Las Vegas — UFC newcomer Luis Hernandez turned a Contender Series win 11 days ago into a big debut at UFC Vegas 121, stepping in to submit Sedriques Dumas on just two day’s notice.
While a UFC debut is always big, Hernandez (9-0) was actually more calm for Saturday than he was on DWCS earlier this month.
“I was more nervous for the Contender Series fight, because you want to put on a performance,” Hernandez told Cageside Press and other media outlets following his win at UFC Vegas 121. “And everybody online’s always talking about ‘hey, this guy.’ I know this is my home. People haven’t even seen one eighth of what I’m capable of.”
With back-to-back submission wins, Hernandez hasn’t got to show much of his stand-up just yet. His thought process was to focus on the victory, and the finish, however.
“I know this guy’s [Dumas] a kickboxer, I know he’s lost by submission. I respect him, but people don’t respect me online. They’re talking a lot, saying I don’t got grappling, I don’t get wrestling. Listen, I love to grapple, and I love to strike. I want to show my grappling, but I want to get bonuses too. I want to get finishes.”
“I’m just trying to get in here and get these finishes,” he went on to add.
The storyline for Hernandez vs. Dumas was Cop versus Robber, literally. Dumas has been arrested no less than 14 times. Hernandez is an active duty police officer in Florida. Fans and media had a lot of fun with the booking, and Hernandez can see why, though he felt some of the commentary crossed the line.
“I think it was funny for the media, but there was some posts that I really didn’t like,” he admitted.
“Listen, I’m Latin, and I don’t like any discrimination at all. And especially this guy, he’s a family guy, he probably has a family. This guy’s trying to make a living like me, and you don’t know what’s going through that guy. Maybe that’s his past. I don’t want to judge somebody on their past.”
What’s next for Luis Hernandez? He’s looking to make history. After competing at middleweight on the Contender Series and light heavyweight Saturday night, he wants to take a third fight, inside of three months, at welterweight.
“I talked to the bosses. Can’t tell you a date yet, but I’m trying to make history. I looked online, I don’t know if you guys can look it up as well— I’ve never seen somebody do three fights in three months in three different weight classes,” noted Hernandez. “So listen, Kevin Holland was active, and now you’ve got Luis Hernandez.”
Much has been made about Hernandez’s wild style, and whether he’ll have to adjust as the competition gets tougher moving forward. “I think I was coordinated in this fight. I didn’t go crazy,” Hernandez countered. While people online have criticized his cardio, “I saw my game plan, and I didn’t think I went that crazy at all. Honestly in my opinion, I could have gone crazier, but I think I did what I needed to do.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 121 post-fight press conference with Luis Hernandez above.