Anthony Hernandez has one objective in thoughts: Get his fingers on the UFC middleweight title. The subsequent step for the surging middleweight is a victory in his first promotional important occasion this weekend.
Hernandez faces Michel Pereira within the headliner of UFC Vegas 99 on the APEX this Saturday. “Fluffy” enters the bout on a five-fight win streak, and believes a victory will ship a message to Dana White and firm that he’s able to battle the tippy-top guys at 185 kilos. Finally, he’d wish to make his technique to a title battle with present champion Dricus du Plessis, not only for the prospect to perform his objective, however due to the stylistic matchup it may well produce for the followers.
“He mixes it up, you already know what I imply,” Hernandez informed MMA Preventing. He’s an enormous, sturdy motherf*cker however he mixes MMA up very effectively, and I feel it might be a f*cking nice battle with him. He’s a troublesome motherf*cker. He’s received a chin, he can hit. Like, he hits folks and places them to sleep. You already know what I imply? It’s an thrilling battle to me. That will be f*cking enjoyable.
“And he’s simply doing his factor, good on him. I’ll see you quickly.”
After dropping to Kevin Holland at UFC Jacksonville in Could 2020, Hernandez has accomplished nothing however win. However he additionally realized a precious lesson within the loss to Holland in that he gained’t compete until he’s as near 100-percent wholesome.
The 30-year-old definitely feels as wholesome as he’s ever been as he prepares to face Pereira, who’s now 2-0 with a pair of fast finishes since making the transfer as much as middleweight. To say Hernandez was excited to face any individual like Pereira can be a large understatement.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, the f*cking wild man, the man who does backflips,” Hernandez mentioned. “I actually don’t watch f*cking combating that a lot, however I do know who he was as a result of that motherf*cker, he’s dope to look at, I’m not gonna lie. He f*cking does backflips and shit. I’m like, ‘Bro, I can’t do none of that shit.’ Motherf*cker is sort of a f*cking freak athlete, all like backflips and like all that fancy shit.
“However now I’m f*cking stoked. That is a type of fights the place I see Combat of the Evening throughout it as a result of we’re each some robust motherf*ckers. We each can take a shot and we’re each f*cking fairly violent, you already know what I imply? So I’m f*cking stoked for this battle. It’s going to be a f*cking huge take a look at and I’m wanting ahead to exhibiting you guys how I do this shit.”
Hernandez is understood for his ending means, a fan-friendly fashion, but in addition the unimaginable tempo he places on his opponents. He plans on doing the identical factor to Pereira
“I feel my fashion is ideal to beat him,” Hernandez defined. “I simply should have my fingers up and never get caught with no loopy shit. I imply, he’s f*cking wild. He’s calmed down loads… I’ve observed he’s, he knocked the final two 185 [pounders] out with simply straight rights.
“So yeah, I don’t plan on standing in entrance of him within the distance. I plan on combating this motherf*cker and taking it to him. I do know that he has like wild, f*cking loopy two rounds, however I’m in form for 10 so I can maintain that tempo for all 5.
“I hope he’s in form, that’s all I’ve received to say.”
