By Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway |
November 1, 2020 11:00 am
LAS VEGAS – Alexander Hernandez beat Chris Gruetzemacher with a first-round Saturday to close out the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 39 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Hernandez, who got his first stoppage win since his upset UFC debut knockout of Beneil Dariush in March 2018.
“I feinted the right hand and slipped him into a head kick. Once the head kick hurt him, he tried to retreat to the fence. From there, I knew it was the beginning of the end. I was able to corral him with a big hook that rocked him and then put him away.”
That’s how it’s done!
👑 @TheGreat155 put it all together in RD 1.
[ #UFCVegas12 on #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/jsB3skegEi
— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2020
“I felt his tension. He was smiling and having fun all the way out. Then I saw he wasn’t the second he was in the octagon. I knew he was scared, so I wanted to take advantage of that and put a little pressure on him, but not be my usual overzealous self.”
BACK. ON. TRACK.
👑 @TheGreat155 is looking like a contender at 155 once again. #UFCVegas12 pic.twitter.com/W82Wy8pP8O
— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2020
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: (R-L) Alexander Hernandez punches Chris Gruetzemacher in a lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“Before, I was getting all these big names and tough challenges. I was so new and novice to this level. Now I’m getting my paychecks up. I’m making money and am going to keep growing. I’m working my way back into that higher echelon. I’m in no hurry. I’m becoming a prize fighter. That’s what I want. I was looking at it all wrong before. I’m going to get my way to the top as soon as the time is right, but I’m not rushing it at all.”
To hear more from Hernandez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
Alexander Hernandez, Breaking, UFC on ESPN+ 39, video, News, UFC, Videos
