November 10, 2024

With marijuana suspension ending in June, Anthony Hernandez gets Markus Perez at UFC 233

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 19: Anthony Hernandez celebrates after his knockout victory over Jordan Wright in their middleweight bout during Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series at the TUF Gym on June 19, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Elliott Howard/DWTNCS LLC)

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Anthony Hernandez (pictured) fights Markus Perez at UFC 223 on Jan. 26
DWTNCS LLC via Getty Images

After a bump in the road, Anthony Hernandez will get to begin his UFC journey in earnest early next year.

Hernandez (6-0, 1 NC) was a standout performer on season two of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series, earning a UFC contract with a 40-second KO of Jordan Wright; however, that win was changed to a no-contest and Hernandez was issued a six-month suspension (retroactive to June) after testing positive for marijuana metabolites.

With that suspension ending soon, “Fluffy” has been booked to fight Markus Perez (10-2) at UFC 233 on Jan. 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. MMA Fighting confirmed the matchup with sources following an initial report by Combate. Hernandez also confirmed the news via his social media.

Prior to his Contender Series appearance, Hernandez won his first six pro bouts, four of those by first-round guillotine choke submission. Perez, 8-0 on the regional scene, has sandwiched a first-round rear-naked choke submission win over James Bochnovic with unanimous decision losses toAndrew Sanchez and Eryk Anders.

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