UFC Fight Night: Pereira vs. Hernandez 10/19/2024 19th October 2024, Full show part 3
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00:00:00Oof, that's a good elbow there from Phillips.
00:00:03Knee on the wrist! Knee on the wrist, guys!
00:00:05Knee on the wrist!
00:00:06Right knee! Right knee! Right knee!
00:00:08You know, I think one of the underrated things about Phillips is his grappling.
00:00:11Just, he's taken almost everybody down that he's fought.
00:00:14So he finds the timing for the takedowns.
00:00:16But then look, he's very dangerous on top and he's got threatening jiu-jitsu as well.
00:00:20So, his top pressure's good and right now he's all over Font.
00:00:23He's just a step ahead.
00:00:24Step ahead every which way.
00:00:26Font goes to defend, try to get to a better position.
00:00:29Just Phillips all over it, sliding through, changing angles and positions.
00:00:33And also, landing big elbows from that top position, doing damage.
00:00:38Not just down here trying to control Rob Font, but trying to get him out of there.
00:00:42Now looking to maybe lock up something here.
00:00:45Loses it.
00:00:46Was fishing his arm underneath that neck to try to look for potential darts.
00:00:50Guillotine.
00:00:51Other elbow there, right on the jaw as well.
00:00:55And he's not just hanging on the hips.
00:00:57Look how he's got the posture up and he's in a dominating position where he's not just squeezing.
00:01:02He's also getting to a position where he's able to strike and submit.
00:01:06Get to a position to submit or strike mixed together.
00:01:09Such a relentless pace too, right?
00:01:11This is the toughest kind of guy to deal with where they're not just trying to hold you.
00:01:15They're moving and trying to find a way to get you out of there.
00:01:18Look for a submission.
00:01:19Now look at the way he's tying up this arm.
00:01:21Setting something up here.
00:01:23Maybe just to take the back.
00:01:25He's got an arm triangle here if he wants it, but Font feels it.
00:01:27And that's why he's got those arms all closed up and he's holding on.
00:01:30He got his arm out of there to give up that arm triangle to stop Phillips from grabbing it.
00:01:34But gets on the legs, tries to create some space, and he gets to his feet.
00:01:38Finally out of there.
00:01:40Spin kick from Phillips landed though.
00:01:44Font landed the uppercut.
00:01:46That's going to be the key.
00:01:47This pressure is going to be the key for Font to utilize.
00:01:52Pressure and takedown defense.
00:01:55And he's trying to find a home for a home run.
00:01:58And now Font in on his own takedown attempts.
00:02:17Rob, I want you to listen to what I'm telling you.
00:02:19Hips in and breathe.
00:02:20Keep your weight on there.
00:02:21We've got 25 seconds.
00:02:23That Firas Sahabi, the new head coach in the corner of Font as they break free.
00:02:27Under 20 to go.
00:02:28Big one-two from Phillips.
00:02:31Ooh, that's that same right scooping uppercut that Font landed against Yanez.
00:02:40That's some good moments for Font in the closing minute,
00:02:42but a big first round for Kyler Phillips.
00:02:44Second round coming up.
00:02:46Breathe, Rob. Look at me.
00:03:16One, two.
00:03:47One, two.
00:03:53UFC 308 next Saturday.
00:03:55Special early start time of 2 p.m. Eastern from Abu Dhabi.
00:03:58The main event, one of the best the UFC can make right now.
00:04:01Ilya Topuria taking on the future Hall of Famer Max Holloway.
00:04:04The UFC featherweight title is on the line.
00:04:06Plus, Robert Whitaker and Hamzat Shimaev in a five-round co-main event.
00:04:10You can purchase UFC 308.
00:04:12Save $10 if you buy it before Monday.
00:04:14Font keeping it on the feet,
00:04:16finding a home for that right hand in that exchange.
00:04:18Yeah, Font can keep this in the boxing department.
00:04:20He really has shown that he can land,
00:04:22but that is smart from Kyler Phillips to try to get this to the ground.
00:04:26And in the corner, Phillips, they let him know,
00:04:28listen, he has no answer for you on the mat.
00:04:33Phillips got three and a half minutes of ground control time in round one.
00:04:36He's now two for two on takedowns.
00:04:39Font has not defended takedowns well,
00:04:41but he gets up quickly here.
00:04:44That's an improvement from that first round.
00:04:46It took him a long time to be able to get back up to his feet.
00:04:49I love Faraz Al-Habib's direction to keep this a striking match.
00:04:53Don't shoot, don't wrestle, and don't allow the wrestling.
00:04:56Keep it on the feet, because when he does, you see he connects.
00:05:00And then there, he said, don't grapple along the fence.
00:05:03We want to keep it striking as long as we can,
00:05:05so Font wisely backs off.
00:05:08I think this pressure that Faraz Al-Habib wants for Font is key.
00:05:11This right here, head him off, keep the boxing going,
00:05:13stay at that range, that little gap between you and your opponent.
00:05:16Don't get pulled into the wrestling by Phillips.
00:05:26Next step for Font to adjust to is going to be that footwork,
00:05:29and the side kicks, and the spin kicks of Phillips.
00:05:38Let's listen in to the corner of Rob Font, led by Faraz Al-Habib.
00:05:43Yeah, yeah, back to it, Rob. Back to it.
00:05:45Don't give him the takedown, Rob. He wants wrestling.
00:05:48Body shot. Body shot. Body shot.
00:05:55Body shot, Rob.
00:05:57Pressure. Three minutes, Rob.
00:05:59Pressure. Body shot.
00:06:02You gotta hit that body.
00:06:03Use your legs. Stay in front of him, Rob.
00:06:07Big head shot there instead.
00:06:09You heard Al-Habib wanting to work the body.
00:06:11There he goes.
00:06:12Body shot, yep.
00:06:14A lot of pressure coming from Rob Font here in the second round.
00:06:18We're seeing Phillips have to adjust here.
00:06:21He's getting pressured and getting hit with some shots.
00:06:23Much different round here than round one.
00:06:25Font's making some great adjustments, listening to his coach as well.
00:06:29And that's making a big difference.
00:06:30Tactics are everything.
00:06:32Gotta listen to your coaching, and that's being experienced to be able to do so.
00:06:42Small step. Small step.
00:06:46That right hand is dangerous.
00:06:49Nice tape kick.
00:06:53See, they want the body work from Font,
00:06:55because it stops the takedown attempts of Phillips as well.
00:06:57They got him on his back foot.
00:06:59It's hard to kick like this.
00:07:00It's hard to move when you're on your back foot.
00:07:03Just like that.
00:07:04Huge right hand.
00:07:05There's some swelling below the left eye of Phillips after that one.
00:07:08Oh, yeah.
00:07:10Yeah, and another one.
00:07:12Font's got Phillips on the run.
00:07:15Font's boxing is very nice.
00:07:17Font, Calvin Cato, these guys are main training partners.
00:07:20And if you ever watch any of their fights, you know their boxing is always on point there.
00:07:30A great response in round two for Font.
00:07:33Yes. Breathing through his mouth, it looks like.
00:07:39All right.
00:07:45Font four-punch combination that time.
00:07:47Now he works the body again.
00:07:53Clubbing right in there from Font.
00:07:55Font's finding a way to make his style work,
00:07:57and he's utilizing perfect pressure.
00:07:59He's heading off.
00:08:00These are the little things that you can stay in the basics and the fundamentals,
00:08:04and that's how you pour on the pressure.
00:08:05He's not using as much energy as it takes to throw all these kicks
00:08:08and spin attacks and creativity of Phillips.
00:08:10Yep. Just basics.
00:08:11Jab. Yep.
00:08:12Nice right hand.
00:08:13Dig into the body.
00:08:15Oh! Nice combo.
00:08:16He needs to disengage from this immediately.
00:08:20And this is what his corner didn't want.
00:08:22They don't want him to try to engage into this wrestling.
00:08:24He is controlling on the feet.
