Anthony Hernandez is willing to do whatever it takes to earn a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) forced his way into the title conversation at 185 pounds with a career-best performance in his recent win over Roman Dolidze in the main event of UFC Vegas 109.
Following Khamzat Chimaev’s dethroning of Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 last Saturday, Hernandez’s name was mentioned alongside Reinier de Ridder, Nassourdine Imavov, and Caio Borralho as potential contenders to challenge the Chechen for the middleweight belt.
In a surprising twist, however, it was revealed this week that “Fluffy” is set to face de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in the main event when the UFC returns to Vancouver, Canada, on October 18.
"I was getting a massage and I got the offer and they said, 'I think this is an offer you don't want to pass.' And I said, 'OK, run it. Sign the contract.' Now we're here," Hernandez said this week while speaking to MMA Junkie. "If this is what I've got to do, let's keep going. Like I said, if I've got to knock every mother f*cker down until I get to the top, then so be it."
Hernandez’s recent win over Dolidze extended his streak to eight, the longest active winning run in the division. Having already beaten ranked opponents such as Roman Kopylov, Michel Pereira, and Brendan Allen before overcoming Dolidze, the 31-year-old believed he had done enough to secure a title shot — especially with six of those eight victories coming by stoppage.
"At the end of the day I'm not matchmaker," Hernandez said. "I'm not Dana White. I don't make the calls. He says, 'Be here.' And I say, 'I'm in.' If I'm f*cking healthy, I'm there. I'll f*cking never say no to anybody in this f*cking division.”
Chimaev’s win over Dricus Du Plessis in last weekend’s main event in Chicago turned out to be a one-sided affair. After seeing where the South African fell short against “The Wolf,” Hernandez is confident he has the tools to pose a serious threat to the new champion if they meet inside the Octagon.
"I thought DDP would actually have answers and stuff but turns out he just got away with being a f*cking big strong guy for a long time," Hernandez said. "Against a high-level wrestler, if you try to be strong, it just sets up traps. He found that out that night. There's levels to this shit, and I think I'm on that level. Eventually when the fight comes I'll be ready for it, but it's one fight at a time for me. Next fight is de Ridder so I'll just strategize against him and just f*cking keep climbing the rankings."
