC opponent so bad, she had to be carried out of the arena</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-roman-dolidze-knocked-out-khadis-ibragimov-ufc-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An MMA fighter KO'd his opponent with a knee to the face, then hit him with 6 more punches when he was unconscious on the floor</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-photos-show-why-you-shouldnt-fight-grant-dawson-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A UFC photographer caught the precise moment Grant Dawson landed a painful knee strike in his 150-pound 'Fight Island' bout</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-amir-albazi-scored-rare-triangle-choke-on-ufc-debut-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A young submission specialist scored a rare triangle choke finish in the first round of his UFC 'Fight Island' match Saturday</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/photo-calvin-kattar-cut-dan-iges-face-open-with-boxing-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Calvin Kattar landed 70 strikes on Dan Ige's face, leaving his opponent with a swollen eye, countless cuts, and many bruises</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mounir-lazzez-wins-violently-in-very-good-ufc-striking-match-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mounir Lazzez beat Abdul Alhassan in one of the most violent, fun, very good 'Fight Island' matches you'll see all summer</a>

You Searched For "Jack Hermansson" and got 5 results

UFC star Jack Hermansson has been through the wars but is back and ready to rumble on Saturday in Las Vegas

Alan Dawson

One of the UFC's best middleweights said it wouldn't have been right to have "Fight Island" bouts on the beach

Alan Dawson

An American fighter said he fought 3 rounds with a fractured arm after his UFC opponent injured him with the first kick

Alan Dawson

An MMA veteran has one last shot at the UFC title but fights a guy who has already KO'd him once, and is determined to do it again

Alan Dawson

3 knockdowns, 4 submission attempts: Deiveson Figueiredo bloodies, then chokes Joseph Benavidez unconscious

Alan Dawson