Dana White seldom misses an opportunity to sign a fighter who catches his eye during the weekly Contender Series battles. This time, the UFC CEO wasted no time handing a contract to a police officer with an unusual connection to one of the promotion’s biggest stars.

Undefeated 8-0 prospect Luis Hernandez earned his UFC contract last night after an impressive performance at DWCS Week 6 against Hugo Guillon. The full-time police officer was involved in a vicious back-and-forth with Guillon in the opening round before eventually finding a rear-naked choke in the second.

The performance left White impressed, with the UFC CEO praising Hernandez for his victory while handing him the contract.

“Luis, I mean. I loved this fight,” White said. “Two dogs blasted each other with big shots. You guys basically have the same record. Both of you guys were in trouble. You overcame big punches, being tired, submission attempts, to get the finish. Incredible fight. I absolutely loved it. Welcome to the UFC.”

For Hernandez, the contract represents the realization of a lifelong dream. The 30-year-old works as a full-time deputy for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office in Florida and has gained attention for maintaining two demanding careers at the same time.

But Hernandez was already familiar to some MMA fans for a very different reason. Last year, the Florida-based fighter found himself at the center of a wild brawl involving UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

In June 2025, at Tuff-N-Uff 145, Luis Hernandez scored an impressive submission victory over Miles Hunsinger, a Las Vegas-based fighter coached by Sean Strickland. While holding in the standing guillotine choke, Hernandez stuck his tongue out to taunt Hunsinger’s corner, where Strickland was standing with the rest of his Xtreme Couture teammates.

If that wasn’t enough, immediately after securing the tap-out victory, Hernandez turned toward Strickland and fellow UFC veteran Chris Curtis and delivered an aggressive, WWE-style ‘crotch chop’ celebration.

Infuriated by the gesture and the loss their teammate took, Strickland and Curtis rushed into the cage. While Curtis held Luis Hernandez by the scruff of his neck, Strickland rained down punches on the MMA prospect, leading to a brawl. Security eventually intervened to separate everyone, and no one was seriously injured.

The altercation resulted in disciplinary action for both fighters. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspended Strickland for six months and fined him $5,000, while Chris Curtis was fined $2,500. Strickland’s suspension ended last December.

Given that history, it was hardly surprising that even the commentators briefly mentioned the incident during the broadcast last night, joking, “As long as he’s not looking at Strickland doing it.”

But Hernandez’s connection to the UFC’s middleweight champion is not the only thing that makes his signing unusual. Dana White has previously brought several fighters with law-enforcement or military backgrounds into the UFC.

Chris Leben, for example, had a military background, while Mirko Cro Cop was part of Croatia’s anti-terrorism squad. Chris Daukaus is another notable example, having spent 10 years working as a police officer in Philadelphia before joining the UFC.

There is, however, an important difference between Daukaus and Hernandez. Daukaus left his police job before embarking on his UFC career, while Luis Hernandez continues to work as a full-time sheriff in Florida.

Now, the 30-year-old will have to balance that career with life as a UFC fighter.

And while his previous confrontation with Strickland could have created an obvious storyline, Hernandez made it clear after his DWCS victory that he has no interest in carrying that rivalry into the UFC.

DWCS winner breaks silence on Sean Strickland altercation

Hernandez’s altercation with Strickland may have put him on the radar of UFC fans, but the undefeated prospect does not appear interested in making their history part of his UFC identity.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Hernandez revealed that he and Strickland had already made amends through messages.

“One of his coaches was here,” Hernandez said at the post-fight presser. “Somebody said he might have been in the crowd. Like I said, I would love to talk to him. We kind of made amends through messages. I have nothing against him. I actually really like him. We’re American, and we need more American fighters in the UFC.”

Hernandez’s comments make it clear that there is no lingering animosity from his side. While Strickland has not publicly addressed whether he considers the matter settled, Hernandez’s claim that the two exchanged messages suggests that the situation has cooled considerably.

That would not be entirely out of character for Strickland, despite his reputation for being outspoken and confrontational. The middleweight champion has shown before that he can put past disagreements aside.

After beating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, ‘Tarzan’ apologized to his adversary for crossing the line during the buildup.

For now, though, Luis Hernandez has more immediate priorities. The Miami-Dade sheriff has gone from fighting his way through DWCS to earning a UFC contract, all while continuing to work as a police officer.