Anthony Hernandez says Mario Lopez spurred on stylish submission decide over Roman Lopylov at UFC 298

Anthony Hernandez is smiling his formula straight to the stay.

This past Saturday, Hernandez chalked up yet any other decide during the octagon, submitting Roman Kopylov on the main card opener of UFC 298. The decide earned Hernandez the No. 12 catch 22 situation in the UFC middleweight rankings, and additionally made “Fluffy” some extra fans when he finished the combat standard, grinning and celebrating while locking in the combat-ending rear-bare choke.

Talking on The MMA Hour, Hernandez acknowledged that the celebration changed into a spur of the moment disclose introduced on by recognizing a smartly-known face in the team.

“I seen fMario Lopez is there,” Hernandez acknowledged on Wednesday’s The MMA Hour. “Frigid ass dude. We chit-chat every now after which, and I seen him going crazy. And after I purchased below his chin, I changed into esteem, ‘I purchased this s!’ I changed into merely talking to him, continuously, and I changed into going crazy. That schanged into a blast. It changed into dope to scrutinize other folk in the team.

“I affect in actual fact correct round crowds. I’m no longer the kind of guy to talk about sin interviews, to truly even affect interviews, but when I combat, that’s me. That’s who I am. Right here is the fsport of battle. I’m going to talk about my safter we’re combating because now I will hit you, I are trying to bring collectively to your fhead. That’s who I am as a person. If you happen to hit me, I’m doubtless going to talk about sto you in valid life too.”

Hernandez joined the UFC in 2019 following a 40-second decide (later overturned to a no-contest after Hernandez failed a drug check for marijuana) on Contender Series, but he struggled early in his UFC tenure, dropping two of his first three bouts. Nonetheless, since his TKO loss to Kevin Holland at UFC Jacksonville in 2020, “Fluffy” has been excellent, running off 5 consecutive wins, four by stoppage, with two earning Performance of the Evening bonuses. Aloof finest 30 years primitive, the California native believes that all the things is at closing coming all collectively for him as he makes his slump to the title.

“So long as we can stay wholesome, I feel we’re on the correct route,” Hernandez acknowledged. “I feel I will also be the correct in the world. I believed when I changed into 25 and came into the UFC [that] I changed into going to ravishing up shop. I had a outrageous awakening after which needed to affect some adjustments, after which I misplaced my father and I needed to bring collectively my head relevant all yet again, and every kind of bulls. Lifestyles happens. No excuses. But now I’m relief heading in the correct route and I’m targeted and I’m in a position to manufacture my slump as a person.”

Now ranked, Hernandez is now not any longer that some distance off from a title shot in the huge initiate middleweight division. And for his subsequent time out he would esteem to defend this momentum going with yet any other step up the ladder.

“In a excellent world, Might merely would possibly perhaps maybe be dope,” Hernandez acknowledged. “I’m wholesome relevant now. I’ve already started practicing all yet again. The vogue I scrutinize it, Mick [Maynard] and Dana [White] indulge in a opinion when I’m ready. Now I’m ready for on every occasion. I do know they’ve a opinion, so if they name me with a title that’s forward of me, I’m fready. I are seeking to catch it. I are seeking to demonstrate the world what I’m in a position to affect. I’m in a position to bring collectively this fbelt and change [my] children’ lives.

“Somebody who is forward of me,” Hernandez persevered when requested about an opponent. “Whoever the fis going to bring collectively me to the title the fastest formula. I will combat anyone. I’ve acknowledged this for the longest time and I mean it, I don’t give a f. I in actual fact feel esteem I’ll beat them somehow, and if no longer, I’ll gas them the fout after which strangle them or some s. [Laughs.]”