{"id":5060465,"date":"2021-12-01T23:16:56","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T04:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?p=5060465"},"modified":"2021-12-01T23:16:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T04:16:56","slug":"carlos-hernandez-having-the-will-and-finding-the-way-in-the-octagon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/2021\/12\/01\/carlos-hernandez-having-the-will-and-finding-the-way-in-the-octagon\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlos Hernandez: Having the will and finding the way in the Octagon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c5\u2026 4\u2026 3\u2026 2&#8230; 1\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The doors swing open, and professional MMA fighter Carlos Hernandez heads into the fight of his life. His career route depends on the next few strikes he\u2019ll take in the octagon before him. The bright lights illuminate his path towards the biggest stage of his life thus far. As he steps into the ring, he thinks about everything and nothing at all. Tonight he\u2019ll either make his record a 7-win streak, with the chance of earning a contract with Ultimate Fighting Championship or head back to Chicago defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s like your heart rate goes up super, super quick, and you\u2019re trying to calm it down but not too much \u2018cause you don\u2019t want to be too flat when the fight starts. So it\u2019s just like a roller coaster walking up there until it\u2019s locked, and then you touch gloves and everything kind of just relaxes for me, and it\u2019s like, time to go to work,\u201d Hernandez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hernandez competed in week 6 of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White\u2019s Contender Series. The show, which completed its fifth season on Nov. 2, organizes matches between up-and-coming Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters. Of course, the goal is to win the match, but the real challenge is to impress White, as those who do are offered a contract with UFC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey sell this show as a job interview so you\u2019re fighting literally in front of the UFC President and the matchmaker,\u201d Hernandez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stakes are high in Las Vegas as the fight begins, but the energy feels just as high in the private room of Paisans Pizzeria in Berwyn. Hernandez\u2019s family, friends, and teammates have gathered to stream the match and cheer him on from across the country. It\u2019s as if the moment has come full circle. About 20 years prior, the Hernandez family was introduced to MMA during a live demo at a community festival at Morton College, located just five minutes away from the restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKids were doing kickboxing, jiu-jitsu stuff, and it actually caught my parents\u2019 eyes, more so my dad, I think, than mine. At the time, I just wanted to play soccer, but it caught their eye, and the next thing you know, that following Monday, I was at the gym,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt was kind of dumb luck, I guess, how it started.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Carlos Hernandez: Having the will and finding the way in the Octagon\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qJtF6gVMO9E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption>Hern\u00e1ndez on family support on and off The Octagon <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hernandez says that initially, he hated the sport, but his parents convinced him to continue practicing and improving his skills. After about a year, he grew to love the art, and it was no longer forced upon him. He continued to play soccer as he grew older and joined Mount Carmel\u2019s wrestling team in high school, but his passion for MMA overpowered all other sports because it mainly required him to rely on himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah, it\u2019s very crucial to have a good team, a good group to work with, and stuff, but ultimately it\u2019s on you. You gotta have the discipline to put in the extra work and do what you gotta do,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in there, it\u2019s literally just you as well. I think I like that aspect of it a lot \u2018cause I\u2019d like to think I\u2019m a pretty disciplined person, so there\u2019s no excuse if something kind of goes wrong. It\u2019s on me to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2017 Hernandez joined Valle Flow Striking Academy, VFS Academy, with the hopes of taking his career to the next level. He started his professional career with a loss but didn\u2019t get discouraged as he and his coaches trained and prepared to build a platform that would impress the UFC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMan, that process was\u2026 just a lot of years of trusting the process and kind of staying disciplined with it,\u201d Hernandez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process he describes lasted about three years in which Hernandez traveled and fought in different matches for different promotional companies. In February 2020, he won the Indiana-based Hoosier Fight Club Flyweight Championship title. In October, a few months later, his unanimous decision win for Legacy Fighting Alliance was streamed on UFC Fight Pass, UFC\u2019s video subscription service. He attributes both of these fights to sealing his opportunity in the Contender Series. By early summer 2021, he signed the deal to compete against opponent Daniel Barez from Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"442\" src=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0747-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5060470\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0747-1.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?attachment_id=5060470\" class=\"wp-image-5060470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0747-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0747-1-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"472\" src=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0744.