LAS VEGAS – Luke Fernandez was well aware that he was a significant betting favorite for Dana White's Contender Series 85, but he couldn't let that affect his thoughts heading into his UFC interview.
The Fernandez favorite (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) ranged from -1400 to -1700 against Rafael Pergentino, who also entered their DWCS as an undefeated fighter. However, Fernandez proved the bookmakers right by ending the fight in just 15 seconds with the first thrown combination.
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“I did see some chances just because I have buddies who are degenerate gamblers and wanted to send me this,” Fernandez told reporters during the post-fight press conference. “I saw it, but I try not to pay attention to it. I definitely don't let it affect how I approach a fight.
“For those who say they don't belong or who don't belong, at the end of the day, he and I have the same record: We weigh 205 pounds and wear 4-ounce gloves. I mean, he could just as easily throw an overhand and knock me down. That's how I approached it, but at the end of the day, anyone who says, 'He was such a big favorite,' 'He got fed,' so it was over in 15 seconds.”
Fernandez admits he was a little concerned that UFC CEO Dana White didn't see him enough because the fight ended so quickly. Being the first fight on the card and having to wait until the show was over only allowed those thoughts to linger.
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However, White extended the contract offer because he made the fight exactly as one-sided as the bookmakers expected, and now he will have a chance to prove himself against the UFC's light heavyweights.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: DWCS 85: Luke Fernandez proved the bookmakers right in 15 seconds
