Hernandez vs. Rodriguez Elevated to UFC OKC Co-Main Event on July 18

Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodriguez have been elevated 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, nicknamed "Fluffy," enters the bout ranked third in the middleweight division at 32 years old. The American fighter from MMA Gold Fight Team carries a 15-3 record and has established himself as one of the more well-rounded grapplers in the division, averaging 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes while also posting a striking accuracy of 60 percent and landing 4.57 significant strikes per minute.

The middleweight division also features prominently elsewhere on the card, with Jared Cannonier set to face Duncan. "The Killa Gorilla" is 18-9 at 42 years old and ranks ninth in the division. He trains out of MMA Lab and brings a 77-inch reach to his switch-stance striking game, averaging 4.42 significant strikes per minute.

Kevin Holland, known as "Trailblazer," rounds out the top bouts against Smith. The 33-year-old Orthodox fighter stands six-foot-three with an 81-inch reach and holds a 29-15 record. Holland averages 4.26 significant strikes per minute for Phalanx MMA Academy, making him one of the more volume-oriented strikers on the card.

Why it matters

• Hernandez sits at number three in the middleweight rankings, meaning a strong performance could push him closer to title contention
• The promotion of the bout to co-main event gives the Hernandez-Rodriguez matchup significantly more visibility
• The full main card features three middleweight and welterweight bouts, giving the Oklahoma City event a heavy combat-striking identity across its top fights