Anthony Hernandez vs. Gregory Rodrigues elevated to UFC OKC co-main event

Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues have been elevated to the co-main event slot at UFC Oklahoma City, scheduled for July 18. The reshuffling comes after the originally planned co-main between Charles Jourdain and Marlon Vera was moved to a separate event. The OKC card is now headlined by a five-round bout, with the Hernandez–Rodrigues matchup joined by Cannonier–Duncan and Holland–Smith on the main card.

Hernandez, nicknamed "Fluffy," enters the fight ranked third in the middleweight division at 32 years old. The American fighter out of MMA Gold Fight Team carries a 15-3 record and has built a reputation as one of the more well-rounded middleweights in the UFC, landing 4.57 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 60 percent while also averaging an impressive 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Rodrigues, known as "Robocop," is a 34-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Kill Cliff FC. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, the hard-hitting middleweight holds a 19-6 record and leads the division in output among the two fighters, averaging 5.6 significant strikes per minute. His combination of size and aggression makes him a dangerous matchup for anyone in the weight class.

Why it matters

• Hernandez sits at number three in the middleweight rankings, meaning a strong performance could push him into title contention.
• Rodrigues, a finisher with volume striking and solid takedown defense, represents a significant step-up test in terms of physicality and pace.
• The style matchup pits Hernandez's elite grappling against Rodrigues's relentless stand-up pressure, setting up an intriguing clash of approaches.
• The co-main event elevation gives both fighters a higher-profile platform at UFC Oklahoma City.