00:08:27Yeah, he's completely fighting to fight it on his terms in the second round.
00:08:3130 seconds to go.
00:08:32When they crash in, Font's done a good job of grappling for the moment,
00:08:36resetting and finding a place to break.
00:08:40Phillips throwing an overhand right there,
00:08:42but he has largely been on the retreat here in round two.
00:08:57A top ten ranking is on the line at Bantamweight as we head to the third.
00:09:06One, two, three, four.
00:09:36One, two, three, four.
00:09:37One, two, three, four.
00:09:39One, two, three, four.
00:09:41One, two, three, four.
00:10:05Let's go, baby!
00:10:06We're headed back to the Great White North in two weeks, Edmonton plays host to the Octagon.
00:10:14Former champ Brandon Moreno battles Amir Al-Bazi, who's riding a six-fight win streak, plus
00:10:18Rosnami Yunus and Aaron Blanchfield in the co-main event.
00:10:21The entire night is on ESPN Plus, main card at 8 Eastern.
00:10:24Font was warned of this for Raf Zahavi, says, I promise you he'll shoot.
00:10:28Phillips successful anyways.
00:10:30The problem is, the reason why that shot's working every time is, Rob Font's not hitting
00:10:34his down block.
00:10:35He's not getting his arms down in front of the shot taken.
00:10:37He's just countering and getting back up, which, that's what he did the first time.
00:10:40He just needs to create space here.
00:10:42As long as he does that, he'll be great, and there it is.
00:10:46That's what he needs.
00:10:47That's huge.
00:10:48That's a huge victory for Rob Font.
00:10:49And that's a lot of energy from Phillips.
00:10:50Let's see if Font can just pour the pressure on after that.
00:10:54And after the ground control time for Phillips got him, probably the first round, Font was
00:11:04able to get his feet back on each successive takedown.
00:11:10And just based on the energy that you're seeing from Phillips, even if he gets another takedown,
00:11:15I don't know if he can hold him there based on how he looks.
00:11:19And Font looking pretty fat and fresh deep into the fight.
00:11:28Great combination by Font.
00:11:34Great job by Font to fill the gaps.
00:11:36He might have got taken down, but he didn't get held down in the second and the third
00:11:39round.
00:11:40He adjusted, got to his feet.
00:11:41Now, he created a fight for himself.
00:11:43He created an opportunity to win on the judges' scorecard or get the knockout in this third
00:11:48round and the second round as well.
00:12:09Still swinging big into round three with three minutes to go.
00:12:21There's the jab that he has become known for.
00:12:24His arms are so long.
00:12:25He has a weird range in timing with that jab, Rob Font.
00:12:28His arms drop down to his knees, I mean, it's just bombed.
00:12:33He was ready for that one.
00:12:38He's timed the crashes of Phillips.
00:12:40He knows when Phillips is going to come in now, and he's timed that uppercut three times
00:12:44now.
00:12:45Good read.
00:12:46Good pressure from Font too.
00:12:47He just, arms down low, he tucks in tight, just plots forward.
00:12:48That's a good calf kick from Phillips, but with two minutes left, they needed to be happening
00:12:49a round ago.
00:12:50I mean, Phillips is so dangerous.
00:12:51He's going to learn so much from this fight.
00:12:52He's shown how dangerous he is, how good he is, how versatile he is with the wrestling
00:12:53also.
00:12:54That's what people are really going to watch for now with Phillips, is that wrestling.
00:12:55Big moment here as Phillips chases it, two minutes to go, and probably the pivotal round
00:12:56of the fight.
00:12:57Yeah, this is, that would have been big for Phillips.
00:12:58I mean, he's got a lot of momentum.
00:12:59He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:00He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:01He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:02He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:03He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:04He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:05He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:06He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:07He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:08He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:09He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:10He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:11He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:12He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:13He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:14He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:15He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:16He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:17He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:18He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:19He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:20He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:21He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:22He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:23He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:24He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:25He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:26He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:27He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:28He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:29He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:30He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:31He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:32He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:33He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:34He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:35He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:36He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:37He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:38He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:39He's got a lot of momentum.
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00:13:41He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:42He's got a lot of momentum.
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00:13:44He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:45He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:46He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:47He's got a lot of momentum.
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00:13:49He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:50He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:51He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:52He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:53He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:54He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:55He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:56He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:57He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:58He's got a lot of momentum.
00:13:59He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:00He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:01He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:02He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:03He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:04He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:05He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:06He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:07He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:08He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:09He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:10He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:11He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:12He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:13He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:14He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:15He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:16He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:17He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:18He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:19He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:20He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:21He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:22He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:23He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:24He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:25He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:26He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:27He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:28He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:29He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:30He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:31He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:32He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:33He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:34He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:35He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:36He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:37He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:38He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:39He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:40He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:41He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:42He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:43He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:44He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:45He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:46He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:47He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:48He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:49He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:50He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:51He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:52He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:53He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:54He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:55He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:56He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:57He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:58He's got a lot of momentum.
00:14:59He's got a lot of momentum.
00:15:00He's got a lot of momentum.
00:15:01He's got a lot of momentum.
00:15:02He's got a lot of momentum.
00:15:04Get it!
00:15:05Get it!
00:15:06Go, go, go!
00:15:10Font made some awesome adjustments,
00:15:12showing why he's one of the best in the division
00:15:14for so many years.
00:15:16Huge decision upcoming for Kyler Phillips and Rob Font.
00:15:23We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:15:25Wade and our co-main event.
00:15:26Stay with us.
00:15:29We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:15:31Wade and our co-main event.
00:15:33Stay with us.
00:15:58We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:16:02Wade and our co-main event.
00:16:04Stay with us.
00:16:05We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:16:08Wade and our co-main event.
00:16:10Stay with us.
00:16:11We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:16:14Wade and our co-main event.
00:16:16Stay with us.
00:16:17We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:16:21Wade and our co-main event.
00:16:23Stay with us.
00:16:24We'll get the scorecards after three rounds of Phantom
00:16:28Wade and our co-main event.
00:16:38UFC Fight Night is presented by Bud Light who reminds you to
00:16:42drink responsibly.
00:16:46Back inside the UFC Apex, we're on the cusp of our main event
00:16:50but first the official decision is brought to you by Bud Light,
00:16:53official beer sponsor of the UFC.
00:16:56Here's Joe Martinez.
00:16:59Well, ladies and gentlemen, after three rounds,
00:17:01we go to the scorecards.
00:17:02The judges all have it, 29-28.
00:17:05Your winner by unanimous decision, Rob Faulkner!
00:17:12Yeah!
00:17:16I'm here with the winner.
00:17:18Rob Faulkner, a very happy coach as well.
00:17:21Rob, congratulations, man, on a really hard-fought victory
00:17:25the first round.
00:17:27You got taken down.
00:17:28You were struggling to get back to your feet.
00:17:29What was going through your mind,
00:17:31and what adjustments did you make
00:17:32going into rounds two and three?
00:17:33I'm like, I'm not losing another decision like this,
00:17:35you know, like, I'm getting up,
00:17:37I'm going forward, and I'm winning this fight.
00:17:40I know you made a lot of changes.
00:17:41You went to TriStar, you worked with Firas.
00:17:44What are some of the things that you worked on,
00:17:46and what was successful here tonight?
00:17:48You know, we kept it super basic at first.
00:17:50Firas didn't want to throw too much at me.
00:17:52It was a lot of defense, a lot of sprawling,
00:17:54and just mainly coming forward and keeping it simple and small.
00:17:58And, Rob, you know, getting back into the win column here,
00:18:01what's next for you? When can we see you?
00:18:03Back in the Octagon, is there anything you want next?
00:18:05How are you feeling, bud?
00:18:06Man, I would love to get back as soon as possible.
00:18:07Sean, let me know.
00:18:09Hit us up, and I'll be back in.
00:18:11Well, congratulations on a great performance.
