Alexander Hernandez Releases Statement After UFC Brooklyn: ‘Experience is a Costly Bitch’

Allow me to reintroduce myself

Lightweight division, @CowboyCerrone is BACK!! #UFCBrooklyn pic.twitter.com/w8ogcFcdd3

— UFC (@ufc) January 20, 2019

Alexander Hernandez was humbled by a veteran opponent at UFC Fight Night 143, as he suffered just his second career defeat against Donald Cerrone at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Saturday night.

Hernandez started quickly, stunning “Cowboy” with some heavy punches early in the evening’s featured preliminary bout on ESPN network. But once Cerrone settled in, he was able to batter Hernandez with multi-strike combinations before finishing the lightweight contest with a head kick and follow-up punches 3:43 into the second round.

It was a valuable lesson for Hernandez, who began his promotional tenure with a 42-second knockout of Beneil Dariush before outpointing Olivier Aubin-Mercier in his second UFC outing.

“Congratulations, [Donald Cerrone]. You taught me something invaluable in defeat,” Hernandez wrote on Instagram. “Perhaps the best/worst thing that ever happened to me was a 42 second knockout debut. I go into every fight feeling untouchable and expecting a repeat of the same occurrence. I prepare myself in the moments prior for an execution in the first round and not a fight. I need to learn to fight. I need to address my approach.

“I brought the fight to Cerrone and where he made adjustments, I did not. Experience is a costly bitch.”

At just 26 years old, Hernandez has plenty of room to grow in the UFC’s lightweight division. The Ohana Academy member vowed to return to the Octagon an improved product in his next outing.

“I will not let this go in vain,” Hernandez said. “The triumph of adversity is what makes a man and defines legends. I will be be back. And you will know I mean what I say next time you see me. This is good pain.”

View this post on Instagram

Congratulations @cowboycerrone. You taught me something invaluable in defeat. Perhaps the best/worst thing that ever happened to me was a 42 second knockout debut. I go into every fight feeling untouchable and expecting a repeat of the same occurrence. I prepare myself in the moments prior for an execution in the first round and not a fight. I need to learn to fight. I need to address my approach. I brought the fight to Cerrone and where he made adjustments, I did not. Experience is a costly bitch. Thank you @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby for an amazing opportunity and belief in me. I will not let this go in vain. The triumph of adversity is what makes a man and defines legends. I will be be back. And you will know I mean what I say next time you see me. This is good pain.

A post shared by Alexander Hernandez (@thegreat155) on Jan 20, 2019 at 9:43am PST