LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 18: (LR) Opponents Anthony Hernandez and Brazil’s Michel Pereira face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on October 18, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV. do. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Top 15 middleweights Anthony Hernandez and Michelle Pereira closed out the night at UFC Vegas 99 on Saturday.
“Fluffy” Hernandez and “Demolidore” Pereira have a lot of potential, depending on who votes on the rankings committee (and whether they’ll still be around later this week, based on Dana White’s dissatisfaction with the UFC’s official rankings). A win would give him a chance to break into the top 10.
Demolidor went to the body early in the main event of UFC Vegas 99, apparently hurting Hernandez, then went on the offensive and defeated Fluffy with punches. Pereira continued to push Hernandez back, aiming for the body that led to his early success. Weathering the storm, Hernandez put himself in the fight and turned the tables by midway through, fighting his way through the fight and pursuing takedowns. Pereira fought off a big attack with two minutes left, peeled off and got the jab to work. The next shot left Pereira sprawled out, but Hernandez was able to land a punch or two in the ensuing clinch.
This time Pereira had his back against the fence and Hernandez threw to change levels and look for a takedown. It took time, but traveling gets the job done. However, it only took about 30 seconds.
Anthony Hernandez immediately attempted a takedown to begin the second round. Pereira fought it off. Shortly after, Hernandez received his second warning of the match for an eye poke (possibly a pitchfork). On the restart, Hernandez threw a low spinning kick, mixing up his level as well as his striking. However, Pereira reversed from his next takedown attempt.
Moments later, Pereira defended the takedown with a guillotine and attempted to mount, but Hernandez freed his leg instead. As a result, Fluffy came on top instead and was able to crush him with elbows and hammerfists. Pereira writhes and twists onto his back toward the fence, where he throws his back and escapes an arm triangle choke to get back to his feet. However, there was still two minutes left on the clock and Hernandez easily got another takedown. Pereira took a knee along the fence, trying to avoid the knee of his downed opponent. When Pereira got up, Hernandez quickly took him down.
This time Hernandez broke down with elbows and punches, trapping Pereira. The referee took a good look and the Brazilian looked exhausted, but she survived the round. barely.
Round 3, rinse and repeat. Hernandez opened the fight with a takedown attempt, which he easily landed. Pereira got back to his feet but had to contend with Hernandez, who was there with him. Finally Pereira found space and stuffed a lazy takedown attempt. However, Pereira was unable to mount an attack. Then, after being taken down late in the frame, Hernandez teed off again, but Pereira made little defense and couldn’t escape. At best he held out, which allowed Hernandez to mount, but Pereira pushed him away.
Hernandez then moved into side control, allowing Pereira to briefly trip. Hernandez’s choke failed, but Pereira managed to stay alive with one minute remaining. Pereira fought with his wrists. Hernandez takes control from behind and Demoridor falls to his knees. Fluffy threw elbows and short punches and waved to the commentary team. It was a truly demoralizing round for Michel Pereira.
Reinvigorated, Hernandez began the fourth round with another takedown attempt. This time, Pereira easily fought him off and fired a fluffy knee as Hernandez took a second shot. There was no such luck as Hernandez pushed through and completed the takedown. Pereira gets up but Hernandez maintains a body lock. Immediately he made Pereira lower. A side effect of all these takedowns was that Pereira’s offense was almost completely neutralized.
Pereira managed to survive until the fifth round. Ahead of the final frame, his corner urged Pereira to “take his head”, with the coach trying to light Pereira on fire, adding that he didn’t care if he lost the match. Of course, Hernandez instead got a takedown in the opening seconds. This time, Hernandez tore Pereira apart with a powerful elbow, and Fluffy won by TKO not long after the referee finally had enough.
During the broadcast of UFC Vegas 99, it was announced that Anthony Hernandez had set middleweight records for both attempted takedowns and strikes, later breaking the record previously held by Rich Franklin. He also holds the third-longest active winning streak at 185 pounds.
Official result: Anthony Hernandez def. Michelle Pereira, TKO, round 5, 2:22