00:18:13Rob Font, ladies and gentlemen.
00:18:16He has been the truth serum before
00:18:19for those who wanted to climb into the top 10
00:18:23of the Bantamweight division.
00:18:25That is a big moment for Rob Font,
00:18:27who changed a lot, moved to Montreal
00:18:29with his partner Catherine and their daughter Emerald.
00:18:32Calvin Cater joined as a training partner.
00:18:34They have lauded Eamon Zahabi, the UFC Bantamweight,
00:18:38for the great work and coaching,
00:18:40and his older brother Firas Zahabi, the leader at TriStar.
00:18:44It bared fruit in his 18th UFC appearance,
00:18:47leading to victory in tonight's co-main events.
00:18:51Well, check out ESPN's MMA shows,
00:18:52Good Guy, Bad Guy, with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen.
00:18:56Watch on YouTube, ESPN2, E+,
00:18:58and listen wherever you get your podcasts,
00:18:59DC and Chael, every Monday and Thursday.
00:19:02Do not miss it.
00:19:05All right, we are live in Las Vegas for the main event.
00:19:10You're watching UFC Fight Night, Hernandez versus Pineda.
00:19:14UFC Fight Night is presented by Bud Light.
00:19:19Michel Pineda possesses physical tools few fighters have,
00:19:23but it's not just his ability,
00:19:24it's his willingness to take chances others won't.
00:19:26Try moves you wouldn't think
00:19:28would be possible within the fight.
00:19:30Anthony Hernandez's approach,
00:19:32while aggressive and fan-friendly, is quite different.
00:19:35He prefers the dogged pursuit
00:19:37of making his foe want to quit.
00:19:45I feel like any fight I go into, I can break a person.
00:19:49I don't give a f**k who you are.
00:19:50If you have to deal with me for 15 minutes, 25 minutes,
00:19:53and it's only you, I will break you, I promise.
00:19:56He's hurt so bad.
00:19:58Oh, he taps him!
00:19:59Look at this!
00:20:00He taps!
00:20:01Anthony f**king Hernandez submits to Dombo Pineda!
00:20:06I think I proved to the world that my defense is good,
00:20:09I know how to fight on the feet,
00:20:10I know how to mix it up very well,
00:20:12and if you're not ready to mix it everywhere,
00:20:14then I will drown you.
00:20:15Hernandez got it!
00:20:16He's got it, that's it!
00:20:17There's the tap, and the crowd explodes!
00:20:21That dude is an animal.
00:20:23Get that man a main event!
00:20:24This is my first main event, and I'm so excited.
00:20:29This is what I've been dreaming of since I was a kid,
00:20:3115 years old, and now I'm looking to prove
00:20:34that I am champion material.
00:20:37Oh!
00:20:38This guy, man, he brings it.
00:20:39And he just likes to fight.
00:20:40That's it!
00:20:42This fight with Michel, it's gonna be very bloody.
00:20:47The dance, the physical movement,
00:20:50the athleticism that this guy has is one of his biggest weapons.
00:20:55The ultimate showman of the UFC,
00:20:57putting on for the masses in Rio!
00:21:00Oh, my goodness.
00:21:01Oh, he can!
00:21:02Oh, look at him!
00:21:04Man, you gotta see this!
00:21:10Oh!
00:21:10This is just pure madness, man!
00:21:14This is just pure madness, man!
00:21:16It's just pure madness.
00:21:18It's just pure madness, man!
00:21:21Oh, my goodness. Oh, he's capped!
00:21:23Michel Pareda!
00:21:25You never know what this guy is going to do in there.
00:21:28It's my style. It's very good against Hernandez.
00:21:32I don't think he's going to be able to hold out
00:21:34for a long time with me in the octagon.
00:21:35He's not going to be able to keep up with me
00:21:38because I'm going to knock him out.
00:21:40Wow! He's steamrolling everybody at 185.
00:21:42Trying to hammer his way to victory.
00:21:44That's it! Wow!
00:21:46He's so fast.
00:21:48There's something about breaking a grown man
00:21:50that just warms my soul.
00:21:51Carreira's going to find out that I'm a violent mother******.
00:21:55Impressive display of violence.
00:21:57I want to show the world that I'm the UFC showman
00:22:01and I'm going to knock out Hernandez.
00:22:04He's a dangerous guy, but I plan on breaking him.
00:22:08This is a fight!
00:22:38Go! Go! Go!
00:22:54Looking the part of a middleweight contender
00:22:57since his entry into the division last year,
00:23:00Michel Pareda enters his first five-round test in the UFC.
00:23:05Paul, in Rochester, New York, May of 2019.
00:23:08He made his debut against Danny Roberts.
00:23:11I said only half-jokingly after that,
00:23:13he should be in main events right away.
00:23:15That guy, he entered into the UFC
00:23:18unlike any fighter we've ever seen.
00:23:19He's as explosive, he's as acrobatic,
00:23:23and he can win fights.
00:23:24He's on an eight-fight winning streak.
00:23:26He's collected an extra 50K in each of his last four fights.
00:23:29Perfect at middleweight.
00:23:30Looking to stay that way in the headliner tonight.
00:23:33It just makes you think,
00:23:35what if he had just skipped even trying to make welterweight
00:23:38in the UFC and jumped right up to 185 pounds?
00:23:40Where would he be?
00:23:41Because he is on a roll, man, and he did okay at welterweight,
00:23:44but I watched some of his fights back in prep for this one,
00:23:48and I could tell without even knowing the weight class
00:23:52which one it was because of just his energy levels.
00:23:55He does the crazy stuff, and he loses it.
00:23:57Since he's moved up to 85, he doesn't burn out of that energy.
00:24:02He hasn't had those vicious weight cuts,
00:24:04and that's exactly how we want Michel Pereira
00:24:07because we want to see the craziness.
00:24:09That's what makes him so unique, so dangerous,
00:24:11and so fun to watch.
00:24:13He's got good technique behind all that craziness,
00:24:16and he's got really good jiu-jitsu
00:24:17behind all of that as well,
00:24:19and I think that is what some people sleep on for a minute.
00:24:22He's got a lot of submissions because he sets you up,
00:24:24he hurts you, or he does something crazy.
00:24:26Like, he did that backflip
00:24:28against what, Ihor Pateria, right?
00:24:30A backflip into a guillotine choked him so bad
00:24:33he was out and then fell and went completely out to sleep.
00:24:36This guy is fantastic to watch.
00:24:38Brings the energy every single fight.
00:24:39And let's also acknowledge that moving from welterweight
00:24:41up to middleweight, the guy is a giant.
00:24:43Anthony Hernandez at weigh-ins yesterday
00:24:45remarked on how big he is.
00:24:46He's actually bigger than Hernandez
00:24:48when they stand side by side.
00:24:50It's crazy to think of.
00:24:51Yeah, and what makes him such a freak
00:24:53is the way that you explained all that.
00:24:55He also has the body awareness to do all these backflips
00:24:58and basically a human pinball.
00:24:5911 wins by KO and 9 by submission.
00:25:02Finds the balance in his style
00:25:04where he's a submission artist and a striker.
00:25:06So whatever he chooses, he sets the other one up
00:25:09with his technical abilities.
00:25:11And that's not to mention the strength,
00:25:13the power, and the speed that he possesses
00:25:14and brings to the table.
00:25:16So Anthony Hernandez definitely has his hands full,
00:25:19but so does Pereira.
00:25:21In 11 UFC fights, he's taken home a bonus in seven of them.
00:25:26Five of the performance variety,
00:25:28including in each of his middleweight appearances.
00:25:31We'll see what he can do in tonight's headliner.
00:25:33Whoo!
00:25:34Whoo!
00:25:36Whoo!
00:25:37Whoo!
00:25:38Whoo!
00:25:39Yeah!
00:25:42Come on again.
00:25:43No, let...
00:25:44Hustle.
00:25:45Let her hustle on me.
