UFC Vegas 99 left the fandom wanting more! The card was headlined by a middleweight bout between Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira and in the co-main event, Rob Font took on Kyler Phillips in a bantamweight showdown. While the Apex facility has produced some incredible fights ever since its inception, this time, UFC CEO Dana White was left with a dilemma.

When all was said and done, the entire event produced a shockingly low number of finishes with just one man walking away with a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus. His name? Anthony Hernandez and he might have just saved the entire event for the UFC boss!

Dana White breathes a sigh of relief as Anthony Hernandez closes out UFC Vegas 99 in style

UFC Vegas 99 was riding on the shoulders of one man by the end of the night, and that man was Anthony Hernandez. In a spectacular showing, Hernandez didn’t just step into the spotlight—he owned it. Taking on the number 14 ranked middleweight Michel Pereira, the DWCS (Dana White Contender Series) fighter was up against a serious challenge. Pereira, known for his unpredictable, acrobatic style, came into this fight on an impressive eight-fight winning streak.

But Hernandez’s relentless pressure, wrestling, and sheer determination were overwhelming. Pereira’s early successes—like a solid body kick—faded into the past as the fight wore on. By the championship rounds, Pereira had barely any offense left in him. In the final round, ‘Fluffy’ closed out the show with a brutal TKO and handed Pereira his first stoppage loss in the promotion.

Dana White certainly took notice of this performance as Hernandez walked away with the ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus and ended up saving the card. Why? A quick glance at the results for the event revealed a worrying trend. A string of decisions with just two finishes in the entire card!

In the end, it was Hernandez’s grit and determination that turned what could have been a card with just one finish into something UFC boss Dana White would at least be satisfied, if not entirely pleased with. The question now is, who will the promotion line up next for this surging middleweight star? Because in his post-fight interview, Anthony Hernandez has made a bold demand from White!

‘Fluffy’ sets his sights on the middleweight crown as he calls on White for “title shot” path  

Fights in the UFC are unpredictable, and every now and then, someone steps up to shake things up. This time, it was Anthony Hernandez who took matters into his own hands. Coming into the matchup against Pereira, ‘Fluffy’ was on a 5-fight win streak where he’d claimed wins over names like Edmen Shahbazyan and Roman Kopylov. But many fans and analysts felt as though ‘Demolidor’ would be a harder test for Hernandez.

But after becoming the first man to stop Michel Pereira via finish inside the Octagon, Hernandez has his sights set on the top. After the massive win, he stated, “…I’m ready for my belt, I’m out of my own way. Just give me what it f— takes. Dana (White), you’ve always given me tough-a– fights, give me someone who’s going to give me a title shot.”

But does he have a name in his crosshairs for his next fight? In a surprising response, ‘Fluffy’ further shared, “I don’t even follow the roster that close, so I couldn’t f— tell you who’s in front of me”. This laid-back attitude, paired with his undeniable talent, makes him one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the UFC right now and with his heroics in saving the UFC Vegas 99 card, Dana White just might have to oblige to his demands! Do you think Anthony Hernandez will find himself at the top of the middleweight division soon? Who would you like to see him face next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!