Hernandez and Rodrigues Put together for Sacramento Important Occasion

Anthony Hernandez returns to Northern California on Saturday with a right away alternative to rebuild his place within the UFC middleweight division.

The No. 6-ranked contender faces No. 11 Gregory Rodrigues in the principle occasion of UFC Struggle Night time on the Golden 1 Heart in Sacramento on 22 August.

For Hernandez, the combat comes six months after Sean Strickland ended his eight-fight successful run with a third-round TKO in Houston. Rodrigues arrives with totally different momentum after knocking out Brunno Ferreira within the opening spherical at UFC 326 in March.

The distinction makes this a major combat at 185lb. Hernandez wants to indicate that the Strickland defeat was a setback reasonably than the start of a slide. Rodrigues can transfer additional into the highest 10 dialog with the largest victory of his UFC profession.

World in Sport’s UFC protection has adopted each fighters via a altering middleweight division, together with Hernandez’s earlier assembly with Strickland and Rodrigues’ look at UFC 326.

Hernandez Returns After Strickland Defeat

Hernandez entered 2026 carrying one of many division’s strongest successful runs.

He had gained eight consecutive fights, together with victories over Roman Dolidze, Brendan Allen and Michel Pereira. Six of these eight victories got here inside the gap. His fourth-round rear-naked choke towards Dolidze in August 2025 strengthened his place among the many main middleweights.

That momentum disappeared towards Strickland.

The previous champion stopped Hernandez with strikes at 2:23 of the third spherical in Houston on 21 February. It was Hernandez’s first defeat since Kevin Holland stopped him in 2020.

World in Sport’s preview of Hernandez towards Strickland at UFC Houston examined the significance of that combat to the middleweight title image.

The consequence has gained some context since then. Strickland went on to beat Khamzat Chimaev by cut up resolution in Might and reclaim the UFC middleweight championship.

Hernandez due to this fact stays shut sufficient to the main contenders to get better shortly.

A defeat to Rodrigues could be extra damaging. Victory, notably towards an opponent carrying sturdy kind, would put Hernandez again on the fitting aspect of the division’s crowded rankings.

Rodrigues Brings Real Ending Hazard

Rodrigues enters Sacramento with an expert report of 19-6.

The Brazilian has gained six of his previous seven fights and his final three in succession. He stopped Jack Hermansson within the first spherical in June 2025, defeated Roman Kopylov on factors in November after which knocked out Ferreira with a proper hand after simply 1:47 at UFC 326.

That victory over Ferreira supplied one other reminder of his energy.

Rodrigues has recorded 12 knockout wins throughout his skilled profession. Six have come within the UFC.

World in Sport’s UFC 326 evaluate coated the occasion in Las Vegas, the place Rodrigues produced one of many evening’s stoppage victories.

Nevertheless, describing Rodrigues merely as a knockout risk would undersell his sport.

He holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and is an IBJJF world champion. Three of his skilled victories have come by submission.

That mixture offers Hernandez extra to contemplate when he modifies ranges. Rodrigues is harmful sufficient on the bottom to punish careless entries and highly effective sufficient on the toes to make extended placing exchanges dangerous.

Hernandez vs Rodrigues Statistics

The numbers illustrate the totally different strengths every fighter brings into the principle occasion.

The UFC’s present fighter statistics underline the clearest distinction between them. Hernandez makes an attempt to impose sustained wrestling and grappling strain, whereas Rodrigues produces extra important placing offence and carries better knockout energy.

Hernandez additionally averages 1.63 submission makes an attempt per quarter-hour. 9 of his 15 skilled victories have come by submission.

That doesn’t imply Rodrigues will mechanically battle if the combat reaches the mat. His 75% takedown defence and intensive jiu-jitsu background give him instruments to disrupt Hernandez’s most well-liked strategy.

The place Hernandez Can Win the Struggle

Hernandez is at his finest when opponents can not dictate the tempo.

He closes distance, forces clinches and connects takedown makes an attempt reasonably than counting on one clear entry. As soon as an opponent will get again to their toes, Hernandez normally begins the method once more.

That strategy produced his eight-fight successful sequence.

The problem towards Rodrigues is reaching these positions with out absorbing pointless harm.

Rodrigues lands 5.53 important strikes per minute and has sufficient energy to vary a combat shortly. Hernandez can not afford to face immediately in entrance of him whereas getting ready predictable takedowns.

He ought to as a substitute make Rodrigues defend a number of totally different assaults.

Stress in direction of the fence would cut back the Brazilian’s house. Physique work and clinch strikes might additionally make the wrestling risk much less apparent.

The longer Hernandez can preserve that sort of combat, the higher his prospects ought to develop into.

The place Rodrigues Can Trigger Issues

Rodrigues’ clearest route begins with making Hernandez pay for closing the gap.

The Brazilian doesn’t have to win each trade. He wants sufficient clear moments to make Hernandez hesitate earlier than shifting ahead.

That would open extra room for Rodrigues to work behind his palms.