00:25:46Let her hustle on me.
00:25:48No, me, no.
00:25:50Yeah, me, too.
00:25:51No, me, no.
00:25:52Swing wide, swing wide.
00:25:53No, me, no.
00:25:55I said...
00:25:56No, me, no.
00:25:57No, me, no.
00:25:58No, me, no.
00:25:59I ain't...
00:26:00You say you need a job,
00:26:02you know you're supposed to come to me.
00:26:04Waiting for the...
00:26:05So she can live comfortably.
00:26:06Crazy how...
00:26:07Keep on...
00:26:08We gonna sit outside his mama's house
00:26:11until we thunder in.
00:26:12Oh...
00:26:13Real...
00:26:14Ferragamo on me, still sagging when I buckle in.
00:26:17Better please draw a single foul line and snuffle in.
00:26:20In love with me.
00:26:21Home...
00:26:22When it's...
00:26:23So I...
00:26:25Representing the true yin and yang of martial arts.
00:26:28Outside the Octagon, Anthony Hernandez is a down-to-earth,
00:26:33very grateful, very friendly family man.
00:26:35His wife, Christy, their four children.
00:26:37He's from the country town of Dunnegan, California.
00:26:41But when the Octagon gates shut,
00:26:42this man loves violence as much as any other fighter
00:26:46that's ever stepped into the Octagon.
00:26:48Tonight, he's been waiting for a test like this.
00:26:50Five straight wins have got him here.
00:26:53And you got to think the five-round challenge
00:26:56suits Fluffy's style perfectly.
00:26:58Yeah, and he's not called Fluffy for nothing.
00:27:00He said, I was a fat kid growing up.
00:27:01So he's got a chip on his shoulder.
00:27:03You could see it the way that he fights.
00:27:04He fights to hurt the person and melt them.
00:27:06And when he gets in the Octagon with you,
00:27:09it's like he's looking at you the whole time,
00:27:11thinking, you think I'm gonna quit, huh?
00:27:12And I'm not.
00:27:13I'm gonna stay right here under your chin.
00:27:15I'm gonna keep dragging you to the floor.
00:27:17And right when you think I'm this or that,
00:27:19that's when I break you.
00:27:20And that's what makes Anthony Hernandez who he is,
00:27:23is he stays in the fight no matter what happens.
00:27:25Everybody he's faced,
00:27:27he's found a way to literally do what he says,
00:27:29and that's melt them.
00:27:30But if there's one guy that they could put in front of him
00:27:32that would be hard to do that with, it's Pajero.
00:27:35And that's why this matchup's happening,
00:27:36because it's hard to get a hold of Pajero.
00:27:39That's the real question.
00:27:39Can Hernandez figure out a way to head him off,
00:27:42use his footwork, use his striking to get him locked up
00:27:45and get a hold of him?
00:27:47Yeah, and the tricky part, too, is, you know,
00:27:49Hernandez does a great job of staying in the fire,
00:27:52eating some shots in order to get in to get that range.
00:27:55Well, I think he has to do that to a degree here,
00:27:59but he's got to be very careful
00:28:00with somebody like Michel Pareda to do that.
00:28:02He's so explosive.
00:28:04You don't want to be trying to eat a couple flying knees
00:28:07to the face to get in close.
00:28:12He's got the game face on tonight.
00:28:14It's a five-fight winning streak for Anthony Hernandez.
00:28:18Eight straight for Michel Pareda,
00:28:20and something's got to give in our main event.
00:28:23Here's your tale of the tape.
00:28:24Hernandez ranked one spot higher than Pareda,
00:28:26both fighters 31 years old.
00:28:28Pareda stands one inch taller.
00:28:31Two inches in reach lies with the small betting favorite,
00:28:34Buffy Hernandez.
00:28:35One final time setting the table tonight is Joe Martinez.
00:28:40And now, ladies and gentlemen, here we go!
00:28:44Live around the world from the UFC Apex here
00:28:47in the entertainment capital, Las Vegas, Nevada,
00:28:51this is the main event of the evening!
00:28:55Five rounds scheduled this in the UFC middleweight division.
00:28:59It is sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission,
00:29:02the executive director Jeff Mullen
00:29:04with chairman Dallas Hawn.
00:29:06The three judges scoring at Octagon side,
00:29:09Ben Cartlidge, Derek Cleary, and Ron McCarthy.
00:29:13And inside the Octagon,
00:29:15your referee in charge of the action, Herb Dean!
00:29:20And now, ladies and gentlemen, the judges are ready,
00:29:23the fighters are ready, the world is ready!
00:29:26Las Vegas, make some noise if you are ready!
00:29:35Introducing to you first, fighting out of the blue corner,
00:29:38he's a striker standing six feet, one inch tall.
00:29:41Weighing in officially 185 1 1⁄2 pounds,
00:29:44this veteran holds a record of 31 victories,
00:29:4611 defeats, and two no-contests.
00:29:49Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada,
00:29:52here is Michel DeMolido Pereira!
00:30:03And across the Octagon,
00:30:04his opponent fighting out of the red corner.
00:30:07Also a striker, he stands six feet even.
00:30:09His weight, 185 1 1⁄2 pounds.
00:30:12His record stands at 12 victories,
00:30:14two defeats, and one no-contest.
00:30:17Fighting out of Dunagan, California,
00:30:20here is Anthony Fluffy Hernandez!
00:30:26Let's go, baby! Let's go!
00:30:28Yeah, baby!
00:30:30Let's go!
00:30:35All right, gentlemen, we've been over the rules.
00:30:37Protect yourself at all times.
00:30:39Follow my instructions.
00:30:40Gotta keep it clean. Touch gloves. Let's do it.
00:30:43There has been a healthy dose of respect between these two.
00:30:50Now it's time to leave that outside the Octagon.
00:30:52Michel Pereira and Anthony Hernandez.
00:31:00Fight finishers on both sides of this one.
00:31:02Ready. Ready. Let's do it.
00:31:05Touch of the gloves, and we're underway.
00:31:07Hernandez is in the green.
00:31:08Pereira is in yellow.
00:31:13Very much chaos versus control.
00:31:19But both are very aggressive fighters
00:31:21in their own respective ways.
00:31:23No hurry.
00:31:24Down the ball. Beat the outside leg.
00:31:27Good. Outside. Outside.
00:31:28Back to the center. Back to the center.
00:31:30Ooh. Ooh.
00:31:32That was a solid front kick.
00:31:33That hurt. That hurt him right off the bat,
00:31:35and that's all it takes. Go to the body.
00:31:38That's one of the toughest guys.
00:31:39Unleashing now.
00:31:42Hernandez trying to grapple.
00:31:44Heavy artillery being deployed by Pereira.
00:31:48It's to the body that he's hurting him.
00:31:50But we've seen Hernandez in these positions before
00:31:53where he's got to paddle through some adversity early on.
00:31:57Oh, man.
00:31:58Body work is just so smart.
00:31:59Go right to the body early.
00:32:00No matter how tough you are,
00:32:02if you get hit in the body right,
00:32:03it just doesn't matter.
00:32:04It folds you.
00:32:06The five-fight win streak of Hernandez
00:32:08started in this building against Adolfo Vieira.
00:32:10He was getting tuned up in the first round
00:32:12and staged an epic comeback submission win.
00:32:18This is where Hernandez wants to fight.
00:32:20Whether Pereira puts him there or not,
00:32:22that's where Hernandez wants to fight,
00:32:23is up against the fence or in a 50-50, over, over, under.
00:32:30That was a piece of tape that came off
00:32:32of the left ear of Hernandez.
00:32:33He kind of has those discs in his ears
00:32:35that he has to take out, and they tape up.
00:32:39Yeah, they never stay where they're supposed to.
00:32:44Hernandez already starting to get that smother style going.
00:32:46He's already heavy output.
00:32:49Right down, and that's all that matters.
