TLDR
- Gregory Rodrigues dislocated his toe during sparring three weeks before UFC Sacramento and required hospital treatment
- He also suffered from multiple infections, a locked back, and weakened immune system before the fight
- Several people in his camp recommended he withdraw from the bout against Anthony Hernandez
- Rodrigues won by unanimous decision after five rounds and earned a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus
- He is now on a four-fight win streak and called for a fight against former champion Dricus Du Plessis
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | middleeasy.com
Gregory Rodrigues revealed he overcame serious health problems in the weeks leading up to his victory at UFC Fight Night 285 in Sacramento, California. The middleweight fighter defeated Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision in the main event this past Saturday.
Rodrigues disclosed the health issues in an Instagram post after the fight. He said he dislocated his toe during sparring three weeks before the event and had to go to the hospital.
The Brazilian fighter also experienced a locked back, multiple infections, and a weakened immune system. Several people close to him recommended he withdraw from the fight.
Fighting Through Multiple Health Problems
“Three weeks before the fight, I dislocated my toe during sparring and ended up in the hospital,” Rodrigues wrote on Instagram. “My back locked up, I had a lot of infections outbreak, I got sick, my immune system weakened, I felt pressure coming from every direction.”
Despite the health complications, Rodrigues decided to continue with the fight. He went the full 25 minutes against Hernandez and won a clear decision from the judges.
Gregory Rodrigues Claims Before The Fight In #UFCSacramento He Dealt With ⬇️😬
Herpes Outbreak
Dislocated Finger From Sparring
Back Locking Up
Weak Immune System pic.twitter.com/STvX7XojXO— Kevin (@realkevink) August 25, 2026
Rodrigues improved his UFC record to 11-3 and his overall MMA record to 20-6. He is now on a four-fight winning streak in the middleweight division.
The fight earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors. Each fighter received an extra $100,000 bonus for their performance.
Hernandez came into the fight with victories over Jack Hermansson, Roman Kopylov, and Brunno Ferreira. His UFC record dropped to 9-4 and his overall record to 15-4 after the loss.
Calling For Title Shot
After the victory, Rodrigues called for a fight against former champion Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis recently defeated Kamaru Usman and is positioned near the top of the middleweight division.
Rodrigues reflected on the challenges fighters face during training camps. “Not every fight happens inside the Octagon,” he wrote in his Instagram post.
He said many of the hardest battles happen during preparation for fights. “The hardest part for us athletes is the preparation before the fight,” Rodrigues explained.
Despite the difficulties, Rodrigues said he would choose the same path again. “This is the life of a fighter that I chose,” he wrote. “And even knowing the price, I would choose it all over again.”
The win puts Rodrigues in position for a potential title eliminator bout in the UFC middleweight division.
