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Original Description
Brett Okamoto speaks with UFC middleweight Anthony Hernandez after his recently announced fight vs. Reinier de Ridder.
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Video Transcript
What's up guys? Brett Okamoto from ESPN
joined by UFC middleweight Anthony
Hernandez. The middleweight division.
There's a lot going on in it right now.
And this man is right in the middle of
it. Just got a fight announced against
Reneer Derritter for October 18th in
Vancouver, Canada. He just fought uh
earlier this month. Picked up a big win
in a main event. So, life is busy right
now, huh, Anthony?
Oh, it's very busy. But it's what I live
for, man. It's what I live for. I need
that belt and no matter what, I need to
get to it. So this is what they offered.
So I'm running running for it.
Did you when did you get an idea that uh
this fight with Ditter and the date and
everything else like that was going to
be next? Did you find out pretty sudden
or was this something that was
Tuesday they had they pretty much had
their mind made. So Tuesday I got the
call and I said run it or no it was
Monday cuz I was getting massage.
Okay. So, you went to you went to
Chicago, which first of all, did you
ever get a real good idea of why they
wanted to because I remember after you
won your fight, you're like, "Oh, I'm
going to Chicago, but I don't really
know. They want me in Chicago." Did you
ever really understand like why they
wanted you in Chicago?
No, I'm sure they wanted to hype it up.
Like, you know what I mean? Because I
mean, it's chaos right now in the
middleweight division. They However they
can hype it up, it makes sense. And I
mean, if they have the three of us there
and you pan to us and like, "Oh, it
makes sense." I mean, it makes makes
good sense. But no matter what, I'm
ready to go make this get this main
event and see who's going to get the
title shot.
It's it's wild because obviously you're
here to to fight. I think that's why
fans are gravitating towards you. Like
they get the sense that you're just
down, which you are down to throw at any
time.
I haven't to nobody, you know what I
mean?
Exactly. Uh you're not really here to do
interviews and to be on camera. Like I
remember, you know, earlier in your
career, you said that like you didn't
pay attention to any of that. Like how
has that been? you know, being flown
into Chicago, jumping on cameras and
interviews. Are you enjoying that part
of it?
Not really, but I mean, I know comes
with the job, but so whatever it is what
it is. If it's going to hype the fight
and get me more followers so that I can
get the belt, then so be it. Um, but no,
man. I'm just here for the violence. I
don't really give a about fame. I'm just
here to get paid and get the belt and
build my dream out. You know what I
mean?
When you say you're here for the
violence, like how come what what do you
know? I don't think the normal average
human being is not drawn to violence in
such a way. Like why why do you think
that is for you?
I don't know. It's just fun. It's all I
know, bro. Like I've been in a lot of
fights in my life and like I don't know.
It's just I enjoy it. It's freeing.
Yeah. Like what you say you enjoy it
like what part? Like like the pain like
just like the
obviously
that's never the goal. The goal is to do
the give it the pain. You know what I
mean? But I like I know it like the way
I see it is it's two high level martial
artists and we get the chance to go try
to murder each other and like we really
get to see what we can do to each other.
You I mean it's fun to me like someone's
going to try to hurt me, I'm going to
try to hurt him. Cool. Run it.
I would imagine that that type of mind
frame because even amongst UFC fighters
that is not always the mind frame that
maybe that would be a advantage of some
sort that like some guys are there
because they need to be or they feel
like they have to be or they're good at
it. You're there cuz you want to be.
Like, do you feel like you're a
different breed in in in this game?
I mean, I've always believed I was, but
maybe. You know what I mean?
I don't know. But I guess we're going to
find out.
I'm sorry to get fixated on this topic,
but when like what age do you think you
realized that you liked violence and
like being involved in it?
I don't know. I've been fighting my
whole life, man. Like as a kid, I got
into a lot of fights and like at home
and I got into a lot of fights. I fought
my cousins a lot. Like my grandpa and
them were all about like boxing and
fighting and bull fighting, chicken
fighting and like it was just always
like that around. So I was just drawn to
it. I guess maybe
this is the way that I didn't have to be
a mechanic. You know what I mean? My dad
was a mechanic and I hated that. So I'm
like, bro, if I can beat people up and
get paid for that, run it. It's my one
way out.
Are you uh how are you in the locker
room before a fight?
I'm chilling, man. Like I'm happy I'm
there.