00:32:50He doesn't have to get the takedowns right away,
00:32:53but just that pressure, grabbing, holding him,
00:32:55pulling on his head.
00:32:57Dirty boxing, making Michel Pereira work.
00:33:06The low kicks are out of tone.
00:33:08One on my back, one on my back.
00:33:10Yeah, you're seeing it, you saw it, you saw it.
00:33:12Keep going, keep going, keep going.
00:33:13Grab with the left hand.
00:33:15Southpaw attack.
00:33:16Oh, I like the creativity.
00:33:19That hurts.
00:33:21I mean, I've been hit with that before,
00:33:22the heel to the thigh, that's annoyingly painful.
00:33:24I've been hit with that straight to the cup.
00:33:27Thanks, Edson.
00:33:29You didn't feel it.
00:33:31This is good.
00:33:32This is more of what Hernandez got to do,
00:33:34just keep attempting,
00:33:35even if they don't work out the first time.
00:33:39He didn't expect quick work of Pereira.
00:33:41He knew he was dealing with explosiveness,
00:33:43especially early on, but he said,
00:33:44once we get to the second, third round,
00:33:47it works out for me perfectly on paper.
00:33:49We'll see if it plays out that way.
00:33:51Well, and that's what we've seen in his last three fights,
00:33:53is he finished, got a third round finish,
00:33:57second round, he likes to wear on you at first.
00:34:00Two minutes, two minutes.
00:34:02Take, level, take, level.
00:34:04There's a nice right hand right into his shot.
00:34:08Uh-oh, no wizard.
00:34:10See how he's cupping the chin?
00:34:11That's not going to defend a single leg most of the time,
00:34:14but he was able to because he's so strong
00:34:16and such good balance, so athletic,
00:34:18he was able to defend that one.
00:34:19But as the fight goes on,
00:34:20he's going to need to get that overhook wizard
00:34:22to defend those single legs from Hernandez.
00:34:29I think Pereira's got to go back to the body.
00:34:31The front kick really hurt Hernandez early.
00:34:37Or at least it seemed to.
00:34:38I can't say that it did officially.
00:34:39He didn't go down.
00:34:40Good jab.
00:34:42Good sprawl there by Pereira.
00:34:48Pereira using the Thai clench.
00:34:50Hernandez punches his way out of it.
00:34:54Or two, activity coming in waves from Hernandez.
00:34:58And this is where Hernandez starts to find his striking, right?
00:35:00Because he keeps you guessing.
00:35:02He'll go for a shot.
00:35:03It'll fail right away.
00:35:04He'll come up, uppercut up the middle,
00:35:05over the top, just like that,
00:35:07pop, pop, pop, pitter-patch you, in on a shot.
00:35:10But after a while, it just starts to wear on you.
00:35:20Beautiful big spin.
00:35:22That connected heavy.
00:35:25Now he's got the double.
00:35:26Now he'll go to the body lock,
00:35:27pull that leg out, try to trip it.
00:35:30Got it.
00:35:31Mission accomplished.
00:35:32This fight is a Hernandez fight
00:35:34through the first four and a half.
00:35:35Look how he stepped over and trapped that leg
00:35:38right off the bat.
00:35:39These are the things that makes Hernandez so dangerous.
00:35:41He doesn't give you a good position off the takedown.
00:35:43He's got Pereira folded to one side
00:35:46where he is not powerful.
00:35:47He's not strong.
00:35:48And you can't be athletic here
00:35:49because your body's twisted.
00:35:51So Hernandez can pull his pressure on
00:35:53and now work his elbows.
00:35:56Big shots, big shots, big shots, big shots.
00:35:58Smothering pressure for Hernandez
00:36:01through most of the first round.
00:36:04Second round coming up quick.
00:36:0530-second break back in round two.
00:36:10Let's go, guys!
00:36:26Let's go!
00:36:42Hand fight.
00:36:43When you get his hands, when you hand fight,
00:36:46I want the elbows rolling over
00:36:47into your underhooks.
00:36:48Look at some of these replays.
00:36:50Beheyda throws that teeth kick to the body
00:36:52and that hurt him.
00:36:53But he just recovered so well.
00:36:55You can see he's hurt here,
00:36:56but he's just got to survive.
00:36:58He's got to survive.
00:36:58He makes it through
00:36:59and then really starts to pour it on.
00:37:01That spinning elbow just misses,
00:37:03but it sounded pretty heavy hit on the chest.
00:37:06And we'll see how this second round goes
00:37:07because Hernandez has his confidence
00:37:10from that first round.
00:37:12Let's fight!
00:37:13One of eight on takedowns,
00:37:15but it was that grinding style that he loves
00:37:18and right in on another shot to start round two.
00:37:21But what did he do right before that?
00:37:22He shot.
00:37:23Right before he shot, stiff jab,
00:37:25then in on the takedown, right?
00:37:26That's what makes him successful.
00:37:28He's not the greatest wrestler,
00:37:30but he mixes in his strikes
00:37:32and makes his opponents worried about that
00:37:34before he level changes.
00:37:36Time.
00:37:37Hey, over there.
00:37:39Okay, this is the second time, okay?
00:37:41You keep control of those fingers.
00:37:42Keep them in.
00:37:43All right.
00:37:44You ready?
00:37:45Oh.
00:37:47I didn't know that there was an eye poke.
00:37:48I thought it was more of a preemptive warning.
00:37:52Quick one, yeah.
00:37:53Got him a little bit.
00:37:54Yeah, it's kind of kinky.
00:37:56Kind of glancing he should be okay.
00:38:00Two time.
00:38:02Finger in my...
00:38:03I've addressed it.
00:38:05Are you ready to fight?
00:38:06Yeah.
00:38:07Okay.
00:38:09Let's fight.
00:38:09He wanted a point.
00:38:10He's already breathing heavy.
00:38:12Everybody wants a point.
00:38:13Are you kidding me?
00:38:13That puts the guy you're fighting on the front foot.
00:38:16They got to work then,
00:38:17and then it creates openings, so...
00:38:21Another one.
00:38:23Hip kick.
00:38:24Come on, Anthony.
00:38:25Get the kick.
00:38:26Good.
00:38:27Oh, he's got it nice and bad now.
00:38:29It's the high-low, the high-low.
00:38:31That's the most exhausting thing you can do to somebody.
00:38:33Set it up, Paul.
00:38:33Set it up.
00:38:34Go to the outside position.
00:38:36Hit your elbow.
00:38:37Anthony, just make him carry you for a minute.
00:38:39Just make him carry you.
00:38:39Yeah, let him wrestle.
00:38:40Let him wrestle.
00:38:41He's already losing power.
00:38:43Good.
00:38:43Body tap, jab, drop.
00:38:44That's the corner of Hernandez.
00:38:45They've already taken steam off of that fastball of Pareda.
00:38:49Wheel to the head, dude, next time.
00:38:50And aside from those barrages to the body from Pareda in round one,
00:38:54he really hasn't put together striking numbers since then.
00:38:58Well, he's having a hard time getting anything to land on Hernandez
00:39:01because of the pressure, and his hands are up.
00:39:07Still strong enough to be dangerous here.
00:39:09Yeah, if he can get them out, this is trouble.
00:39:13Hernandez trying to ride it out.
00:39:19He's getting a little bit of space.
00:39:20He's got to come up on top here.
00:39:21He's going to lose the position once Hernandez gets that leg out.
00:39:24Hernandez wants to get that bottom leg out, the one that's on his hip.
00:39:28Once he gets that leg out, he can just swivel right out and get the top position.
00:39:32Nice job.
00:39:35Pareda just needed to bail on that a little sooner,
00:39:38and he wouldn't be on bottom right now.
00:39:39He just held on a little too long.
00:39:41And now his arms burned out, too.
00:39:42Oh, I was just going to say, and it wasn't in a good position,
00:39:44so that was all pure squeeze.
00:39:47And this is where Hernandez loves to be.
00:39:50Just like we saw Darren Elkins do.
