Not since Tom Selleck was in his heyday as Magnum PI has a moustachioed crime fighter won over fans so quickly, taking down bad guys with ease and charm.
Luis Hernandez made his UFC debut on two days’ notice at the Apex last weekend, having only earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series less than two weeks ago. However, ‘The Stache’ barely had a hair out of place after his victory over Sedriques Dumas, with the Miami-Dade sheriff winning via a guillotine choke in 50 seconds.
Despite extending his MMA record to 8-0, with all his wins finishes, Hernandez insists he will continue to balance life in the Octagon with cracking crime in Florida.
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He said: “It has been crazy the amount of messages that I have gotten from people from different countries – my parents are Cuban and even other countries – writing, ‘Hey, you’re an inspiration. You have a career and you’re able to compete’.
“Stipe Miocic [the former UFC heavyweight champion and firefighter] did it and I’m going to keep doing it. People are like, ‘Oh, you can’t be a cop and fight’.
“I’m going to do both and I’m going to prove you wrong. I want to be an inspiration to the youth, and even adults, because if you have a dream, then why not do it. Go out there and do it.
“I am very blessed with my (police) agency and I know they are going to take care of me as long as I keep doing my job outside and inside of work. It’s awesome that I’m getting noticed, but at the same time, you know, I want to do my job and help out (my fellow officers).”
The charismatic Hernandez wowed the crowd in Las Vegas during his short debut, which garnered plenty of added attention as it paired a law enforcement officer against a convicted felon in Dumas.
‘The Stache’, however, wasn’t out to make his opponent pay for his past misdemeanors, which include battery and robbery.
Hernandez, who wants to make UFC history by fighting at a third weight class [welterweight] inside three months, having fought on DWCS at middle and made his debut at light-heavyweight, added: “It was funny for the media, but there were some things that I really didn’t like. I’m Latin and I don’t like any discrimination at all.
“This guy is trying to make a living, like me, and you don’t know what is going on with the guy. Maybe that is his past, but I don’t want to judge somebody on their past. There were good videos that I thought were funny, but I just don’t like it when it turns into something else.”
UP NEXT: UFC 332, Sunday, 1am. The vacant flyweight title is on the line in Salt Lake City when Natalia Silva faces Wang Cong in the main event.
MONEY MATCH: King Green (2/1) can continue his late career renaissance with a win over fellow lightweight Esteban Ribovics. Odds and full UFC betting available at boylesports.com
FINAL SAY: “I’ll never take that thorn out of me unless I go back to the UFC. My manager doesn’t want me to, but one day, who knows?” Ex-UFC star Darren Till, now bareknuckle boxing, regrets not landing a title in the Octagon.