Luis Hernandez Calls Out Chris Curtis, Squashes Strickland Beef

Luis Hernandez is undefeated at 9-0, and he's decided he'd like to end another man's career next. The light heavyweight has singled out Chris Curtis as a target, framing a potential matchup as the "final nail" in the veteran's UFC run. That's a bold pitch from someone still climbing, but Hernandez has the momentum to back the talk — six of his nine pro wins have come by submission, most recently a first-round finish of Sedriques Dumas.

The Curtis callout arrives with a side of housekeeping. Hernandez confirmed he's squared things away with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland after the two brawled at a Tuff-N-Uff event last year. He said he and Strickland are good now. Curtis, on the other hand, doesn't get the same peace treaty.

Where the Beef Comes From

Hernandez suggested Curtis is popping up out of nowhere looking for attention — a play for fame, as he put it — and said if Curtis's name lands in front of him, he'll take the fight. It's the kind of low-stakes-turned-personal feud that grows out of a nightclub-tier scuffle and then finds a life on social media. For an unranked fighter trying to build a profile, calling out a recognizable name is a smart, cheap way to get eyes on you.

The problem for Curtis is the timing. He's 32-13 with 17 knockouts, a genuinely durable and dangerous welterweight, but he's coming off a unanimous decision loss to Myktybek Orolbai. Another setback — especially against a prospect he's supposed to beat on paper — would put real pressure on his roster spot. Hence Hernandez's "final nail" framing.

Does the Fight Even Make Sense?

There's a logistical wrinkle worth noting: Hernandez fights at light heavyweight, Curtis at welterweight. That's a big gap in weight classes, so a bout would require someone to meet in the middle or the whole thing stays as noise. Callouts like this often live and die on whether the divisions line up, and this one currently doesn't.

Still, the appeal is obvious. Hernandez is a perfect-record grappler with finishing pedigree, Curtis is a proven scrapper with a fanbase and a punch, and there's genuine history between them. If the UFC can bridge the weight and the beef holds, it's an easy sell. For now, Hernandez has done his part — he's put a name on the table and dared Curtis to answer.