00:39:52He says, you know what, go ahead and try to submit me.
00:39:54When you miss the submission, I'm going to wear you out.
00:39:58And he's just doing such a nice job.
00:40:00But when he gets in his positions, he does not just hold.
00:40:03He is looking to strike and beat you up.
00:40:06He's working, moving forward at all times.
00:40:09Look how his head's over the top of Pareda's,
00:40:13and that's just exhausting pressure.
00:40:15Now he's got the back.
00:40:16Giving up his back.
00:40:18Arm triangle.
00:40:19Arm triangle choke here, a threat from Hernandez.
00:40:22But Pareda able to explode out of it.
00:40:25Awesome job by Pareda.
00:40:27Yeah, way to stay in there, way to stay alive,
00:40:29get out of that bad spot.
00:40:31Hopefully he's been working on that cardio,
00:40:33because this is how Hernandez is going to fight
00:40:36for the next three rounds.
00:40:38Well, he hasn't needed it in a long time.
00:40:40This is the first second round for Michel Pareda since 2022
00:40:44when he went the distance against Santiago Ponzinibbio.
00:40:47That was more than two years ago now.
00:40:51Hernandez not letting him off the hook.
00:40:55This is the melting that Hernandez always talks about.
00:40:59I'm going to melt him.
00:41:00I'm going to break him.
00:41:01This is it.
00:41:02This is what it looks like, because he's not
00:41:04winning in one position.
00:41:05He's winning by exhausting this man.
00:41:07And now he's got that trapped arm guillotine.
00:41:09It's his favorite submission, and he transitions
00:41:11to an anaconda off that most of the time
00:41:13if you give it up to him.
00:41:14But Pareda feels it.
00:41:15He knows it's coming.
00:41:17And so Hernandez is not forcing it.
00:41:19He's just keeping the position over the submission.
00:41:22Nice elbow there.
00:41:23Back in on the double leg.
00:41:25They're getting easier, because he went for the position.
00:41:28Notice he didn't force the submission attempt.
00:41:31He's so smart, because he's wearing the pressure on Pareda.
00:41:38Now he's got the submission attempt.
00:41:40He's looking for it again.
00:41:42Pareda feels it, stops it again, and he gets back on the punches.
00:41:45There it is again.
00:41:46He's locking it up.
00:41:47There it is.
00:41:48He's sitting for the trapped arm guillotine,
00:41:50and he transitions to an anaconda from there.
00:41:52And if he loses it, look, top position given.
00:41:55Oh, nice flurry there from Fluffy.
00:41:58Now uncork some left hands.
00:42:00Fluffy is relentless.
00:42:02Back to it again.
00:42:03Back to the guillotine.
00:42:07Back to the top.
00:42:09Rinse and repeat.
00:42:10Fair shot.
00:42:11That was a fair shot.
00:42:12Hernandez is close to being illegal,
00:42:14but I think it caught more of the chest.
00:42:17He is breaking Michel Pareda, and these are the fights
00:42:21that Anthony Hernandez lives for.
00:42:24And he's not going to change his approach.
00:42:26Hernandez is going to keep using those two submissions,
00:42:28back to back to back.
00:42:30Every round you see him fight, this is what you're going to see.
00:42:33This is what he's looking to do to everybody.
00:42:35Heavy elbows from Hernandez as he pins down
00:42:37the right arm of Pareda.
00:42:39Short time on the clock in round two,
00:42:41but he's close to stopping it.
00:42:44It might be one more round,
00:42:46but if he keeps doing what he's doing right there,
00:42:49he can get it done.
00:42:53What a guy. Helps him up, too.
00:42:55You know, I'd be like, get up on your own.
00:42:57That's why he's awesome.
00:42:59He's not mean like you, Felder.
00:43:00Yeah, I'm mean. I'm fistfighting in there.
00:43:04Breathe deep.
00:43:05And it's usually me they're helping up.
00:43:09Listen, you need to start getting that kneel, okay?
00:43:13Listen, breathe deep.
00:43:15Give him some water right now.
00:43:19Listen, recover.
00:43:27Listen, we need to recover right now.
00:43:30You need to recover right now.
00:43:32Do not waste energy. Don't waste it.
00:43:35Let's recover for this entire round.
00:43:37Let's just cover your conditioning.
00:43:39You need to recover this round.
00:43:42Only recover this round. Don't waste your energy.
00:43:51All right, we're headed back to the Great White North
00:43:53in two weeks as Edmonton plays host to the Octagon Action.
00:43:56Former champ Brandon Moreno battles Amir Albazi.
00:43:59He's riding a six-fight win streak
00:44:01plus Rosnami Yudas and Aaron Blanchfield in the co-headliner.
00:44:04The entire night is on ESPN+.
00:44:05Main card at 8 Eastern.
00:44:08He landed that one teep kick at the beginning of the fight.
00:44:11We haven't seen one since because this pressure.
00:44:14You can't teep kick somebody if this is the kind of pressure they're putting on him.
00:44:17Smaller Octagon as well plays to the approach of Anthony Hernandez.
00:44:20Oh, yeah, this suits him.
00:44:23Even smaller would suit him even more.
00:44:25Just right in your face the whole time.
00:44:27Oh, man, he's just...
00:44:30And his corner told him to take this whole entire round to recover.
00:44:34How are you going to do... You can't do that.
00:44:37You can't do that.
00:44:40Weren't you going to go sit in the corner and say,
00:44:42oh, I'd like to wait a minute?
00:44:43Like, I know what they mean, but that's just...
00:44:45To me, that's...
00:44:47Especially against a fighter like this.
00:44:50Yeah, he's not going to allow you to do that.
00:44:56And I get what they mean.
00:44:57They want him to try to move around and...
00:44:59Yeah, you're right, but Hernandez is not going to allow you to have space.
00:45:03It's going to be in your grill the whole time.
00:45:05You've got to hurt him with strikes.
00:45:09Hernandez drags Pareda right back to in front of his corner.
00:45:15Hernandez's corner, that is.
00:45:19Four of 19 on takedowns for Hernandez,
00:45:21but it's not about landing at a high point.
00:45:24It's about making him wrestle for as long as possible.
00:45:34Nice knee there.
00:45:43Pareda's strong, but the technique of Hernandez is what's winning this fight.
00:45:47It's just technique.
00:45:49And this is great for Fluffy Hernandez.
00:45:53You're right here.
00:45:54You can dial in, listen to advice.
00:45:56They can talk you through things that you can't quite see.
00:45:59Three minutes left.
00:46:00I mean, this could be the last round right here,
00:46:02the way I'd like to know, not in the second.
00:46:04If he starts to get off the ground and pound the way he did
00:46:07at the end of both of these rounds, then yeah.
00:46:13Or submission, either ground and pound or submission.
00:46:15He's going to pull that...
00:46:17He lost it.
00:46:18I should say it, because Pareda just looks absolutely exhausted
00:46:21If he wouldn't look so exhausted, he'd have a chance, obviously.
00:46:24But he's just, look, he's out of gas.
00:46:28I think this is all he needs to do, honestly.
00:46:31And then that'll give him the opportunity for the neck.
00:46:33Press elbow right there, good.
00:46:34Fluffy wants to get the neck.
00:46:36I think he just needs to tee off on the strikes,
00:46:38forcing Pareda to have to lean up to get out of that bad spot.
00:46:42And in doing that, he's going to give up his neck, potentially.
00:46:45Good.
00:46:52All that Pareda has left is going
00:46:55to just trying to survive another minute now.
00:46:58Full mount for Fluffy as he postures up.
00:47:01Significant ground strikes as a shutout
00:47:04and a rout at that for Hernandez.
00:47:09Nice job avoiding that.
00:47:10Position now established again for Hernandez.
00:47:15Don't raise a punch.
00:47:19Hooks that leg and he's got that split.
00:47:23Now he's got the back and he can go back and forth
00:47:25between taking the arm triangle and taking the back.
