Chris Curtis expects 'trench war' with Anthony Hernandez in September UFC clash

LAS VEGAS – Chris Curtis doesn’t anticipate a points fight with Alexander Hernandez when they meet at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 16.

Curtis (30-10 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will attempt to put a two-fight winless skid behind him when he takes on Hernandez (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in a middleweight bout at T-Mobile Arena. Hernandez enters the contest on a four-fight winning streak, with three of those coming by finish.

An opponent who doesn’t care to go to the judges is exactly what Curtis thinks he needs at this point. He expects Hernandez to meet him head on inside the octagon, and from there the result will be determined by who can dig deeper.

“I’m excited, man,” Curtis told MMA Junkie Radio on UFC X Radio Row earlier this month. “‘Fluffy’ is a dog. This is the kind of fight I love. I love in the fight grinding, trench war, and ‘Fluffy’ is that guy. ‘Fluffy’ doesn’t want to win on points. He wants to finish you. I want to finish you.”

Curtis and Hernandez have traveled somewhat in the same circles in recent years, but not enough to make accepting the fight awkward. Curtis primarily trains out of Xtreme Couture, and Hernandez has spent some time in the gym, as well.

They haven’t shared the mats at the same time, however, and Curtis said that makes things easier heading into fight night.

“I think we’ve never even run into each other, oddly enough,” Curtis said. “But with Xtreme you get a lot of guys in and out. Our paths just never crossed, which is fine.”