After his dominant efficiency at UFC Vegas 99, Anthony Hernandez is prepared for a shot at middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Saturday’s occasion inside The APEX noticed its fair proportion of choices with 9 of the 11 fights going to the scorecards. Nevertheless, the judges weren’t wanted for the principle occasion as Hernandez put it on opponent Michel Pereira for 4 full rounds earlier than scoring a TKO simply previous the two-minute mark of the fifth.
Hernandez prolonged his unbeaten streak to 6 and outlanded Pereira by 128 important strikes, a brand new single-fight UFC middleweight report. The report was beforehand held by Wealthy Franklin who outstruck David Loiseau by 106 strikes at UFC 58 all the best way again in March 2006.
Hernandez additionally landed 97 important floor strikes and tried 29 takedowns, each single-fight information within the division.
Anthony Hernandez has his sights set on Dricus Du Plessis
As for what comes subsequent, ‘Fluffy’ is protecting his eyes on the prize. That being the UFC middleweight world title.
“I feel [what] can be an excellent combat realistically and who mixes it up very well can be Du Plessis,” Hernandez stated on the post-fight press convention. “He mixes it very f*cking nicely, and that’s why he’s champion proper now. He’s only a robust motherf*cker, and he goes.
“He appears to be like like he’s gassed, and he retains pushing. I’d like to combat him. I’m simply going to maintain climbing the ladder so I can get to him. Nice job to him. Sustain the good work, man” (h/t MMA Mania).
Hernandez was beforehand scheduled to face Du Plessis in April 2022, however the bout by no means got here to fruition. Since then, ‘DDP’ has gone on to turn out to be the middleweight division’s prime canine, defeating Sean Strickland to take the title in January earlier than efficiently defending it in opposition to Israel Adesanya over the summer season.
However as prepared as he thinks he’s, ‘Fluffy’ acknowledges that he’ll doubtless should go on the market and win one or two extra earlier than getting that chance.
“Hopefully [I get a No. 1 contender fight next], however most likely not,” Hernandez stated. “There are guys forward of me. I’m not silly. I understand how this sh*t works. It’s all about timing and sh*t. I’m simply going to maintain doing what I do. I’m going to remain prepared, and when my time comes, I’m going to point out the f*ck out, and I’ll get it will definitely.”