00:47:28And this is a choke right here.
00:47:29That's locked in.
00:47:30This is close.
00:47:3190 seconds on the clock.
00:47:35It's not a finish yet, but it is locked up.
00:47:38That's going to leave a mark.
00:47:39That was painful.
00:47:41The body language is not good here for Pareda.
00:47:44If Hernandez can pile up some numbers,
00:47:48he might not need a tap.
00:47:59Watch the guillotine attempt to come,
00:48:01but that's why you see Pareda keep that wrist
00:48:03so he can't go for that guillotine again.
00:48:11Hernandez wants that arm so he can attack
00:48:13with submission attempts and punch.
00:48:17Let's just make sure we recover for that next round
00:48:19and just keep working it.
00:48:26Those are nasty elbows to the thigh and ribs there
00:48:29from Hernandez.
00:48:31When you're already exhausted, that's just terrible.
00:48:4020 seconds.
00:48:42Yeah, I think that's a smart idea to just keep doing damage.
00:48:4520 seconds, probably not going to get the finish.
00:48:47Just in case he gives us a little wave below.
00:49:01There's the horn to end the third round.
00:49:04Hernandez already a personal best in significant strikes
00:49:07at 120.
00:49:08First time over the century mark in his UFC run.
00:49:11His previous best was in the 60s.
00:49:14We're going to need a decisive strike now.
00:49:18What round was this?
00:49:19This is the fourth.
00:49:21We're going to have to recover.
00:49:23Can you give me a hard strike?
00:49:25I need one hard strike.
00:49:27Listen, he felt that knee.
00:49:28Listen, just one.
00:49:30I just need one.
00:49:31That's what I need.
00:49:32Just one.
00:49:35By the way, don't go that way.
00:49:36Don't go that way.
00:49:37Come close to our corner.
00:49:38I just want one body shot.
00:49:41Okay? I want one more.
00:49:42Or if you feel a knee, just turn him.
00:49:44Coach?
00:49:45Get him flat.
00:49:47Get him flat.
00:49:48Get your forearm under.
00:49:49Get him extended.
00:49:50Look for that hinge.
00:49:51Stay disciplined.
00:49:52Stay disciplined.
00:49:53Let's go, guys.
00:50:02Coming up next, we recap all of tonight
00:50:04on the UFC Fight Night post-show.
00:50:06Karen Bryant joined by Alan Jovan and Michael Chiesa
00:50:09for the breakdown and highlights.
00:50:11Plus, all the big winners check in with Charlie Arnold.
00:50:13Don't miss it after the main event on ESPN+.
00:50:18Fourth round.
00:50:21Hernandez, as you would expect,
00:50:24on him like white on rice, as the saying goes.
00:50:28I mean, at this point, it just looks like Pejeta
00:50:30adjusting to whatever Hernandez chooses to do.
00:50:33It's like, okay, whatever you're going to do,
00:50:34I'm ready for it. Here it comes.
00:50:35All right.
00:50:36And it's Hernandez being first on every single decision so far.
00:50:50Big right for Hernandez.
00:50:51Pejeta tried the big knee.
00:50:55That would have changed the fortunes of the fight,
00:50:57but Hernandez walked right through it,
00:51:00as he has done so many times before
00:51:02on this five-fight win streak that he looks to extend to six.
00:51:27I think this is an opportunity here
00:51:29in this position for Hernandez
00:51:31to just start throwing strikes.
00:51:36Just stay close.
00:52:01Hernandez trying to drag him down again.
00:52:10Spills him gently.
00:52:12Yeah, he tried to hoist him.
00:52:15Maybe forgot how big of a dude Pejeta is.
00:52:19Tried to get that high crotch and pick him up and dump him.
00:52:22But it doesn't matter.
00:52:23Still effective.
00:52:24Got him back down on the ground.
00:52:32Since round one,
00:52:34Mishal Pejeta has landed just nine significant strikes.
00:52:39That's insane number.
00:52:40Yeah, the bodywork was good early,
00:52:42but Hernandez knew,
00:52:44if I can get past that early explosiveness
00:52:48and take the fight to where I'm comfortable,
00:52:51then he's going to be in for it.
00:52:53And that's exactly how it's played out.
00:52:55It's going to have to be somebody
00:52:56that has a very decorated grappling background
00:53:00that's going to be able to deal with Hernandez.
00:53:02And that's the only way.
00:53:21Significant ground strikes.
00:53:23Hernandez working on a record.
00:53:25He's already got it at 113.
00:53:28I mean, if this fight goes to the end of the fifth,
00:53:31he might put some distance behind that.
00:53:34He's also attempted 24 takedowns.
00:53:37The middleweight record in the UFC is 26.
00:53:42Still has a round to beat it.
00:53:44There's 25.
00:53:48And he got it.
00:53:57There you go.
00:53:58Good core form, good core form.
00:54:02There you go.
00:54:04There you go.
00:54:06Hammer. Hammer.
00:54:08These hammers are getting heavy.
00:54:11Get out of the way.
00:54:13Get out of the way.
00:54:21Hey, hip jab.
00:54:22Keep that leg jab.
00:54:24Come on.
00:54:26It's been one-way traffic.
00:54:28It's just a beating.
00:54:29It's just a complete beating at this point.
00:54:32No distance. No distance.
00:54:35Hernandez now 100 ahead of his previous best
00:54:38in significant strikes and counting.
00:54:42Oh!
00:54:44Spinning elbow.
00:54:45I thought might have ended it for good.
00:54:47He might want to just start teeing off on the feet.
00:54:49I don't even think Pareda can lift his arms at this point.
00:54:53He starts trading with Pareda.
00:54:55You give him a shot.
00:54:58The size of this guy.
00:55:00Big time swelling on the left eye of Pareda.
00:55:02Now it's Pareda trying to shoot.
00:55:04That is a very bad sign.
00:55:08Short time on the clock before they head to a fifth.
00:55:10He's like, just please stop shooting on me.
00:55:17The final round upcoming at our main event.
00:55:24Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go.
00:55:26It's the last round. This is the last round.
00:55:33Just breathe. Breathe.
00:55:35I just want you to breathe right now.
00:55:36I just need one strike.
00:55:37I need one strike. That's all it is.
00:55:41Start with a DE.
00:55:44The way you do it.
00:55:45The first time he shoots at you, you just one big knee.
00:55:48That's what I need right now.
00:55:50Okay? Just right when he comes at you.
00:55:53Get some more.
00:55:56I don't give a fuck.
00:55:58I don't give a fuck if we lose this fight.
00:56:00We're going to be losing when we lose the fight.
00:56:01We're going to take his fucking head off, alright?
00:56:03This is our last round. Take his fucking head off.
00:56:06I don't care if we lose. We're not losing like this.
00:56:08Take his fucking head off, Michelle.
00:56:10If he beats you, take his fucking head off.
00:56:23That's fucked up.
00:56:28Okay. Let's fight.
00:56:32My respect shown by Hernandez
00:56:35in what's been a beat down so far for the California fighter.
00:56:38I think Pejada's corner hyped up Hernandez more than Pejada.
00:56:42Yeah.
00:56:44I think he's past the point of motivational speeches.
00:56:47You know what I mean?
00:56:48And you know how it is.
00:56:49When you're at that level of exhaustion,
00:56:51there's just not much that can be said to pull you back.
00:56:54I think the big thing that we got to see out of Hernandez at this point,
00:56:57the way he's looked, is let's get that finish.
00:56:59I mean, he's completely dominated this entire fight.
00:57:02The only thing missing is you exhausted him.
00:57:05Can you get him out of there?
00:57:06I mean, he's done. He can barely hold his arms up.
00:57:08You said it yourself.
00:57:09Can you get him out of there?
00:57:10Because Pejada's doing a good job just staying alive right now
00:57:13and not being finished.
00:57:15Alright. Now, another record for Fluffy Hernandez.
00:57:18He's at 28 takedown attempts and counting.
