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.

The 31-year-old does know who the champion currently is, though, and he believes UFC Middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis is the only 185er who can keep his insane pace.

“I think [what] would be a great fight realistically and who mixes it up really well would be Du Plessis,” Hernandez told 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.”

Hernandez and Du Plessis were matched up against each other at UFC 273. However, a few weeks after the pair were scheduled to fight, 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.”

With the Middleweight division absolutely clogged up at the moment, it’s safe to say Hernandez will have to keep climbing up.

He can rematch Brendan Allen (they fought back in Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) in 2018) or fight former title challenger Jared Cannonier.

Hernandez also told 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.