Luis Hernandez, a Miami-Dade County Sheriff's deputy, secured a UFC contract Tuesday after submitting Hugo Guillon with a rear-naked choke at 1:01 of the second round during Dana White's Contender Series Season 10 Week 6 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, according to WPBF 25 News.
Dana White announced the contract during the broadcast, praising Hernandez's performance and welcoming him to the promotion, according to WPBF. The bout was a three-round middleweight contest, and UFC.com identified Guillon as the French opponent in its event recap. The result moved Hernandez from the Contender Series to the UFC roster.
The victory took Hernandez's professional record to 8-0 and was the fifth submission win of his career, according to UFC. WPBF 25 News reported that he works in a specialized unit within the department and has described his fighting approach as focused on delivering entertaining bouts.
A Department Rallies Behind Its Fighter
More than 40 supporters traveled from Miami to Las Vegas for the fight, according to the outlet. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office also backed Hernandez during his run, and Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz congratulated him after the victory, WPBF reported.
What Rules Apply To Outside Work?
According to the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, county employees must obtain approval from their department director before engaging in outside employment. The guidance does not establish whether Hernandez's professional fighting career falls under that requirement. The commission also says the County Ethics Code bars outside employment that would impair an employee's independent judgment in performing public duties. The available guidance sets out those general standards but does not make a determination about Hernandez's circumstances.
Hernandez has Cuban parents and comes from an immigrant family, according to WPBF 25 News. He described the contract as an amazing and blessed moment. The achievement puts added attention on how he combines his work in a specialized law-enforcement unit with a professional fighting career.
Part Of A Bigger Night For Contender Series Hopefuls
Hernandez's result was one of several notable outcomes on the card. Four of the five winners earned UFC contracts, while another fighter received a later-season second chance, according to UFC.com. Fight-tracking site tapology.com listed Hernandez and Guillon in a 185-pound middleweight matchup.
The victory capped an unbeaten run for Hernandez while he continues his responsibilities as a sworn Miami-Dade deputy. His new UFC contract will bring a larger public spotlight to that combination of public service and professional competition.
