Top 15 middleweights Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira closed out the night at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 99.
“Fluffy” Hernandez and “Demolidor” Pereira had a chance to break into the top 10 with a win, depending on rankings panel voters (and whether they still existed later this week, based on Dana White’s gripes about the UFC’s official rankings).
Demolidor went to the body early in the UFC Vegas 99 main event, and having apparently hurt Hernandez, he went on the attack, battering Fluffy with punches. Making a point to target the body, which had led to the early success, Pereira continued to force Hernandez to retreat. Weathering the storm, Hernandez kept himself in the fight, and by the midway mark had turned the tables, fighting his fight and pursuing a takedown. Pereira fought off a big attempt with two minutes still on the clock, peel off, and worked his jab. On the next shot, Pereira sprawled, but Hernandez was able to land a punch or two in the ensuing clinch.
Now it was Pereira with his back to the fence, Hernandez throwing then changing levels for a takedown. It took a while, but a trip would get the job done, though he had just 30 seconds or so to work.
Anthony Hernandez opened round two with an immediate takedown attempt. Pereira fought that off; moments later, Hernandez was warned for an eye poke (perhaps more of a rake), his second such infraction of the bout. On the restart, Hernandez fired a low spinning kick, and was mixing levels as well as strikes. Pereira however reversed out of the next takedown attempt.
Moments later, Pereira defended a takedown with a guillotine, looking to get to mount, but instead, Hernandez freed a leg. That put Fluffy on top instead, where he was able to smash away with elbows and hammer fists. Pereira writhed and twisted on his back, making his way to the fence, but there, he gave up his back — only to scramble free of an arm-triangle choke, getting back to his feet. Two minutes were still on the clock, however, and Hernandez easily earned another takedown. Pereira wound up on his knees along the fence, looking to avoid a knee as a downed opponent. And when Pereira did get up, Hernandez took him right back down.
This time, Hernandez smashed away with elbows and punches, trapping Pereira. The ref took a good look, and the Brazilian looked exhausted, but her survived the round. Barely.
Round three, rinse and repeat. Hernandez opened with a takedown attempt, and landed it with ease. Pereira did get up, but had to contender with Hernandez staying right there with him. Finally Pereira found some space, and stuffed a lazy takedown attempt. Pereira could not, however, get any offense off. And when he was taken down later in the frame, Hernandez again teed off, with Pereira doing little do defend and less to escape. At best, he held on, but that allowed Hernandez to mount, though Pereira pushed him off.
Then it was to side control for Hernandez, which allowed Pereira to hook a leg briefly. A choke by Hernandez failed, and Pereira somehow continued to survive, a minute now left on the ticker. Pereira fought the wrists. Hernandez controlled from the back, Demolidor on his knees. Fluffy dropped elbows and short punches then waved to the commentary team. A truly demoralizing round for Michel Pereira.
Back to the well went Hernandez, again opening round four with a takedown attempt. This time, Pereira fought him off with ease, and fired a knee at fluffy as Hernandez shot in on a second attempt. No such luck, as Hernandez pushed through, completing the takedown. Pereira made it back up, but Hernandez maintained a body lock. Soon enough, he had Pereira back down. The side effect of all these takedowns was that Pereira’s offense had been almost completely neutralized.
Somehow, Pereira survived to the fifth round. Ahead of that final frame, his corner urged him to “take his f*cking head off,” his coach trying to fire Pereira up, adding that he didn’t care if he lost the fight. Of course, it was Hernandez back to a takedown in the opening seconds instead. This time, Hernandez landed a smashing elbow that split Pereira open, and it wasn’t long after that the ref had finally seen enough, with Fluffy claiming a TKO victory.
During the UFC Vegas 99 broadcast, it was announced that Anthony Hernandez had set middleweight records for both attempted takedowns, and significant strike differential, the later dethroning a record held by Rich Franklin. He also holds the third-longest active win streak at 185lbs.
Official Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Michel Pereira by TKO, Round 5, 2:22
