Anthony Hernandez Plans To ‘Keep Climbing The Ladder’ To Get Rebooked With Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis

“Fluffy” has Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gold in sight.

Anthony Hernandez notched his first UFC main event win at UFC Vegas 99 last night (Sat., Oct. 19, 2024) when he mauled Michel Pereira to eventually score a fifth-round technical knockout from inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch highlights). “Fluffy,” snapped Pereira’s eight-fight winning streak.

Hernandez never calls anyone out after his win, not because he’s trying to be respectful but simply because he doesn’t watch the sport and doesn’t know anyone in the Top 15 rankings.

MMAMania.com in the UFC Vegas 99 post-fight press conference (watch here). “He mixes it very f—king well, and that’s why he’s champion right now. He’s just a tough motherf—ker, and he goes. He looks like he’s gassed, and he keeps pushing. I’d love to fight him. I’m just going to keep climbing the ladder so I can get to him. Great job to him. Keep up the great work, man.”

they were rebooked against different opponents. Du Plessis was booked against Kelvin Gastelum (the fight ultimately got canceled), and Hernandez ended up fighting a debuting Josh Fremd.

Obviously, “Fluffy” will not get Du Plessis next, and he knows it.

“Hopefully [I get a No. 1 contender fight next], but probably not,” Hernandez said. “There are guys ahead of me. I’m not stupid. I know how this sh-t works. It’s all about timing and sh-t. I’m just going to keep doing what I do. I’m going to stay ready, and when my time comes, I’m going to show the f—k out, and I’ll get it eventually.”

MMAMania.com that he welcomes a fight with former UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

For complete UFC Vegas 99 results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.