Miami-Dade sheriff Luis Hernandez made a stunning UFC debut last weekend, submitting Sedriques Dumas via guillotine choke in just 50 seconds at the Apex in Las Vegas. The victory, which came on two days' notice, extended his MMA record to 8-0, with all wins finishes.
Rapid Rise to the Octagon
Hernandez, nicknamed 'The Stache', earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series less than two weeks before his debut. Despite the quick turnaround, he barely had a hair out of place as he took down his opponent with ease and charm, drawing comparisons to Tom Selleck's heyday as Magnum PI.
The charismatic fighter wowed the crowd in Las Vegas, with the matchup garnering added attention as it paired a law enforcement officer against a convicted felon in Dumas, whose past includes battery and robbery.
Balancing Police Work and Fighting
Despite his success, Hernandez insists he will continue to balance life in the Octagon with cracking crime in Florida. He said: "It has been crazy the amount of messages that I have gotten from people from different countries – my parents are Cuban and even other countries – writing, 'Hey, you're an inspiration. You have a career and you're able to compete'.
"Stipe Miocic [the former UFC heavyweight champion and firefighter] did it and I'm going to keep doing it. People are like, 'Oh, you can't be a cop and fight'. I'm going to do both and I'm going to prove you wrong. I want to be an inspiration to the youth, and even adults, because if you have a dream, then why not do it. Go out there and do it.
"I am very blessed with my (police) agency and I know they are going to take care of me as long as I keep doing my job outside and inside of work. It's awesome that I'm getting noticed, but at the same time, you know, I want to do my job and help out (my fellow officers)."
No Judgment on Opponent's Past
Hernandez, who wants to make UFC history by fighting at a third weight class [welterweight] inside three months, having fought on DWCS at middle and made his debut at light-heavyweight, added: "It was funny for the media, but there were some things that I really didn't like. I'm Latin and I don't like any discrimination at all.
"This guy is trying to make a living, like me, and you don't know what is going on with the guy. Maybe that is his past, but I don't want to judge somebody on their past. There were good videos that I thought were funny, but I just don't like it when it turns into something else."
Upcoming UFC Events
Next up is UFC 332 on Sunday at 1am, with the vacant flyweight title on the line in Salt Lake City when Natalia Silva faces Wang Cong in the main event. In other news, King Green (2/1) can continue his late career renaissance with a win over fellow lightweight Esteban Ribovics, with odds and full UFC betting available at boylesports.com.
Ex-UFC star Darren Till, now bareknuckle boxing, said: "I'll never take that thorn out of me unless I go back to the UFC. My manager doesn't want me to, but one day, who knows?"
