Alexander Hernandez doesn’t see a clear path to the top of the lightweight division.

Hernandez (13-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) returns at UFC 271 on Feb. 12 when he takes on Renato Moicano (15-4-1 MMA, 7-4-1 UFC), a former top featherweight contender who recently made the move up to 155 pounds.

Hernandez has been inconsistent of late, but has shown moments of promise in his knockout wins over Beneil Dariush, Chris Gruetzemacher and, most recently, Mike Breedan. He gets a big opportunity against a notable name in Moicano, but Hernandez thinks it’s tough to gauge where a win would place him in the stacked lightweight division.

“It’s so hard to say because the top is so murky and it’s just so political at the top,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie Radio. “That was kind of the holdup when I first got onto the scene. I was waiting and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m coming off these wins and I’m still waiting so long.’ It’s like they’ve got the chessboard at the top where they’re just moving everybody based on popularity and clout and just who’s who. So with a big win over Renato Moicano, you can jump into the top 10 or you could still kill time with anyone in the top 20.”

Either way, Hernandez expects to be sidelined after his fight with Moicano. The 29-year-old will look to take care of some nagging injuries in hopes for an end-of-the-year return.

“Me personally, I’m probably going to get done with this fight regardless and get some things tuned up – surgeries and things like that,” Hernandez said. “So after I beat Moicano, I’m either way going to take a minute just to tune some things up and then see wherever the pieces lie, probably in the fall of this year.”