Top Contender Reveals UFC Forced Him to Prove Mexican Family History

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Anthony
Hernandez claims the promotion asked him to show them his
family’s papers.

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.

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.”