UFC star found himself in the midst of real-life drama outside the octagon in Salt Lake City. What was supposed to be a routine preparation for UFC 307 turned into a scene straight out of an action movie.
Alexander Hernandez, a UFC featherweight, revealed an incident that occurred as he and his teammate, top flyweight contender Brandon Royval, were leaving breakfast. The pair witnessed a shooting outside their hotel, with Royval allegedly pursuing the perpetrator.
Hernandez, who later emerged victorious in his bout, shared the surprising story with the media: “I was on the way home from breakfast and saw somebody get shot. My boy [Royval] chased down the shooter, kinda crazy. … Outside of that, everyone’s been really friendly, so it was a really cool experience all week.”
The news of this heroic act quickly reached UFC CEO Dana White, who appeared visibly stunned during the post-fight press conference. “Holy s***,” White exclaimed. “This has happened in the past. It’s weird how much it happens to our guys. I mean, I don’t even know what to say to that!”
This incident adds to a growing list of UFC fighters stepping up in extraordinary circumstances. In 2011, a young Jon Jones famously thwarted a robbery attempt just before his first UFC title fight. More recently, Kevin Holland, who also competed at UFC 307, has been involved in multiple crime-stopping situations, including apprehending a car thief and halting a shoplifter.
The heroism of UFC stars extends beyond crime prevention. Earlier this year, former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman rescued his parents from a burning house, risking his own life in the process.
As for Royval, the impromptu chase didn’t seem to faze him. The Factory X gym product is set to headline next week’s UFC Fight Night, proving that these athletes are ready for action both inside and outside the cage.
