Alexander “The Great Ape”Hernandez

Alexander Hernandez is an American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC lightweight division under the nickname “El Gran Chango.” The UFC lists him as active, with a place of birth in St. Louis, Missouri, a height of 5 feet 9 inches, and an Octagon debut on March 3, 2018. The UFC profile also identifies Hernandez as a professional fighter since 2012 and lists the HERO FC lightweight championship among his past titles.

Hernandez entered the UFC with a standout first appearance against Beneil Dariush at UFC 222, where he secured a first-round knockout. His UFC career has included lightweight bouts against Olivier Aubin-Mercier, Francisco Trinaldo, Donald Cerrone, Jim Miller, Austin Hubbard and other established opponents. After a period competing at featherweight, Hernandez returned to lightweight in 2024; UFC coverage described the move as a positive reset and highlighted his renewed comfort in the division.

Hernandez has described wrestling as an early foundation for his fighting career, beginning the sport at age 13 before developing broader interests in martial arts. The UFC lists him as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and notes that he trains with Brandon Royval and Luis Gurule. His style combines pressure striking, wrestling-based grit and opportunistic grappling, with the UFC profile specifically identifying his right hand as a favorite striking technique. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in business finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio before committing fully to professional fighting.