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, with the card's overall billing now firmly established around the middleweight division.

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 brings a genuinely well-rounded offensive game, landing 4.57 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 60 percent accuracy while also averaging 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes. That combination of striking precision and wrestling output makes him a difficult puzzle for any opponent.

Rodrigues steps in as his opponent in what shapes up as a high-stakes middleweight contest, though his verified divisional data was not available at time of publication.

The co-main elevation comes as part of a broader restructuring of the card. Dricus Du Plessis, ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, headlines opposite Kamaru Usman in a five-round main event. The 32-year-old South African carries a 23-3 record and averages 5.18 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Charles Jourdain and Marlon Vera, previously slotted into the co-main event position, have been shifted to a different card entirely.

Jared Cannonier, ranked ninth at middleweight at age 42 with an 18-9 record and a 77-inch reach, will also appear on the card against Duncan in a separate middleweight clash.

Why it matters

• Hernandez sits third in the middleweight rankings, meaning a strong showing could position him for a title-picture conversation
• The card is now stacked entirely with middleweight contests at the top of the billing, giving the 185-pound division a rare night of concentrated spotlight
• Rodrigues is a known finisher, setting up a potential stylistic collision against Hernandez's high-volume striking and active wrestling