A Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s deputy who recently made his UFC debut has secured a partnership with McDonald’s, becoming the first athlete in the organization’s history to land a sponsorship deal with the fast-food giant.
Luis Hernandez announced the historic agreement on Wednesday, just weeks after earning his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series. The achievement caps off a remarkable stretch for the law enforcement officer who balances his duties on patrol with a burgeoning career inside the octagon.
Hernandez’s path to the UFC spotlight came with little preparation time. After securing his contract, he accepted his promotional debut against veteran Sedriques Dumas on just two days’ notice. The risk paid off when Hernandez secured a guillotine choke victory at UFC Vegas 121 on September 27, 2026.
The deputy credits his department’s support for making his dual career possible. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Hernandez explained how he manages the demanding schedule.
“I am very blessed. We get to actually train on duty. We get an hour every day to train. And then the other time I use, I use my PTO time/vacation and comp time to train as well,” Hernandez said. “I stay extra hours on shift to build it, and I have a great schedule where I could train and train multiple times a day.”
Hernandez drew inspiration from another first responder who made it to the highest levels of combat sports: former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who served as a fireman throughout much of his championship reign.
“If Stipe Miocic did it, right, a fireman, it’s time for an officer to do it, a deputy now,” Hernandez said.
Looking ahead, the newly minted UFC competitor remains committed to both careers, though he acknowledges the balancing act will require careful planning as opportunities increase.
“I’m starting my career and I’m gonna take it one day at a time. But I definitely have a lot of vacation time that I can use,” he noted. “When it gets there, I’ll start burning it and I’ll figure it out. And if there’s a will, there’s a way. And if I stay active how I am now, I’ll figure it out. But let’s see how many fights I get a year.”
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