There’s additionally an necessary defensive ingredient.

Hernandez averages virtually six takedowns per quarter-hour. Rodrigues can not spend lengthy spells pinned towards the fence or repeatedly combating again to his toes with out giving freely management.

His 75% takedown defence encourages, however Hernandez typically succeeds via repeated makes an attempt reasonably than a single standard shot.

Rodrigues due to this fact wants to interrupt contact after defending the primary assault.

If he can try this persistently, the steadiness of the combat adjustments significantly.

Hernandez would then need to spend extra time placing at vary, the place Rodrigues carries the extra apparent one-shot risk.

Hernandez vs Rodrigues Prediction

Rodrigues has a practical path to victory, notably in the course of the earlier exchanges.

His energy makes each Hernandez entry doubtlessly harmful. He’s additionally skilled sufficient on the bottom to keep away from treating the wrestling exchanges as easy defensive positions.

Nevertheless, Hernandez has extra methods to manage the place the combat takes place.

His tempo, clinch work and repeated takedowns ought to permit him to make Rodrigues work even when the Brazilian efficiently defends the preliminary assault.

The hot button is self-discipline.

Hernandez can not flip the competition into an prolonged trade of energy punches. Strickland confirmed the hazard of permitting a technically sturdy striker to settle right into a rhythm towards him.

If Hernandez stays dedicated to strain with out turning into reckless, his wrestling ought to develop into more and more influential.

World in Sport prediction: Anthony Hernandez to win by unanimous resolution.

Rodrigues stays harmful sufficient to make that removed from a cushty choice. An early knockout for the Brazilian wouldn’t be a significant shock, however Hernandez’s potential to combine placing, clinch strain and wrestling offers him the broader path to victory.

Dolidze and de Ridder Meet at Gentle Heavyweight

Roman Dolidze towards Reinier de Ridder supplies one other fascinating contest instantly under the headline attraction.

The UFC at present lists the combat at gentle heavyweight.

Each males are attempting to get better from defeats earlier this yr. Dolidze misplaced a unanimous resolution to Christian Leroy Duncan in March, whereas Caio Borralho defeated de Ridder on factors at UFC 326.

De Ridder holds a 21-4 skilled report and has secured 13 submission victories. Earlier than his current setbacks, he defeated Kevin Holland, Bo Nickal and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker throughout a formidable begin to his UFC profession.

Dolidze stands at 15-5 with eight knockout victories and three submissions.

There ought to be loads of grappling within the tactical image, however neither man depends completely on submissions.

De Ridder’s size and skill to assault from troublesome positions make him the slight choice.

World in Sport prediction: Reinier de Ridder to win by submission.

Spivac Faces Petrino in Heavyweight Check

Serghei Spivac additionally returns in a major heavyweight contest towards Vitor Petrino.

Spivac is ranked No. 6 by the UFC and carries an 18-6 report. Eight of his victories have come by submission, whereas one other seven ended by knockout or TKO.

He most lately defeated Ante Delija by unanimous resolution in February.

Petrino enters at 14-2 and has eight knockout victories. The Brazilian has moved into the heavyweight division after beforehand competing at gentle heavyweight and comes into this contest following a victory over Denzel Freeman Asplund in March.

Petrino’s bodily energy creates hazard, however Spivac’s grappling offers him a transparent route away from prolonged placing exchanges.

World in Sport prediction: Serghei Spivac to win by submission.

UFC Sacramento Struggle Card

The official UFC occasion itemizing at present consists of the next contests:

• Anthony Hernandez vs Gregory Rodrigues
• Roman Dolidze vs Reinier de Ridder
• Serghei Spivac vs Vitor Petrino
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Shamil Gaziev
• Kody Steele vs Gauge Younger
• Carli Judice vs Jeisla Chaves
• Wes Schultz vs Jackson McVey
• Shanelle Dyer vs Elise Reed

The cardboard stays topic to late adjustments.

British curiosity comes via Dyer, who faces Reed in a strawweight contest. The London fighter enters with a 7-1 skilled report, whereas Reed is listed at 8-5.

What Time Is Hernandez vs Rodrigues within the UK?

UFC Struggle Night time takes place on the Golden 1 Heart in Sacramento on Saturday, 22 August.

The UFC has scheduled the preliminaries for 5pm ET, which is 10pm BST within the UK. The primary card begins at 8pm ET, or 1am BST on Sunday, 23 August.

UK viewers can watch UFC Struggle Night time via TNT Sports activities and HBO Max. TNT Sports activities has confirmed Hernandez vs Rodrigues among the many UFC occasions included in its August schedule.

The exact begin time for the principle occasion will rely on the size of the previous fights.

For Hernandez, the evening presents an opportunity to place February’s defeat behind him in acquainted environment.

For Rodrigues, it represents a possibility to show three consecutive victories into a spot among the many division’s main contenders.

Certainly one of them ought to go away Sacramento with a a lot clearer route in direction of the highest of the middleweight rankings.