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[ENGLISH] Jack Hermansson returns after injury – aims for the top in 2025!
Jack Hermansson is finally back in the octagon – and now he explains why he has been away for over a year. To Frontkick, he opens up about his injury, his rehabilitation, and his ambitions for the rest of 2025.
After a highly celebrated victory against Joe Pyfer in February 2024, “The Joker” Jack Hermansson went quiet.
The Swedish UFC veteran, who had long been at the top of the middleweight class, disappeared from the spotlight and fell out of the UFC’s official rankings due to inactivity.
Now he’s back, and in an exclusive comment to Frontkick, he explains why.
“I’ve been injured,” Jack Hermansson tells Frontkick. ”I’ve been focusing on rehab and coaching other MMA fighters, but in recent months, I’ve shifted more towards my own martial arts training.”
On June 28, Hermansson will step into the octagon to face knockout artist Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues at UFC 317 – one of the biggest events of the year, taking place during UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
It will be a stiff test for the Swede, who has been living in Norway since he was 19. While ”The Joker” has been rehabilitating, ”Robocop” Rodrigues has been climbing the middleweight ranks.
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Jack Hermansson defeated Joe Pyfer in February 2024. Pyfer had five straight knockout wins when he lost to ”The Joker”.
UFC 317: Jack Hermansson vs Gregory Rodrigues
Gregory Rodrigues notched three straight wins between 2023 and 2024, including a notable TKO win over Brad Tavares, earning him his first main event.
In February, Rodrigues faced former title challenger Jared Cannonier in Las Vegas, but suffered a brutal knockout in the fourth round. Now, ”Robocop” is aiming to re-enter the middleweight rankings.
For Hermansson, it’s a chance to prove once again that he belongs among the world’s elite. A win would give “The Joker” Hermansson a chance to aim for the top once more and reclaim his spot in the top 15.
“It would put me in a better position and hopefully lead to ranked opposition in the next fight,” he says of the significance of a win. “My goal is to have as many fights as possible in 2025.”
When asked who he would most like to face after Rodrigues, he says with a smile.
“If I had the choice, I would face the champion. But unfortunately, it’s not up to me.”
According to Hermansson, the middleweight division has remained relatively unchanged over the past year, aside from the belt continuing to change hands.
“I think the level remains the same. There are many talented fighters. It hasn’t changed much in the past year, except that the belt has moved from one unexpected champion to another.”
Reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is now scheduled to face Khamzat Chimaev in a title defense on August 16.
A win over Rodrigues at UFC 317 would mark a big step forward for Hermansson, potentially earning him a spot among the division’s elite once again – and the stacked UFC 317 card in Las Vegas offers the perfect stage for his comeback.
- Lightweight title bout (vacant): Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
- Flyweight title bout: Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Kai Kara-France
- Lightweight: Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano
- Flyweight: Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape
- Middleweight: Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov
- Middleweight: Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues
- Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa
- Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Tracy Cortez
- Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Viacheslav Borshchev
- Featherweight: Hyder Amil vs. Jose Delgado
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