Those were the two big takeaways from a rather amusing UFC Vegas 80 media day session on Wednesday, where Hernandez addressed getting back on track in his last fight.

“It’s everything. Winning is not just everything for our own psyche and trajectory in the sport, but two checks, man. It’s a big difference, getting that second check,” Hernandez (14-6) said of his win against Jim Miller back in February. “It definitely got me back on track, got my mind right. Overcame a lot getting to that point then taking that short notice fight, had to prove some things to myself. So yeah, it set me right.”

Hernandez didn’t get back to action as quickly as hoped following his win over Miller thanks to an injury.

“I was trying to get a quick turnaround, trying to get something going in spring or summertime. So it set us back. Then I guess politics or whatever, here we are now in October. Grateful to get something on the board.”

After that earlier answer about the second paycheck (show and win money), it’s checks more than rankings Hernandez is looking for theese days. “It’s definitely checks. I want the checks,” he said on that front.

Asked for his appraisal of UFC Vegas 80 opponent Bill Algeo, he kept it simple: “Taekwondo Billy Q.”

The Algeo fight will see Hernandez fighting at featherweight once again; last time that occurred, he revealed some issues with his manhood, the result of a draining weight cut. There were no such issues this time, but Hernandez took the question in stride. Sort of.

“Y’all cannot keep my d*ck out of your mouth the whole interview process,” Hernandez joked. “I’ve remained titillated all camp.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 80 media day appearance by Alexander Hernandez above.

The post Alexander Hernandez Says It’s “Definitely Checks” That He’s Looking for Heading Into UFC Vegas 80 appeared first on Cageside Press.

“Cloud 9. I haven’t felt this elated after a victory in like, man it feels like since my debut so I’m up there. I’m high on it right now I feel good. I feel really good,” Hernandez told Cageside Press among other media.

“Man I’ve been my worst enemy. I feel like I’m the only one who’s defeated myself in the octagon. It’s been a road to get here. My coaches, I’ve had some really long hard talks, and I felt like I proved a lot to myself, and even to Jim’s corner because I know when his ass was blitzing me they thought that was going to be it.”

Miller did put the pressure on Hernandez during the fight which his corner felt like was the beginning of the end for Alex.

“(They thought) that I was going to fold on that. I told my corner in between rounds he’s going down, I’m going up, I’m going to break his ass. I’m not folding. That was really important to me to show myself, to show the organization, to show the world that I’m not this one-round hitter,” Hernandez said.

“Kudos to Jim because I cracked the sh*t out of him with probably four hard shots that I thought were going to be it. I just tried to exercise patience and not getting overzealous to close the show, but he’s tough. I’m extremely proud to get a win over a legend like Jim Miller.”

The win over Miller showed a change in Hernandez’s normal fight style of trying to force a finish as quickly as possible. He credits the change to his coaches, his friends and family…and a little bit of self-evaluation to put it a certain way.

“Self-loathing. So mad at myself and I wanted to redeem because I owed to myself, I owed it to my coaches, I owed to my team, my family. Anyone that puts so much investment in me and the way I’m losing these fights isn’t fair to any of them, and myself,” said Hernandez.

“The need for redemption, you know, that’s where I credit that.”

Coming away with a win when his team stuck with him through the toughest times was very important for Hernandez.

“It’s super emotional. Like I said I haven’t felt a high like that off a victory in a while because I’m not new to this. That was important. That meant something to me, that meant something to my team, meant something to all of us. Some wins…you can catch a quick W and everybody likes getting out of there, but some wins you find something in yourself,” Hernandez said.

“You’ve got the breakdown and break through kind of mentality. There’s sometimes when you leave a piece of yourself in that cage. There’s times where you take a piece and you grow out of that cage. And tonight we grew. Tonight we grew in a really big way and so I know my team’s really proud, I’m really proud, and man that’s the kind of momentum we want to start this year off.”

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Alex Hernandez above.

The post UFC Vegas 69: Alex Hernandez Needed Redemption Coming Back To The Cage appeared first on Cageside Press.

Miller (35-16) was originally set to face Gabriel “Moggly” Benitez at the UFC APEX, but when Benitez pulled from the fight Hernandez stepped in to take his place.

“I was actually just talking to some of my coaches a few weeks even prior to Moggly pulling out. I have like 4 kind of goals in camp and they’re ranked. Number one is stay healthy. I need to get to the fight in order to fight. Stay healthy, be in shape, be sharp and prepared to fight my fight,” Miller told Cageside Press among other media on Wednesday.

“And then at the bottom is prepare for a specific opponent.”

