New motivation has Visalia's Mark "The Lion" Hernandez ready for 559 Fights 96

It is Fight week in the Valley! 559 Fights is back at the Visalia Convention Center Friday April 7th. 2023 with 559 Fights 96. The road to 559 Fights 100 continues, as the team at 559 Fights has one more action packed card scheduled before they head outdoors for the Summer series. The lightweight division will be highlighted, with the promotions vacant title up for grabs in the main event. Not only will we see a new Lightweight Champion crowned at 559 Fights 96, but the picture will be more clear on what we can look forward to next in the lightweight division.

The vacant 559 Fights lightweight title is on the line in the main event Friday night in Visalia at 559 Fights 96. Former 559 Fights featherweight champion (3-3) Martin Montez out of Fresno steps up in weight to take on Fountain Valley's undefeated (4-0) Blake Decourcy. In the co main event another two top amateur lightweights will meet. As Visalia's (3-3-1) Mark "The Lion" Hernandez takes on former title challenger (3-3) Joseph Palacios out of Lompoc, Ca. We got to meet Mark Hernandez at a recent visit to Crisp's Kickboxing, Muay Thai & MMA in Visalia. I reconnected with Hernandez prior to his fight at 559 Fights 96. 

Born and raised in Visalia California, Mark "The Lion" Hernandez, has new motivation since he's been back in the amateur MMA scene. Hernandez, who graduated from  El Diamante High School in 2017 holds a (3-3-1) amateur MMA record. He currently trains with MMA veteran Darren "DC" Crisp who recently received his black belt in Muay Thai under Master Rafael Cordeiro and Kings MMA. I started by asking Hernandez what got him into MMA in the first place? He replied,

"I was 17 when I decided I wanted to learn to fight, once I joined a gym I knew this is what I wanted to do and haven’t looked back."

Prior to this year Hernandez hadn't competed since the middle of 2021. He returned earlier this year at 559 Fights 94, where he picked up an impressive win putting him right back in the lightweight mix. Hernandez took time away from the sport to welcome his new motivation, that has him focused on going after it all. saying,

"I took about a year off when my son was born, he is one and a half now. I didn’t want to miss his first year. Being a father is everything to me and having a son has lit a fire in me to reach the highest level I possibly can. So I came back to work with Darren Crisp and met all the guys I now call brothers."

The brothers Hernandez is referring to, is the group of fighters led by Crisp's Kickboxing Muay Thai and MMA Hernandez trains alongside former 559 Fights welterweight champ Shane Christie, undefeated Tyler Saelee, J.J. Madrid and more. Hernandez  takes on former lightweight title challenger Joseph Palacios who owns a (3-3) record. Palacios took on a teammate of Hernandez in a title fight last year, so Hernandez is familiar with his opponent saying, 

"He (Joseph Palacios) fought my teammate Shane Christie in a tough fight and is a very game opponent, I’m ready to go!"

A win here could put Hernandez in line for a title shot. I asked Hernandez, not looking past this fight. What are the future plans for your MMA career? He responded,

"Obviously one fight at a time but I’m 23 and looking to reach my highest potential in this sport, I have the coach and team to do so."

The preparation is done, all that is left to do is weigh in Friday morning and Hernandez is ready for action at 559 Fights 96. I asked if there was anybody he wanted to thank? And if he had a message to the 559 Fight Fans? he finished with, 

"I come for the finish every fight and leave everything in there, thank you guys for your continued support of us fighters. Shoutout to my supportive family and my team, can’t do this without them."

559 Fights 96 goes down April 7th 2023 at Visalia Convention Center, Tickets available now at www.eventbrite.com/e/559-fights-96-tickets-559127153367

559 Fights 96 Card:

559 Fights Lightweight Championship (4-0) Blake Decourcy vs (3-3) Martin Montez

(3-3-1) Mark Hernandez vs (3-3) Joseph Palacios

(3-2) Gino Gonzales vs (2-1) Dorian Hale

(2-0) Tyler Saelee vs (2-1) Volodymyr Burian

(2-3) Ezekiel Bucey vs (1-3) Pablo Solis

(2-1) Ion Cojocaru vs (2-1) Jared Sutherland

(1-0) Richard Sandoval vs (1-1) Hector Morales

(1-0) Rudy Contreras vs (1-0) Raul Valdovinos

(1-0) Kyle Mask vs (0-1) Darrian Williams

(1-2) Quentin Armstrong vs (0-1) Jorge Chaidez

(1-1) Bryson Davis vs (0-0) William Lavelle

(0-0) Jackson Hemauer vs (0-0) Pedro Rios

(0-0) Bruno Chavez vs (0-0) Jesus Cardenas

(1-0) Preston Roach vs (0-1) Zachary Chambers

(0-1) Jonathon Simpson vs (0-3) Eugene Antonio

(0-2) Braxton Stalnaker vs (0-0) Daniel Cerna

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By: Daniel "Trip" Quintana www.noweakshitever.com