00:57:20The previous was 26.
00:57:22We've already shown you his significant strike career by a wide margin.
00:57:27The middleweight record for significant strike differential
00:57:30was Rich Franklin, who landed 106 more strikes than David Loazzo.
00:57:36Man, I remember that fight.
00:57:38And Hernandez is 160 clear of Pejada right now.
00:57:43So he has smashed that record as well.
00:57:50David Loazzo.
00:57:53Throwback.
00:57:55The crow.
00:57:56Yeah. Elbows. I just remember he had sick elbows on Loazzo.
00:58:01A good spinning back kick as well.
00:58:04And right now,
00:58:06Oh, good.
00:58:07Oh, he slid a little bit bad with that one.
00:58:10Wow.
00:58:11I mean, the only thing that's left for Fluffy is finishing this one
00:58:13before the scorecards are needed.
00:58:15Yeah.
00:58:16That's it.
00:58:17He's going to send Pejada home with a battle scar in addition to a loss.
00:58:20Easier said than done.
00:58:22Even as tired as Pejada is to finish somebody in this octagon,
00:58:25it just shows you how difficult it really is.
00:58:27Yeah.
00:58:28Give credit to the guys who get it done.
00:58:34Now, three-quarter mount.
00:58:36Nearly on the back.
00:58:38I mean, he is just covering his mouth and his nose,
00:58:40so he can't breathe blood everywhere.
00:58:42He's making it nasty as he can.
00:58:48Oh, yeah.
00:58:50This could be it.
00:58:51That's going to do it.
00:58:54Middleweight contenders, beware of Fluffy.
00:58:58It's six straight wins for Anthony Hernandez,
00:59:01who absolutely punishes Michel Pejada.
00:59:06Ooh, and it's a nasty cut that Pejada's got.
00:59:09A new contender has emerged at 185 pounds.
00:59:15He was unrelenting.
00:59:21Let's take a look at some of these replays.
00:59:26Hernandez throwing that jab.
00:59:28And then right away, jab, two,
00:59:31follow it up with the right hand, and then a shot.
00:59:33Fake it and throw the shot.
00:59:34Now, the knee was a good timing,
00:59:36but now when you throw that knee, all right, that's all you got.
00:59:39Putting you back on your back.
00:59:40That's the only shot you're going to throw.
00:59:42And now look at this elbow.
00:59:43I mean, just nasty right over the eye.
00:59:46To put a little stamp on the work done by Hernandez,
00:59:49that elbow is beautiful.
00:59:51And then we got the finish here
00:59:53where he just rains down more and more elbows.
00:59:56Herb Dean's seen enough.
00:59:57Gets in there and stops the fight.
01:00:00Well, whether smashing violence from his win
01:00:02on Dana White's Contender Series in 2018
01:00:06or impressive submission victories
01:00:08or just punishing his opponents
01:00:11and torturing them to the finish,
01:00:13Hernandez getting his hand raised.
01:00:15We'll hear from him next.
01:00:38All right, here's some stats,
01:00:57and they are impressive for Anthony Hernandez.
01:01:00The middleweight division has a new contender on the rise.
01:01:03Nearly 200 significant strikes.
01:01:05Set the record in takedowns attempted.
01:01:07He got into the double digits with 10 significant ground
01:01:11strikes, well over 100,
01:01:14and more than three full rounds of ground control time.
01:01:17It ends in a TKO victory for Fluffy.
01:01:20Here's Joe Martinez.
01:01:22Ladies and gentlemen, the end comes officially.
01:01:24Two minutes, 22 seconds.
01:01:26Round number five.
01:01:27Referee Herb Dean puts a halt to the fight.
01:01:29Let's find your winner by TKO,
01:01:32Anthony Fluffy Hernandez.
01:01:40Anthony Fluffy Hernandez.
01:01:41Anthony, first main event.
01:01:44You come in here and you put on a performance like that.
01:01:46How are you feeling with that?
01:01:48Just what I expected.
01:01:49I had no nerves all week.
01:01:50Like I've been telling you guys, I'm ready for my belt.
01:01:52I'm out of my own way.
01:01:53Just give me what it fucking takes.
01:01:55Dana, you've always gave me tough-ass fights.
01:01:57Give me someone that's going to give me a tata shot.
01:01:58I'm fucking ready.
01:01:59I'll prove it to you.
01:02:00Now, Anthony, is there anybody in particular
01:02:02that you would like that to be?
01:02:04I don't even follow the roster that close,
01:02:06so I couldn't fucking tell you who's in front of me.
01:02:08But I know that I'm ready and I'm sharp,
01:02:10and I'm ready for fucking anyone.
01:02:12Well, let's talk a little bit about the fight
01:02:13that you had here tonight.
01:02:14It was impressive.
01:02:15Early on, though, it looked like he got you to the body.
01:02:18I was like, oh, shit, this motherfucker's strong, strong.
01:02:21And like when I fucking grabbed on to take him down,
01:02:23I was like, oh, fuck, I'm not going to get this guy down
01:02:25off strength.
01:02:26I'm not stronger than this guy.
01:02:27I've got to be smart and use my technique and shit
01:02:29and trust my strength and trust my chin
01:02:31and trust my body to get there.
01:02:32Well, not even that, but just your cardio
01:02:34and the pressure that you apply to these guys.
01:02:36What sets you apart from a lot of these other middleweights
01:02:38in that gas tank that you talked about
01:02:40and then came in here and absolutely delivered
01:02:42here tonight?
01:02:43Man, I've been telling you guys.
01:02:44I've been training at GameFit, and he fucking
01:02:46tries to kill me for an hour straight.
01:02:48And ever since then, I've been locked in.
01:02:50Nothing can break me but myself, and that much I know.
01:02:53You turned how old yesterday?
01:02:5531.
01:02:56With this fucking money, man.
01:02:57Well, happy birthday, Anthony.
01:02:59Listen, a phenomenal fight again.
01:03:01And you were battering him, beating him up.
01:03:04Was there any point in your mind where you're thinking,
01:03:06this isn't going to be as sweet if I can't get him out of here?
01:03:09Yeah, no.
01:03:10For a second, I tried to do strength
01:03:11and get the anacondas and shit, but that motherfucker
01:03:13is strong, bro.
01:03:15He's fucking strong.
01:03:16I don't know how he made 170.
01:03:17That shit's crazy to me.
01:03:18Yeah.
01:03:19Well, listen, an absolutely stellar performance.
01:03:22Congratulations on your first main event.
01:03:24Can't wait to see what's next.
01:03:25Let's hear it for Anthony Fluffy Hernandez,
01:03:27ladies and gentlemen.
01:03:33His wife Christy is here.
01:03:35He has four kids.
01:03:37He says his life is in such a good place at home
01:03:40that it leads to his best performances in the Octagon.
01:03:43And that's what's allowed him to now win
01:03:45six straight fights in the Octagon.
01:03:48What a rise it has been from when we saw him as a kid
01:03:52on season two of Dana White's Contender Series back in 2018.
01:03:56Anthony Fluffy Hernandez, very much a player
01:04:01at the elite level of the middleweight division.
01:04:04Put a stamp on it to the tune of a fifth round TKO.
01:04:09Here's what's coming up.
01:04:10You don't want to miss it next week.
01:04:11UFC 308 with Ilya Topolya and Max Holloway
01:04:15on the marquee.
01:04:16Special 2 p.m. Eastern start time for the main card.
01:04:19Save $10 if you buy the pay-per-view.
01:04:21Before Monday, October 21st.
01:04:23Then to Edmonton, Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi
01:04:26get the headlines.
01:04:27Neil Magny trying to hold off Carlos Prates,
01:04:30who has been a Brazilian sensation
01:04:32in the welterweight division.
01:04:34And then we're back to New York City
01:04:36and the world's most famous arena
01:04:38for Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic
01:04:41and the UFC heavyweight title fights.
01:04:45It's been a pleasure.