Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Alexander Hernandez got the finish he wanted at Noche UFC 3 — but he didn’t love how it played out.
The 32-year-old San Antonio native scored a brutal stoppage this past weekend (Sat., Sept. 13, 2025), knocking out former Top 15-ranked Lightweight Diego Ferreira in the second round inside Frost Bank Center.
Despite getting one of the best finishes on the card, Hernandez was upset with himself because his knockout was slightly overshadowed by the referee
letting the fight go on too long.
“It went on way too long,” Hernandez told Ariel Helwani earlier today. “I look at that and I’m mad at myself as much as I am the ref. With the right composure, the ref should have stopped it, and I should have stopped it next. There’s a moment where you’re like, ‘Man, this fight is over with.’ I almost wish I had just checked the ref because I don’t know what he was waiting on.”
“It did go on too long,” Hernandez concluded. “I don’t like seeing that. I don’t even like being on the correct side of that.”
It’s a more reflective tone than fans may be used to from “The Great Ape,” who has often carried himself with brash confidence. Now, as a UFC veteran, Hernandez appears to be turning the page and showing maturity both in victory and in how he views the risks of the fight game.
The win over Ferreira extended his win streak to four, marking the best run of his Octagon career. It’s an impressive turnaround considering he previously endured the toughest stretch of his career, dropping four of five fights between 2022 and 2024 — including three bouts at Featherweight, a division he now admits was never the right fit.
Hernandez (18-8) said he plans to take care of a lingering left arm issue before booking his next fight, but he’s eyeing an early 2026 return. With momentum on his side and a renewed sense of perspective, he may finally be hitting his stride at Lightweight.