It's I'm chilling, man. Like, I'm
telling you, this is literally the one
thing I'm meant to do, and I believe
that and I I know that. So, I'm just
going to keep doing it until people
believe in believe in it. You know what
I mean?
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, as you say, I mean,
you have a very simple approach to
fighting like, uh, okay, give me a name
and run it, as you say. When you got
Ditter though, uh, what beyond that went
through your mind?
Obviously, I'm not I didn't do enough to
prove that I'm ready for the title, so
run it. Whatever. I mean, like I'm I'm
just here for the violence, man. The
rest of this play itself out. I got a
short window where I see it. I'm going
to be 32 on the my the fight basically.
So, for me, it's just enjoy the violence
till I can't no more. But
I've heard you say this before where you
have a short run at it. Um, not all guys
would say that at 31, you know, that
they can already feel like, okay, that I
have a limited window in here.
Obviously, you do. You can't fight
forever. But why do you think that that
that's on your mind more than I think uh
than most guys I talk to?
No, I mean, like I got kids, I mean, I'm
probably like eventually be able to
chill with them when they're grown.
So, I don't know. I'm just living life,
man. Life has never been easy for me, so
I just try to enjoy every second of it.
Where do you think uh like like what's
at stake on this one? Obviously, you've
got Naser Dean Immov and Kyle Boayo and
then you have this fight. Is it one of
those scenarios in which it's kind of
like, hey, whoever's most impressive
here like how are you viewing what what
what do you think? Like you said, maybe
you haven't done enough, I guess, in
their eyes to get a title fight, is this
the fight that you do it and how can you
do it?
Um, I mean, I don't know. I don't know.
But either way, like I said before, if I
got to beat every on my way down, then I
will. Like, so be it. You know what I
mean? Obviously, the fans don't believe
me yet. So, come and uh I'll keep
proving you guys wrong.
Why do you say the fans don't believe in
you yet? I think they're coming around
on you pretty strongly.
Well, they're starting to, but like you
just see so much talking online and
like, bro, I slap the out of you. Like,
I hate online, bro. People are a little
Yeah.
Like, I'd rather be offline and
chilling, bro. Like, to be honest, I
don't like doing interviews usually. I
don't like people's stupid ass opinions.
Like, I'm too old for, bro. is the way I
see like I want to go to the country and
just chill and be able to hang out with
my friends. That's all I want, man.
No, I mean that's that's a good life.
And you're you're putting together the
type of run obviously that's going to
make enough money to provide for that
life with Ditter in in particular.
Stylistically, I I see that you've been
complimentary of him in the past. What
do you think of his style?
No, I think he's good. I think he's
good. I think he's dangerous,
but I think I'll figure him out and I
think that I'll be victorious and it's
like until then we just keep going. So,
like I said, my coaches will have a game
plan for me. I'll sit down, I'll listen
to it, I'll put my two cents in and then
we just kind of figure it out and it's
double down on it.
Do you like to study guys quite a bit
before you go in there with them? No, I
don't give a
I figure like I usually figure someone
out in the first 30 seconds of fighting
them whether it's good or bad. Like if
I'm getting up or I'm them up, you know
what I mean? I usually figure out their
speed one way or the other.
Are you talking about uh that's that
that applies to MMA fights and that that
goes all the or that goes all the way
back to any fight. Any fight within the
first 30 seconds, you pretty much know
how it's going to go.
Yeah. No. Well, I mean like not how it's
going to go, but how like I figure out
their timing. You know what I mean? I
figure out their attacks and their
approach basically.
In terms of, you know, one thing I've
seen you say about Ditter is that he
mixes things up. Well, um, you know, you
just watched the champion a new champion
get crowned in Hamzat. Uh, he's he does,
you know, obviously he he's only needing
to do kind of one thing right now and
that's just get into your legs and then
you just you can't do anything about it.
What is more challenging to you? guy who
mixes things up well or the guy who has
that one kind of like unbeatable quality
about him right now.
So, here's the thing. It's like there's
specialist and then there's MMA. Like
when you see like what Kasma's doing,
okay, he's a wrestler. Uh you know what
I mean? Like when you see what Izzy was
doing, he's a sick ass kickboxer. You
know what I mean? Like there's
specialists and then there's MMA
fighters. The new generation that's
coming right now, we're MMA fighters. I
think we're going to prove that it's a
whole different breed. You can't be
onedimensional against us. That's truly
how I see it. But it's going to be a fun
fight for everyone. I feel like you guys
are going to enjoy it. I'm going to get
on taxes, but run it. Whatever. This
one's for the fans, bro. It
to me.
