The man who holds the record for most UFC takedowns
In short: Anthony Hernandez didn't just enter the UFC; he fundamentally altered its middleweight statistics. By prioritizing grappling and control, he secured a place in the record books that many thought impossible to reach in such a high-paced division.
Born in Dunnigan, California, Anthony Hernandez faced early hurdles before finding success in mixed martial arts. After being kicked off his high school wrestling team for grades and briefly attending college, he pivoted to professional fighting. His journey included an amateur debut in 2010 and a notable victory over Brendan Allen for the Legacy Fighting Alliance Middleweight title in 2018. He moved from high school wrestling into a professional career starting in 2014. His early amateur run included an eight-fight winning streak.
Hernandez's UFC career is defined by statistical dominance in grappling. He currently holds the record for the most takedowns landed in UFC Middleweight history, totaling 57. His technical approach is further evidenced by his control time of 1:22:25—the second-highest in the division's history, trailing only Chael Sonnen. This style was perfectly exemplified during his fight against Michel Pereira on October 19, 2024, where he landed a record 29 takedown attempts and 97 significant ground strikes. His striking accuracy of 60.1% ranks as the third highest ever for this weight class. He also achieved a massive +128 striking differential against Pereira.
Despite these records, Hernandez's path has been marked by volatility. He faced a no-contest in Dana White's Contender Series due to a marijuana positive test and dealt with multiple injuries, including torn ligaments. However, his ability to perform under pressure earned him four Performance of the Night awards. His eight-fight win streak eventually ended in February 2026 against Sean Strickland, but his legacy remains cemented by his ranking as one of the most statistically significant grapplers in the sport's history. He won his first $100,000 Fight of the Night award in August 2026. His win streak tied with Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero for the fifth longest in division history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Anthony Hernandez
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