Miller has had to deal with his fair share of opponents pulling out from fights against him so a short-notice change doesn’t worry him much.

“Because time and time again fighters get hurt leading up to fights, or at least that’s what they tell me. I just focus on being the best version of myself that I can be in the time that I’m allotted and whatever happens happens,” Miller said.

Waiting to reschedule the fight was not an option for Miller who has hopes of having his 45th professional fight at UFC 300.

“I look at every fighter in front of me as just an opportunity. It’s a skillset, it’s an opportunity to show off my skillset. Coming in on a week-and-a-half I’m appreciative that Alex stepped up,” he said.

“It’s a tough game we play and sometimes you’ve got to do stuff like take fights on a week-and-a-half notice. It’s ballsy, and I like it, and I appreciate it, and I’m excited for Saturday night.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Jim Miller above. Miller takes on Alex Hernandez at UFC Vegas 69 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.

The post UFC Vegas 69: Jim Miller Appreciative That Hernandez Took Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

Fighters at opposite ends of their careers shared the Octagon when Alex Hernandez and Francisco Trinaldo met at UFC San Antonio. The 26-year-old Alex Hernandez had impressed in his previous three UFC fights, defeating Beneil Dariush and Olivier Aubin-Mercier, before losing to Donald Cerrone last January. He got another tough test in the 40-year-old Trinaldo, who’s been in the promotion since June of 2012.

Trinaldo is one of the most underrated lightweights in UFC history, once holding a seven-fight winning streak in one of the deepest divisions in the promotion. He had since cooled off, going 2-2 in his most recent four fights ahead of UFC San Antonio. Those losses came to James Vick and Kevin Lee, a couple of other proven veterans. If Hernandez wanted to put himself in that category, he’d have to succeed where many had failed: defeating Trinaldo.

Round 1

Round one got underway between the two lightweights, and Trinaldo was the one to draw first blood with a right hand off the first exchange. Hernandez looped a wide and hanging overhand but ultimately was led astray by Trinaldo. Both men felt each other out for 90 seconds and counting to begin this encounter, Hernandez assuming the role of matador circling around the Octagon. There wasn’t much action throughout the chess match that resembled the opening stanza, and Trinaldo landed a big counter right hand in the middle of the inactivity. He followed up that counter with another one on the heels of a high kick attempt from Hernandez, as the two lightweights approached 30 ticks to go in round one. Trinaldo was given a warning near the end of the round to keep his kicks up above the mid-section, and round one drew to a close shortly thereafter.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Trinaldo

Round 2

The second round got underway with Hernandez opening the festivities with a front kick to no avail for the native Texan. Trinaldo had continued to look for the counter, while Hernandez had been the most stubborn of dance partners in that regard. Hernandez attempted the first takedown of the fight just over two minutes into the round, and he seemed to have a good read on it but Trinaldo ultimately spun out of the interlocked grip of Hernandez. Three minutes came and went in the second round without much of a sequence of the entertaining variety, both guys continuously waved strike after strike towards each other to no greater effect. Hernandez and Trinaldo continued to stalk each other for the remainder of the round, and Hernandez landed so much as a kick to the body if anything to draw the opening 10 minutes into its closing sequence.

Cageside Press scored the round 10-9 for Trinaldo

Round 3

Round three continued to unfold more of the same narrative that had been previously imminent throughout. Just over a minute into the round Hernandez got a hold of Trinaldo and locked on to the Brazilian in the clinch against the cage, however, Trinaldo only spent a mere amount of moments in that position before breaking free. Trinaldo came right back with a high kick, and it partially landed, however, the Brazilian slipped as a result leaving Hernandez room to crash in and look for his opening. The 19-fight UFC veteran Trinaldo however, was savvy as ever at 40-years old, as he was able to get back to his feet before Hernandez could capitalize. Hernandez landed a kick to the body just as the 90-second mark passed by, and Trinaldo hunted on the prowl in search of his own string of consistent offense. The two exchanged heavy blows, and Trinaldo got the better of it with a big right hand. In the closing moments, the two lightweights did their best to plant down in the center and end with a bang, but both fighters once again failed to score any significant damage, and UFCSan Antonio headed back to the scorecards as a result.

Cageside Press scores the round 10-9 for Alex Hernandez, and the fight 29-28 for Trinaldo

Result: Alex Hernandez def. Francisco Trinaldo by Unanimous Decision (30-27×2, 29-28)

Check out the rest of the results from UFC San Antonio here!

The post UFC San Antonio Results: Alex Hernandez Squeaks Past Francisco Trinaldo in Chess Match appeared first on Cageside Press.

