Anthony Hernandez vs. Gregory Rodrigues Headlines UFC Sacramento on Aug. 22

Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues will square off in the main event of UFC Sacramento on August 22 in California, the promotion has announced. The middleweight contest places two of the division's most active finishers at the top of a card that figures to carry meaningful ranking implications.

Hernandez, known as "Fluffy," enters the fight ranked third in the middleweight division and carrying a 15-3 record. The 32-year-old American, who trains out of MMA Gold Fight Team, stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach. His numbers tell the story of a technically sharp, relentless fighter: he lands 4.57 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 60 percent accuracy, while also threatening heavily on the ground with 5.88 takedown attempts per 15 minutes and 1.6 submission attempts in the same window.

Rodrigues, nicknamed "Robocop," brings a 19-6 record and a distinctly different profile into the cage. The 34-year-old Brazilian, representing Kill Cliff FC, stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach — giving him a notable height advantage. He is one of the division's most prolific strikers by volume, averaging 5.6 significant strikes per minute, though his 51 percent accuracy reflects a higher-output, pressure-heavy approach compared to his opponent.

Why it matters

• Hernandez sits at number three in the middleweight rankings, making a strong performance here critical to any title conversation.
• The stylistic contrast is sharp: Hernandez's precision and grappling versatility against Rodrigues's high-volume striking and physical size.
• A win for either fighter could reshape the top five at 185 pounds heading into the second half of 2026.