Curtis Pursues Hernandez After UFC Matchmakers Reject Grudge Fight

Chris Curtis says UFC matchmakers have blocked his attempts to fight Luis Hernandez, the undefeated prospect who submitted his Xtreme Couture teammate Miles Hunsinger at a Tuff-N-Uff event in June 2025 and delivered a crotch chop toward Sean Strickland's corner.

Hernandez made his Octagon debut Saturday at UFC Vegas 121, submitting Sedriques Dumas to earn a Performance of the Night bonus. Curtis told fans on Instagram that he messaged UFC matchmakers immediately after the win, only to receive the same response he got when Hernandez first signed with the promotion. "The response from both was that he wasn't ready yet," Curtis said, per MMA Mania. "He had no fights and wasn't ready yet."

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Curtis Vows No Forgiveness Until Matchmakers Approve Fight

Curtis, a 12-fight UFC veteran, made clear the rejection has not softened his stance. "I am petty as hell," he said. "I don't let anything go. There's no forgiveness." He added that a mutual acquaintance approached him about squashing the grudge, but Curtis refused. "I told him I want to pop his head like a grape when I see him," he said.

The grudge dates to the Tuff-N-Uff 145 card, when Hernandez caught Hunsinger in a standing guillotine and taunted Strickland's corner afterward. Strickland stormed the cage and punched Hernandez, while Curtis entered and became involved in the scuffle. Hernandez, a Miami-Dade sheriff's deputy who is 9-0 with a perfect finishing rate, later told Yahoo Sports he has since settled things with Strickland through direct messages. Curtis evidently has not moved on.

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Curtis is coming off a decision loss to Myktybek Orolbai and holds a 6-5 UFC record. Hernandez told Yahoo that if the matchup comes to him, he would accept. "He's almost on his way out," Hernandez said of Curtis. "If I'm the final nail, it'll happen sooner or later."

UFC matchmakers appear unwilling to book the fight for now, but Curtis said he will keep circling until officials say yes. The next UFC card airs October 4 from Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Rejected! Sean Strickland’s ‘petty,’ revenge-driven teammate denied fight with UFC’s red-hot Sheriff’s deputy – ‘There’s no forgiveness’