San Antonio, TX — Alex Hernandez got off to a great start in his UFC career, defeating Beneil Dariush and Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his first two appearances. His run was stopped by Donald Cerrone in a high-profile bout on ESPN. Hernandez saw that fight as a necessary wake-up call heading into UFC San Antonio.

“It’s me vs. me, featuring whoever. If it wasn’t Cerrone, it could have been the next guy, just based on the way I was approaching my fights, in this like juggernaut, one round, devastation-type attitude. You start cracking the top ten, it’s bound to happen, if that’s how you approach it. It’s just part of it.”

It was the first loss since 2013 for Hernandez, and now Hernandez is ready to show what he’s learned since tasting defeat.

“I think it’s almost a rebirth of me. Of Alexander “The Great” Hernandez. I think the evolutionary changes I’ve made, the adaptations, those will show, and those will show a tremendous seasoning of my game in the Octagon. The way that I’m moving now, the way that I’m feeling, I have all the same skills, they’ve just been refined, fine-tuned and improved. The way that I’m displaying them now, at this cadence rather than this blow-out pace of like 120-percent of out the gate, having a professional pace to me, it changes everything. It changes absolutely everything. So I’m in a much better place. It’s the week of the fight, I’m within 10 pounds and I’m moving, rounds, and rounds. I’m feeling light, fast as hell, crushing it. I’ve never done that the week of the fight before where I’m so light, so agile, so fast, so strong, and I’m not even breathing. I feel fantastic. It’s all putting the mental and the physical together and just a new approach to my fighting style. I really am in the best place I’ve ever been.”

Francisco Trinaldo is a tough match for anybody, only losing to Michael Chiesa, James Vick, and Kevin Lee since 2014. However, Hernandez sees where he can excel in this fight.

“We like every match with everybody. I’ve never been particular to any kind of style, size, shape. I’m not worrying about anybody. I pride myself on being the most well-rounded, adaptable person in the entire business. Trinaldo’s fine. He’s nothing new. We’ve seen him 1000 times. Flat-footed, heavy-hitting, grindy guy. I can’t really call him a striker per se, can’t really call him a grappler. He’s just a well-rounded solid guy. He carries a lot of the same firepower Dariush carried. He’s a southpaw. I’ve fought plenty of those. It’s me vs. me featuring whoever. Stepping in there with him, I just keep myself composed, I’ll do what I do best, and I’ll dismantle him over three rounds. No problem. There’s nothing new. And he certainly can’t keep up with my movement.”

Hernandez learned his lesson after the Cowboy loss, and knows he’s not going to bulldoze his way to the top. Look for a new-look Hernandez tonight against Francisco Trinaldo.

“That was the thing with the last fight. I know I can watch this guy on his best day and I’m not intimidated. I know his moves. I know his tricks. It’s a matter of me keeping myself like, ‘Hey, don’t wrap it up too quick. Compose yourself, take your foot off the gas, dial it in… don’t just force the kill shots.'”

Check out the rest of Alex Hernandez’s UFC San Antonio Media Day scrum above.

The post UFC San Antonio: Alex Hernandez Revamped Approach Following Cowboy Loss appeared first on Cageside Press.

San Antonio, TX — After several years away, at least in terms of fight bookings, Alexander Hernandez is coming home. This weekend at UFC on ESPN 4 in San Antonio, Hernandez will be fighting at home for the first time in his UFC career. For the first time since 2016, back under the RFA banner.

Alexander “The Great” has come a long way since then. And while he hit a speed bump on the road in the form of Donald Cerrone last time out, it was an important lesson learned.

“That fight was everything for me,” Hernandez told media outlets including Cageside Press at the UFC San Antonio open workouts on Wednesday. “If I was going to lose any way, it’s from experience. I’m the stronger, faster, and I honestly believe more technical fighter all around. But it was a lack of composure that was my detriment, my downfall.”

Hernandez found himself knocked out in the second round of UFC Brooklyn by Cowboy, and he recognizes now that “if there’s anything that guy’s garnered over the last few years, it’s a tremendous mental composure. One that we hadn’t seen in his earlier fights or in his career.” That allowed Cowboy to overcome some early adversity. Hernandez, at the time, seemed to overlook that. “He presented his best, and it was a true test, and I underestimated what seems now the most prevalent thing that I should have been looking out for.”

However, rather than dwell on the loss, it was a character building moment. “It was an experience point for me, and a huge landmark in my fighting career. I told my coaches if it wasn’t that fight, it probably would have been the next one with the approach I had.”