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5060472\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0744.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?attachment_id=5060472\" class=\"wp-image-5060472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0744.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0744-300x221.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"461\" src=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0746-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5060473\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0746-1.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?attachment_id=5060473\" class=\"wp-image-5060473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0746-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0746-1-300x216.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" src=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0745.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"5060471\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_0745.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?attachment_id=5060471\" class=\"wp-image-5060471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0745.jpg 640w, https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2021\/11\/IMG_0745-300x223.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption\">Hernandez V. Barez, October 5, 2021<br>Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/fighter\/Carlos-Hernandez-171603#\/slide\/9\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/fighter\/Carlos-Hernandez-171603#\/slide\/9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SHERDOG<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The match occurred on October 5, 2021, at UFC Apex. As the bell rang and the match began, Hernandez was aware of the loud crowd and the coaches in his corner, but he says his mind was still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s weird. It\u2019s like you\u2019re in the middle of a fire kind of thing. It\u2019s almost like calmness because you\u2019re trying to make reads, you\u2019re trying to set things up and stuff so honestly, it\u2019s a whole lot of nothing really aside from fight stuff, technique stuff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For three five-minute rounds, Hernandez and Barez attempted to kick, jab, or choke each other into submission. All eyes were on them, in Las Vegas, in Berwyn, and all across the MMA community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was interesting because I knew it was close. I thought he won the first round, I thought I won the second round, and then the third round, I guess depended on how the judges were gonna score \u2018cause he got two takedowns in the third round right, but I don\u2019t think he landed a strike or really went for a submission attempt,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf anything, it showed more on my end the willingness to get up and still throw a bunch of volume and outpace him and kind of outwork him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The judges\u2019 decision was split, but ultimately Hernandez was declared the winner. He says a rush of emotions raced through his head when his name was called.<br><br>\u201c[I felt] a lot of relief, happy, proud. I think more for like my parents and my coaches\u2026 It was nice to get that close one for them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"960\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 512 \/ 960;\" width=\"512\" controls src=\"http:\/\/illatinonews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/The-win-at-Paisans-via-Jocelyn-Servin.mov\"><\/video><figcaption>Fans cheer Hernandez win over Barez at Paisan\u2019s Pizzeria &amp; Bar in Berwyn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the moment that Hernandez\u2019s name was declared as the winner, celebratory cheers exploded from the group at Paisans. A sense of pride filled the air. Friends hopped onto tables; the area shook from cousins jumping up and down, Hernandez\u2019s father was lifted and crowd-surfed across the room. At that moment, they all won.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once all of the fights of the night were finished, the contract winners were announced. Hernandez\u2019s attempt at impressing Dana White was successful. UFC extended him a four-fight offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHernandez lost the first round, came back, fought his ass off, won the next two rounds. He\u2019s only seven and one. I think the kid has a bright future in this sport,\u201d White said during the contact winner announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although at this time there is no set date for Hernandez\u2019s UFC debut, he looks forward to what the future holds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNext year I think my goals are to get three to four fights in, win them all, get a bonus or two \u2018cause now that I\u2019m eligible for those bonuses at UFC, that\u2019d be a life-changer right there in one night,\u201d he said, referencing the $50,000 bonuses UFC fighters can be awarded during events for \u201cFight of the Night\u201d or \u201cPerformance of the Night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For now, Hernandez is back to his regular routine in his hometown of Cicero. He spends his weekdays working as a teacher\u2019s assistant, spends his nights training in the gym, and continues training and playing soccer on the weekends.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s a lot but it kind of comes back to discipline. You just gotta show up. You can\u2019t miss work because you\u2019re gonna get fired, you can\u2019t miss practice because then you\u2019re not gonna perform. It\u2019s a lot but I guess where there\u2019s a will, there\u2019s a way.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201c5\u2026 4\u2026 3\u2026 2&#8230; 1\u2026\u201d The doors swing open, and professional MMA fighter Carlos Hernandez heads into the fight of 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4\u2026 3\u2026 2&#8230; 1\u2026\u201d The doors swing open, and professional MMA fighter Carlos Hernandez heads into the fight of 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