You got You got to pay some taxes, but
at least you get out of the Apex. You
get to fight in front of some people up.
No, for sure. For sure. But with the
taxes put you back in the Apex,
you uh I don't Yeah, I don't blame you.
I mean, when it comes down to it,
fighting in front of people, I'm sure,
is very exciting. But extra money in
bank account.
Yeah. No, it's about money for me. I
don't give a about the fame.
Have you been to uh have you been to
Canada before?
No, I've never been there.
You know, one thing that's been known
that's known about Canada is that uh if
you have a a rap sheet, you can't get
into it. And I just I found myself
wondering about you because of all of
the fights that you say you've gotten
into. There's never been any like
there's never been any All the fights
are are are agreeable. Yeah, everybody's
I'll be there. I don't know if a lot of
my boys will be there, but I'll be
there.
Yeah. No, that me for sure. Another
thing I didn't know to think about, but
it is what it is. You know what I mean?
Opportunities
don't come all the time, so when they
come, you take them. You know what I
mean? So, I'm going take this
opportunity and get my shot. Did you, as
you, as you said, the UFC brought in,
you know, everybody in this middleweight
division, it seemed like, to be there
sitting on camera, watching the
middleweight fight. Did you run into the
to the Ritter at all while you were in
Chicago?
Yeah. No, I was talking to him in the
elevator and I actually offered to
invited him to come smoking. He's a cool
dude, bro. He's a cool ass dude. It's
not like I have no bad intentions like
for him. I know he's doing the same I'm
doing. We're both trying to provide for
our family, but I mean, when the cage
door locks, we both signed a waiver that
says if we die, whatever. You know what
I mean? So, run it. Whatever.
So, you're at the I don't got to work
out so hard no more.
You guys are at you guys are at the the
fighter hotel in Chicago and and he
walks in the elevator and one of the
first things you say to him is you you
want to smoke weed? Like, how does that
conversation go?
No, we were just bull I've met him
before. Like I met him one of his fights
as we were talking in the back of
Okay. And I was actually like trying to
help him figure out sponsorships
um so he can make money. I mean because
he said like it's hard out there back
home. They don't support people. So
we're just having conversations like and
I have no like bro I really don't give a
we're all the same goal. You know what I
mean? It's a cold cutthroat world but
it's not his fault. You know what I
mean? At the end of the day it's like it
is what it is. We both signed up for
this dumb. So let's enjoy it. right?
When you're
when you're sitting there in Chicago and
um you know there's obviously been this
conversation in the media space
afterwards of like oh was it boring or
like oh if if you thought it was boring
then you're a casual like you sat there
you were in the arena for 25 minutes.
What was going through your mind when
Hamzat was just taking him down over and
over holding them there DDP couldn't
move. What what was going
round two smoke and I was like they want
me here for interviews and by round two
I was ready to go smoke. I usually don't
stay at all the fights, bro. Like, I'm
telling you, the other times I've been
to fights is to watch my buddy and I
walked out cuz that is the only person I
care to see. You know what I mean? I
don't really watch fights too much. So,
like when I have to see some like that,
I'm not trying to see that respectfully.
Like, I understand it's very beautiful
martial arts technique and but like I
said, there's specialists and there's
well-rounded MMA fighters. Like, go out
and show some violence, bro. Like, you
know what I mean? Like, I don't know. I
just I like to see the striking. I like
to see the the mixed martial arts. I
like to see the takedowns. I like to see
people get flam on their head. When I
when I think like how do you want to be
remembered? I'm not trying to be
remembered legs. I'm trying to be
remembered as like I was trying to kill
you the entire time. You know what I
mean? That's how I see my mind though.
Like everyone's approach is different.
Obviously, he's his own person. But I
don't know. I try to make it enjoyable
so that when I do have to do film study,
it's not horrible to watch.
Like
I mean I would just think even if it's
not your your cup of tea in terms of
like an entertaining fight knowing that
like I might fight that guy and at that
point I mean you were probably hoping
that maybe I even might fight this guy
next that it would have had your sort of
undivided attention that like I I'm I'm
picturing myself in that situation that
DDP is in. But no, you're not thinking
about any of that.