Hernandez has not, mind you, lost any of his trademark confidence. “If there’s anything that fight taught me I wasn’t to lose, that’s the confidence. I just have to keep the hubris high and just make sure that I’m tapered in my pressure and my aggression, and just that I compose myself in the cage. It was just a good growing marker.”

On to San Antonio, this Saturday. “He’s a dog fight, he’s a grimy guy, I don’t think he’s particularly pretty anywhere,” Hernandez said of opponent Francisco Trinaldo. He’s not overlooking his opponent’s age this time. “He’s not going to be easy to put out, that’s one thing I know.”

But Hernandez believes he’s in the best shape of his life heading into UFC on ESPN 4. And he’s fighting at home. “It’s awesome. Last few fights, I’ve been on enemy terriotry. [Olivier-Aubin] Mercier in Canada, and he’s the Canadian hero right now. And then I went against freakin’ Ronald Regan [Cerrone] in New York. So it’s good to be on home soil, making the adversary pay homage and have my home team applaud, so I’m happy about that.”

Later, he would add that “San Antonio’s a sleeping giant, and I just want to be the alarm clock. Put everybody’s eyes on us, and bring awareness to the city and what we’re capable of. Teax in general is a monster, San Antonio is no different. We’re beasts.”

His goals are still lofty, beyond just proving what an athlete from San Antonio can do. “Loss is always a setback to some degree, but in the sense of rankings clout or my position, I don’t feel like it is. So the goal is still to have the belt in 2021. I think I win this fight, I get two ranked opponents and I’m looking at a title shot, especially with the way I fight and carry myself. So I don’t see any reason why we can’t stay on track.”

The post UFC San Antonio’s Alexander Hernandez: “San Antonio’s a sleeping giant, and I just want to be the alarm clock.” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Sources confirmed the addition to UFC San Antonio with Cageside Press.

Prior to joining the UFC, eight of Alex Hernandez’s nine fights took place in Texas, with the other one occurring one state north in Oklahoma. After fights in Vegas, Canada, and New York, “The Great” returns home at UFC San Antonio. Greeting him there will be the always tough Brazilian Francisco Trinaldo.

Alex Hernandez made his Octagon debut on short notice against ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush and stamped his place in the toughest division in the sport with a 42-second knockout victory. He followed up with a big win over Olivier Aubin-Mercier to prove that the quick knockout was now fluke, earning him a fight with Donald Cerrone. Taking on Cowboy may have been too much, too soon for the 26-year-old, as he was knocked out in the second round of the Fight of the Night. Hernandez lives and trains in San Antonio, Texas, as a member of the Ohana Academy.

Francisco Trinaldo has been in the UFC since 2012 and won seven-straight fights from 2014-2016 with victories over Paul Felder and Yancy Medeiros. “Massanduraba” is 2-2 since then and is coming off a win over Evan Dunham. Trinaldo was supposed to fight last month, but his opponent, Carlos Diego Ferreira, had weight-cutting issues and pulled out the day before the contest.

UFC San Antonio takes place on July 20 from the AT&T Center in Texas. Former NFL All-Pro Greg Hardy takes on Juan Adams, and Dan Hooker fights James Vick. There is no main event set for the card, but there are rumors Valentina Shevchenko will make her next title defense on the card against Liz Carmouche. However, Carmouche is already set to fight Roxanne Modafferi at the event.

The post Exclusive: Alex Hernandez vs. Francisco Trinaldo Set for UFC San Antonio appeared first on Cageside Press.

It was another historic night for Cowboy Cerrone on Saturday at UFC Brooklyn. The man who already held the record for most wins, and most finishes, in UFC history built on that when he dismantled hot prospect Alex Hernandez to top the preliminary card on ESPN. Cerrone looked to be on another level against his opponent, even catching the eye of megastar Conor McGregor. The performance also helped Cerrone’s pocketbook: he picked up not one, but two of the UFC Brooklyn bonuses.

Earning both Fight of the Night alongside Hernandez and a Performance of the Night bonus, the dual awards also give Cerrone sole possession of the UFC’s post-fight bonus award record. Cerrone has received sixteen of those across his impressive career. Tied for the Performance of the Night record with Charlies Oliveira with seven, Cowboy also has four fight of the night awards, two submission of the night bonuses, and three knockout of the night wins.

Not a bad haul at all.

💰 50k 💰

FOTN: @CowboyCerrone vs @TheGreat155

POTN: @HenryCejudo | @CowboyCerrone #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/ouO3C6CIzH

— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019

With Cerrone doubling up at UFC Brooklyn, the remaining Performance of the Night award went to flyweight champion Henry Cejudo. Cejudo made short work (no pun intended) of bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw. Though Dillashaw argued the stoppage, Cejudo certainly had him in a bad spot. Was it enough to save the flyweight division? We’ll have to wait and see.

