TLDR
- Gregory Rodrigues defeated Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46) at UFC Sacramento
- Rodrigues knocked Hernandez down four times with brutal leg kicks throughout the fight
- Hernandez was a 2-1 favorite fighting in front of his home crowd in Sacramento
- Rodrigues defended more than 20 takedown attempts from Hernandez during the 25-minute fight
- After the win, Rodrigues called for a fight against former champion Dricus Du Plessis
Sources: sports.yahoo.com | mmamania.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Gregory Rodrigues pulled off a major upset Saturday night at UFC Sacramento, defeating hometown favorite Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision in a grueling five-round main event. The judges scored the fight 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 for Rodrigues at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
Rodrigues entered the fight as a 2-1 underdog against Hernandez, who fought in front of his home crowd from nearby El Dorado Hills. The Brazilian fighter used devastating leg kicks to control the fight and knocked Hernandez to the canvas four separate times.
Hernandez came out aggressive in the first round, immediately pushing for takedowns and working in the clinch. He attempted six takedowns in the opening frame but Rodrigues defended them all. The two traded elbows and knees in close range, with Rodrigues landing the heavier strikes.
Rodrigues Takes Control With Leg Kicks
The second round changed the fight’s momentum when Rodrigues began targeting Hernandez’s lead leg. Two low kicks dropped Hernandez to the floor early in the round. Rodrigues followed up with punches and elbows, nearly finishing the fight.
Drops him twice 👀
[ @Gregory_MMA | #UFCSacramento is LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/z33tANd8Aj
— UFC (@ufc) August 23, 2026
Hernandez somehow survived and even landed several good right hands late in the round. He secured his first takedown of the fight in the final seconds, but the damage to his leg was already severe.
Hernandez opened the third round with an early takedown just 10 seconds in. He controlled much of the round against the fence and landed uppercuts and elbows. Rodrigues appeared exhausted during this frame, and Hernandez briefly threatened with a rear-naked choke attempt.
The hometown fighter switched to a southpaw stance to protect his damaged left leg. This defensive adjustment helped him win the third round but took away some of his offensive weapons.
Fourth Round Shifts Momentum Back
Rodrigues came out strong in the fourth round, landing powerful right hands and body kicks. He continued to attack Hernandez’s compromised leg and pushed forward throughout the round. Hernandez attempted two more takedowns late in the frame but only completed one of them.
By the final round, Hernandez’s corner told him he needed a finish to win. Rodrigues maintained his forward pressure and landed another leg kick that resulted in a knockdown with 75 seconds remaining. He moved to top position and finished the fight on the ground.
The victory improved Rodrigues’ UFC record to 11-3 and his overall record to 20-6. Hernandez dropped to 9-4 in the UFC and 15-4 overall. Rodrigues defended more than 20 takedown attempts during the fight while building a large advantage in striking statistics.
Rodrigues was ranked number 10 in the UFC’s middleweight division before the fight, while Hernandez held the seventh spot. After his victory, Rodrigues called for a fight against Dricus Du Plessis, the former middleweight champion who is currently ranked second in the division.
Du Plessis recently defeated former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman after losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in 2025. The division is currently chasing two-time champion Sean Strickland, who upset Chimaev earlier this year to reclaim the belt.
The fight marked the first time Rodrigues went past the fourth round in his professional career. The event featured 10 finishes total, including seven in the first round, but the main event went the full 25 minutes.
