Hernandez vs. Rodriguez elevated to UFC OKC co-main event on July 18

Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodriguez have been bumped up to the co-main event slot at UFC Oklahoma City, scheduled for July 18, after Charles Jourdain and Marlon Vera were moved to a separate event.

Hernandez, known as "Fluffy," enters the bout riding momentum as the number-three-ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 32-year-old American carries a 15-3 record and trains out of MMA Gold Fight Team. He is a particularly dangerous grappler, averaging an impressive 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his striking accuracy sits at 60 percent — a figure that stands out across the division. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Hernandez presents a well-rounded threat wherever the fight goes.

The main card at UFC Oklahoma City is headlined by a five-round clash between Dustin Poirier and Kamaru Usman. Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw from the United States who trains at American Top Team, holds a 30-10 record and averages 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, making him one of the most consistently active and accurate strikers in the sport. The card also features Jared Cannonier against Calib Duncan, and Kevin Holland against Elise Reed. Cannonier, nicknamed "The Killa Gorilla," is the ninth-ranked middleweight at 42 years old, carrying an 18-9 record and a 77-inch reach. The switch-stance veteran averages 4.42 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Hernandez's elevation to co-main gives the number-three-ranked middleweight a high-profile stage with divisional title implications on the line
• The reshuffling of Jourdain and Vera creates a cleaner, more cohesive card built around the 185-pound division
• Poirier vs. Usman at five rounds signals the main event carries championship-level significance for either fighter's trajectory