The post UFC Brooklyn Bonuses: Cowboy Cerrone Doubles Up, Takes Sole Possession of Bonus Record appeared first on Cageside Press.

Alex Hernandez talked a lot of mess to Donald Cerrone ahead of their UFC Brooklyn fight. It didn’t pay off. Instead, “Cowboy” fought his fight and made the young buck Hernandez pay for his words.

These are the Twitter reactions from the Cerrone-Hernandez fight:

The head kick that almost killed a man:

The beginning of the end.@CowboyCerrone #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/c8l8uuCqQD

— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019

This guy knows and loves violence when he sees it:

YES!!! @ufc #UFCFightNight @Cowboycerrone

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) January 20, 2019

Some more UFC stars showing love to Cowboy:

Awesome performance by @Cowboycerrone congrats brotha!#UFC

— Stephen Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) January 20, 2019

Holy Shiiiiiit! Cowboy!!! @Cowboycerrone is one BMF!! @ufc #UFCBrooklyn

— Alex Chambers (@alexchambersmma) January 20, 2019

I see you @Cowboycerrone way to do the damn thing https://t.co/UuGlN8S6OZ

— Kevin Lee MTP (@MoTownPhenom) January 20, 2019

Dayum!!!!!!

— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) January 20, 2019

Okayyyy. Okayyyyy 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Dad Cowboy is a bad mofo!! #UFCBrooklyn

— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) January 20, 2019

Amazing Cowboy Cerrone stats:

"Cowboy" Cerrone breaks his own record for most wins (22) and finishes (16) in UFC history.

He also passes Wanderlei Silva for most wins in UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce combined history with 28. An all-time great. #UFCBrooklyn

— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) January 20, 2019

Donald Cerrone doing what he does best – finishing fights and bringing pain:

🎶 Allow me to reintroduce myself 🎶

Lightweight division, @CowboyCerrone is BACK!! #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/w8ogcFcdd3

— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019

Will Cowboy finally get that big payday he deserves? Conor is game:

For a fight like that Donald, I’ll fight you.
Congratulations.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 20, 2019

The moral of the story is don’t talk that trash to a man on a mission who can and will break you. Donald Cerrone is back and ready for the big boys, starting with Conor McGregor (who was mentioned by Cerrone by name in his post-fight interview). Hopefully!

For a full recap of Donald Cerrone’s knockout, click here. Recaps of tonight’s fight night from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will be posted throughout the night on Cageside Press. Stay tuned!

The post UFC Brooklyn Twitter Reactions: Donald Cerrone Annihilates Alex Hernandez appeared first on Cageside Press.

Donald Cerrone is one of the most entertaining fighters the UFC has to offer. With his last victory over Mike Perry, a first-round submission, “Cowboy” took sole possession of the most wins (21) and most finishes (15) in the promotion’s history. He also has 14 post-fight bonuses to his name.

Alex Hernandez is looking to continue his quick rise at UFC Brooklyn against fan-favorite Donald Cerrone. He’s wasted no time taking on big-name opponents, defeating Beneil Dariush in under 60 seconds in his UFC debut then following up with a decision victory over Canadian prospect Olivier Aubin-Mercier. The two victories have propelled him to the 11th spot in the lightweight rankings.

Hernandez attacked early with a heavy hook, then caught Cerrone with a sneaky left hand. Cerrone caused Hernandez to slip with a body kick while Hernandez was throwing a kick of his own. When Hernandez stood back up, Cerrone chained together a sequence of three takedowns, but couldn’t secure true top position time.

Cerrone landed a solid right straight and both fighters started throwing down. Significant straight punches were landing for both until a knee swung the momentum in Cerrone’s direction. Cerrone began landing combination after combination, and Hernandez had no answer. Hernandez was bloodied up at the end of the round and Cerrone was looking like his old self.

Hernandez came out guns blazing again in the second round, but Cerrone used his aggression against him, beginning the combination train once more. Mixing up punches and kicks with the occasional knee. Cerrone was running through Hernandez and whenever Hernandez tried to clinch, Cerrone would answer with an elbow over the top. Shortly after the midway point of the round, Cerrone dropped Hernandez with a head kick, secured a dominant position, and landed a quick succession of punches to end the fight.

Donald Cerrone def. Alex Hernandez by TKO (Punches) in Round 2 (3:43)

The post UFC Brooklyn Results: Donald Cerrone Upsets Alex Hernandez with Second Round KO appeared first on Cageside Press.