# Alexander Hernandez

Alexander Xavier Hernandez (born October 1, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

## Background

Hernandez began wrestling at the age of 13 and started training in other martial arts as he progressed through education. After graduating from Reagan High School, Alexander entered college from where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Hernandez worked as a mortgage loan officer as he was recovering from a MCL and meniscus injury.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Hernandez compiled an amateur MMA record of 3–0 before making his professional debut in the spring of 2012.
He competed for various regional promotions such as Legacy Fighting Alliance and Resurrection Fighting Alliance and by 2018, he had amassed a 8–1 MMA record before signing with the UFC in early 2018.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Hernandez made his promotional debut as a short notice replacement filling in for Bobby Green against Beneil Dariush on March 3, 2018, at UFC 222. Hernandez won the fight via knockout in the fight's opening minute. He was awarded a $50,000 bonus for Performance of the Night.
Hernandez next faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on July 28, 2018, at UFC on Fox 30. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Hernandez was expected to face Francisco Trinaldo on January 26, 2019, at UFC 233. However, Hernandez was pulled from that fight in favor of a bout with former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Donald Cerrone a week earlier at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round. For their performance, both participants were awarded Fight of the Night.
Hernandez faced Francisco Trinaldo on July 20, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 4, which took place in Hernandez's home state of Texas. He won the fight via unanimous decision. The fight was the subject of much debate, with 11 of 13 media outlets scoring the bout in favor of Trinaldo.
Hernández was expected to face Islam Makhachev on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However, Makhachev was removed from the event after Russia restricted air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was replaced by Omar Morales. On April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that the event was postponed. Hernandez was rescheduled to May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira and faced Drew Dober instead. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Hernández faced Chris Gruetzemacher on October 31, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 181. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him Performance Fight of the Night award.
Hernández faced Thiago Moisés on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Hernández was scheduled to face Leonardo Santos on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 193. However, Santos was forced to withdraw from the event, citing a calf injury and was replaced by Mike Breeden. At the weigh-ins, Breeden weighed in at 158.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Breeden was fined 20% of his purse which went to Hernandez. Hernandez won the fight via knockout in round one.
Hernández faced Renato Moicano on February 12, 2022, at UFC 271. He lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Hernandez faced Billy Quarantillo on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.
Hernandez faced Jim Miller, replacing Gabriel Benítez on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Hernandez faced Bill Algeo on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Hernandez faced Damon Jackson on April 6, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 240. At the weigh-ins, Hernandez weighed in at 147.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Jackson. Hernandez lost the bout by split decision.
On short notice and replacing Nate Landwehr, Hernandez faced former LFA Lightweight Champion Austin Hubbard on October 5, 2024 at UFC 307. He won the fight by split decision.
Hernandez faced Kurt Holobaugh on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Beneil Dariush and Chris Gruetzemacher
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Donald Cerrone
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2018: Upset of the Year vs. Beneil Dariush & Ranked #2 Newcomer of the Year
* Hero Fighting Championship
** Hero FC Lightweight Champion (One time)
* MMADNA.nl
** 2018 UFC Debut of the Year.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 24 matches | 16 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 3 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 16–8 | Kurt Holobaugh | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2 | March 15, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–8 | Austin Hubbard | Decision (split) | UFC 307 | October 5, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 14–8 | Damon Jackson | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Curtis 2 | April 6, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (147.5 lb) bout; Hernandez missed weight. |
| Loss | 14–7 | Bill Algeo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–6 | Jim Miller | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Blanchfield | February 18, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 13–6 | Billy Quarantillo | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 282 | December 10, 2022 | 2 | 4:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 13–5 | Renato Moicano | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 271 | February 12, 2022 | 2 | 1:23 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 13–4 | Mike Breeden | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker | October 2, 2021 | 1 | 1:20 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Breeden missed weight. |
| Loss | 12–4 | Thiago Moisés | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane | February 27, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Chris Gruetzemacher | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva | October 31, 2020 | 1 | 1:46 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 11–3 | Drew Dober | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira | May 13, 2020 | 2 | 4:25 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 11–2 | Francisco Trinaldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards | July 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Donald Cerrone | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw | January 19, 2019 | 2 | 3:43 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | Olivier Aubin-Mercier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 9–1 | Beneil Dariush | KO (punch) | UFC 222 | March 3, 2018 | 1 | 0:42 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 8–1 | Derrick Adkins | TKO (punches) | LFA 27 | November 10, 2017 | 3 | 1:53 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | Catchweight (160 lb) bout; Adkins missed weight. |
| Win | 7–1 | Chris Pecero | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RFA 41 | July 29, 2016 | 1 | 1:27 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Rodrigo Sotelo Jr. | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Hero FC: Best of the Best 6 | September 26, 2015 | 1 | 4:44 | El Paso, Texas, United States | Won the Hero FC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Jacob Capelli | Decision (unanimous) | Hero FC: Best of the Best 4 | January 17, 2015 | 3 | 3:00 | Brownsville, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Martin Walker | TKO (punches) | Hero FC: Best of the Best 3 | September 12, 2014 | 1 | 2:59 | Brownsville, Texas, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 3–1 | Joel Scott | Decision (unanimous) | Hero FC: Texas Pride | September 28, 2013 | 3 | 3:00 | Beaumont, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Jamall Emmers | Decision (split) | Hero FC: Pride of the Valley 2 | June 21, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Pharr, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | David Salazar | TKO (punches) | El Orgullo del Valle | March 16, 2013 | 1 | 0:34 | Pharr, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Dimitre Ivy | Decision (unanimous) | Kickass Productions | October 20, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Seguin, Texas, United States | Featherweight debut. |