Jai Herbert’s UFC run | A “Banger” as game as they come

When you think of tough fighters, fighters who won’t say ‘no’ to a fight they’re offered, Jai Herbert is one of the first men that springs to mind. Once again, “The Black Country Banger” is booked to fight an extremely high level opponent in L’udovit Klein.

Rolling it back to 2020, when the Wolverhampton native signed for the UFC following an impressive tenure with Cage Warriors, where he held the lightweight championship, he was thrown in at the deep end. Francisco Trinaldo was the man who welcomed him into the UFC Octagon, and at that point, was 21 fights into his UFC tenure, marking his 8th year with the promotional powerhouse. Despite losing that fight, Herbert showcased the exact reason the UFC signed him, unbelievable heart and crisp, powerful striking.

After an exceptionally tough first matchup, the UFC didn’t reel it in for his second outing. Next up for Herbert, was Renato “Money” Moicano. The former title contender, like the aforementioned Trinaldo, was Brazilian puzzle with a phenomenally well-rounded game. Having kicked it with some of the best fighters in the world, names like Aldo and Kattar, Moicano proved too tough a test for Herbert, this soon in his UFC career. Despite that though, Herbert’s game mentality and heart resonated with the UFC brass, and he was booked for another fight, just four months later.

Khama Worthy was his assignment come 23rd of October 2021, and the experience he picked up not only during his rewarding Cage Warriors career, but also his first two outings under the UFC lights, paid dividends in that bout. Once again, the 34-year-old exemplified beautiful striking, packing one hell of a punch, and that power resulted in a devastating knockout. Herbert had turned his luck, and now had the chance to put on a run of wins in the UFC to gain some momentum.

Once again though, the UFC had different plans, and instead, decided to match him up with one of the most feared prospects in combat sports, Ilia Topuira. Feared isn’t a word that deters the ever game Herbert. For the first time under the UFC banner, Herbert was going to have the chance to fight in front of his home crowd.

Round 1 of their matchup played out how fans may, or may not, have expected. Herbert caused Topuira a world of trouble, and even to this day, inflicted the most damage that has been inflicted on the soaring Spaniard. Just a minute into their bout, Jai had Topuira rocked with a viscous head-kick, but unfortunately, Topuira’s toughness prevailed. Once again, a fight that Jai can hold his head up and be proud, regardless of the result.

With the promotion announcing they were going to return to the Big Smoke for a second time in 2022, Herbert wanted in, and Kyle Nelson was his dance partner.

After showcasing a terrific arsenal of stand-up fighting through his first four fights, Herbert came into this one wanting to express a different side of his game. His well rounded approach and game-plan in this fight worked in his favour, and he found himself returning to the win column, with a unanimous decision over the dangerous Nelson.

That now leads us to this point. Five UFC fights down, and not a single one of them an easy matchup. Of course, in the big leagues of the UFC, easy matchups don’t exist, but favourable ones definitely do, and that hasn’t been the case for Herbert. The same thing runs true for his upcoming fight with L’udovit Klein, but as previously mentioned, Jai Herbert is as game as they come, and the word ‘No’ isn’t part of his vocabulary.

L’udovit Klein is a tricky fighter with excelling skills in all aspects of Martial Arts. But so were Trinaldo, Moicano, Worthy, Topuira and Nelson. One thing Herbert has over the majority of fighters in the fight game, is a tough Black Country heart. Not only that, but his already elite skills are strengthening too.

On March 18th, the heart and utterly game mentality of Jai Herbert will once again shine through, as he takes on L’udovit Klein, who himself is trying to go 1-1 against Team Renegade’s fighters.