Outside Source
On a Wednesday appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Hernandez discussed his upcoming headliner at UFC Houston against Sean Strickland. He also cracked into the 2025 middleweight championship affair when Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus Du Plessis, heavily criticizing the former. Additionally, he touched on a few notable issues, including a strange encounter with UFC brass and his outspoken use of cannabis.
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Helwani brought up a post Hernandez made on social media showing him in fight shorts with the Mexican flag and a rooster on the side. Hernandez coined it his “fighting rooster,” while remarking that he did not know how to go about getting custom shorts and that the UFC even questioned him about his Mexican heritage.
“I wish,” he replied when asked if his colorful shorts would be part of his next fight kit. “I don’t know what you even gotta do to get f—ing cool shorts and s–t in the UFC. They almost didn’t let me walk out to represent Mexico anymore, because I had to show f—ing proof of residency for Mexico.”
He continued, “Dude, I don’t get special treatment. That’s why I’m on a f—ing eight-fight win streak. There’s no special treatment here. I have to go earn everything, unfortunately. And it’s how my life has always been so f–k it.”
Hernandez further elaborated on the organization grilling him about his roots.
“I had to like jump through some hoops real quick, and had to find my f—ing grandparents’ birth certificates and show that they’re from Mexico and that I can represent…man, it’s where my blood’s from. My dad’s from there, my mom’s family is from there, that’s my heritage. Yes, I’m American. Yes, I’ve been here, but everything we’ve had and s–t, we’ve had to earn,” “Fluffy” relayed.
“My parents, on my dad’s side, I’m technically first generation because he was smuggled in,” Hernandez admitted. “And then on my mom’s side, I’m second generation. So, we’ve had to earn everything. I remember being a little kid and going to these f—ing camps and s–t, like where they pick vegetables and s–t. They would watch, my tia would watch me and s–t. I grew up super Mexican, man, so to me that’s my pride. I carry a lot of pride with that.”
It Makes Me Feel All Right
The pairing of Hernandez and Strickland was once considered for Australia rather than Houston, and both athletes were relieved for various reasons. Most of all, the American-based fighters will not be subject to the heavy taxes when competing in the Oceanic nation.
“Thank God [Strickland] said something, because now we’re both not getting f—ed on taxes,” Hernandez replied with a grin.
However, the change in location does bring additional stipulations, namely the drug testing restrictions for Texas as compared to other jurisdictions like Nevada. “I gotta quit smoking, which sucks, for Texas, but it is what it is. I’d rather quit smoking than get f—ed on my money,” Hernandez observed, while pointing out that he does not smoke cigarettes and only consumes marijuana. “I just smoke weed…you can’t have more than 50 mgs in your system, whatever the f–k that means.”
The threshold for Texas is much tighter than that of the state where the UFC is headquartered, roughly one-third the level now permitted in Las Vegas. In Texas, fighters can have no more than 50 nanograms per milliliter in their body at any time, while Nevada recently upped the limit to 150 ng/ml. Hernandez suggested that while he is an avid consumer of cannabis, he holds off for a couple days surrounding the fight itself.
“I f—ing take edibles all week and s–t, get high as f–k all week [including fight week],” Fluffy nonchalantly remarked, and shrugged off any concerns about ill effects from the substance. “I’m always tired, so it doesn’t matter. I fight sober, that’s the one time, like from weigh-ins to the fight, I’m sober. But, besides that, I’m usually high as f–k.”
Hernandez made no bones about his level of consumption. When asked if he takes edibles and trains, the middleweight was almost surprised by the question, answering affirmatively. For him, training and sparring while under the influence is a regular day for him, completely normal and what best helps him improve his game.
“I’m just calmer when I’m high. I’m not going to try to take your f—ing head off. So, that’s probably good for everyone else. Maybe I am a little bit slower and lethargic, but…I’ve never really felt great in a fight, so it doesn’t really matter…you never feel good in a fight,” he admitted.
Even though he has plans on owning his own ranch and disappearing from public life after retiring, the carefree “Fluffy” is content with what he has accomplished in his fighting career. He has reached the stage where he no longer feels nervous before a bout, and accepts all outcomes, even the direst.
“Nah, I’m not nervous, I don’t give a f–k about that,” he said with a laugh. “Worst case, I die, and then I don’t have to work hard no more. I really don’t give a f–k…I could die tomorrow and I’d be happy with what I’ve done. [My family will be] fine…it is what it is, I’m not worried about it.”
Hernandez put a stamp on things by saying, “I’m only good at hurting people. That’s the best, it’s all I’m really good at. I just make the most of it, try to be a good person.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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