Alexander Hernandez returned to the featherweight division on Saturday for a battle with “Senor Perfecto” Bill Algeo at UFC Vegas 80.
Both fighters were coming off single wins: Algeo over TJ Brown, and “The Great Ape” Hernandez over Jim Miller in a lightweight match-up.
After the gloves were tapped, the two featherweights felt each other out before Hernandez threw a roundhouse that Algeo easily dodged, throwing in a little fun with the slip. The two traded kicks, Algeo with some neat back spins. After back and forth, Hernandez threw an overhand punch that sent “oohs” rippling through the crowd. Algeo showed off more of his spinning back-kicks. Hernandez replied with a solid shot to the body before getting out of range. Algeo ended the first round with a flurry of kicks.
Fiery exchanges erupted in round two. Hernandez came in more aggressively, a combination of punches landing on Algeo. It wasn’t long before Algeo used his length to throw more kicks. The second round came to a screeching halt at 3:13 from a potential eye poke from Algeo. Two minutes later, the round continued, Hernandez hunting for Algeo more aggressively than before. The next couple minutes involved Algeo, with a left hand, sent Hernandez down for the second time in the fight. Hernandez quickly found his feet and recovered after clinching with Algeo against the cage. The two returned to the middle of the cage, exchanging blows until the bell rang.
Round three, Hernandez closed the distance early and forced Algeo to the cage. Easily, Algeo defended and the the two returned to the middle of the cage. Urgency between the two heated up evidenced by a few of Algeo’s punches flying wild. He pushed Hernandez from one end of the cage to the other, Algeo kept pushing the pace, forcing Hernandez to go backwards. The two battled it out for the rest of the round with Hernandez’s face taking the brunt of the damage. Algeo, with seconds left to the clock, took Hernandez down. Hernandez bounced up quickly and was met with a slick roundhouse kick from Algeo before the bell rang.
With a 30-27 scoring by all judges, Bill “Senor Perfecto” Algeo extended his win streak to two.
Official Result: Bill Algeo def. Alexander Hernandez by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