No, I take my chances. I'm not DDP, bro.
I'm Anthony Hernandez. You know what I
mean? Like I can do all this if I get
taken down. I mean, it is what it is.
I'm going to get back up. I think I've
proven that multiple times. Um, like
I've taken people down and I've up
before, but I understand this game very
well, man. And when it comes to
fighting, one person can never break me.
I don't give a who you are. Um, and I'm
going to prove that every single time,
you know what I mean? And until I'm
proven wrong and I'm too old to do this,
I'll never stop believing in myself. You
know what I mean?
Do you feel like that's something you
were born with or that you learned over
time in terms of like how never to get
to get broken?
Uh, I mean like that's just like you
learned that over time, but also it's
like your parents talked to you about
stuff, you know what I mean? Like my dad
raised me a certain way and like there
were certain things he said had to be
handled certain way and you just you try
to be a good person, you do those
things, you know what I mean? So, I
don't know. I just like at a young age I
was always taught to be a protector and
so when I was young it was like well
whatever.
I don't know. I didn't like fight my
whole life man. It's the one thing
that's comfortable for me.
What were you have you ever been like
kind of uncomfortable in a fight
setting? Like like when is the last time
you could ever think back to like uh
maybe I don't feel like fighting right
now? Like is is that is that ever like
like uh you know are you just ready
literally ready to go all the time?
I'm like that I mean the times I was
hurt and I came to fight when I needed
money and I was like that there was
times it was doubting myself already and
it was just not good. You know what I
mean? But it's life sometimes it happens
and like when you got kids sometimes you
got to make sacrifices and try to make
these choices. But I up and got my ass
whooped. I wasn't the better than I
thought I was. You know what I mean?
Like so maybe I was too confident back
then. Um, and you know what I mean? Like
life humbles you sometimes, aka people.
But, um, it's just you just keep
adjusting and you keep going through. I
think that I've been on an eight fight
win streak and I've been like proving to
people like, "Look, bro, if I don't need
like obviously I don't need money right
now. I'm chilling. But like, if I don't
if I'm not stressing the out, I'm
healthy, bro, I'll murder everybody. I
I'll prove that one fight at a time if I
have to." You know what I mean? And I've
been doing that. You know what I mean?
They keep sending me guys that are
supposed to take me out that are
supposed to kickboxing guys been
knocking everyone out. This guy's been
doing cool, knocking everyone out. Like,
bro, keep sending them. I'm going to
keep them up, bro. I don't give a like
I'm going to get my belt, bro, one way
or another until everyone believes in
me. But like, the real people, the fans
are starting to see it and I see that
and it's like it's dope. You know what I
mean? It's like I appreciate you guys
for tuning in, bro.
Will you be one of those guys when you
win the belt? like it's it's just it's
just like, hey, this is an avenue for
more money. Or will that belt mean
something to you?
It's dope as but for sure at the end of
the day, it's about money. I need to set
my kids up for college and I need to set
myself up, you know what I mean? So I
can be retired. Um so like until I have
enough money to set that all up, I'm
going to war till the wheels fall off,
baby.
Last thing last thing I want to ask you
and of course your next fight is is
Rineer Ditter and it's a great fight. I
I cannot wait for that fight. I think
it's stylistically I think you're
exactly right. I think you guys are more
more of a new breed. So the matchup just
makes for a very fun. But of course
Hamzat just won the title and he's the
things he's been doing have just been so
one-sided, you know, so that it just
always begs the question of like how why
are you the guy like why are you the guy
if you beat Ditter and then you get your
shot against Hamzat? Why are you the guy
to to stop this this thing that has not
been close to being stopped yet?
Because, bro, I understand every angle
of this. Like, I've been doing it my
whole life. But like I said, if people
don't believe it, I'll keep proving it
one fight at a time. I'm going to go
show some violence and keep showing
violence until I get my belt. And you
guys will see how. Just wait. I I'm not
giving any like, you know what I mean?
You guys will see. I'll show you.
Yeah. Well, you've been showing us for a
while, man. And it's been very fun to
watch. So, I appreciate the time. Thank
you for jumping on the interviews. cuz I
know it's not your favorite thing, but I
enjoy talking to you and I really enjoy
watching you fight, dude. So, we'll see
you uh we'll see you October 18th, man.
Thank you.
[Applause]
[Music]