Nicknamed "Fluffy," the California native is a family man and a stoner. Heading into UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Sacramento, the typically mellow fighter has an intensity to him usually reserved for the Octagon. "I'm sober, I'm tired, and I'm not going to lie, I really want to f---ing hurt somebody," Hernandez told CBS Sports on Tuesday.
It won't take long for him to get that chance. Hernandez headlines UFC Fight Night in Sacramento, a stone's throw from his home in El Dorado Hills, against Gregory Rodrigues. "Robocop" is a knockout machine programmed with a lifetime of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu data.
He won't shy away from Hernandez, whose style is predicated on overloading and breaking down opponents with a relentless pace. Like Hernandez told UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald earlier this week: "My goal is to drown you and make you hate your f---ing life." FC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!
"Wrestling and weighing on people, I think that alone will slow him down," Hernandez told CBS Sports about his approach against Rodrigues. "He's a heavy, dangerous hard hitter. I think slowing him down would be the smartest way to victory." Hernandez is raring to go.
You can hear it in his voice and read it in his body language. It's unusual for him, but not surprising considering how much is riding on Saturday's fight. The middleweight title picture is difficult to break into.
Hernandez won eight consecutive fights before landing his first championship-level opponent. Fellow middleweight Brendan Allen has nearly 20 UFC fights under his belt, yet often struggles to nail down elite opponents. After piecing together an impressive win streak over five years, "Fluffy" finally secured a life-changing fight: a main event against then-former middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
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