Gregory Rodrigues delivered what he called the best performance of his career at UFC Sacramento, defeating Anthony Hernandez by five-round unanimous decision in the main event to extend his winning streak to four. The victory moved the No. 15-ranked middleweight past the No. 5-ranked Hernandez, and Rodrigues wasted no time calling out former champion Dricus du Plessis at the post-fight interview. He also named Khamzat Chimaev as an alternative target, making clear he expects a top-three opponent next rather than a step back in competition.
Gregory Rodrigues capped UFC Sacramento with a statement performance on August 23, outworking Anthony Hernandez across five rounds to claim a unanimous decision victory in the main event and stretch his winning streak to four fights. The Brazilian middleweight then used his post-fight interview to demand the biggest names left in the division.
Rodrigues entered the bout ranked 15th at middleweight, but the win over a fighter sitting at No. 6 in the division figures to vault him significantly up the rankings. He called out former champion Dricus du Plessis by name and added Khamzat Chimaev as an alternative, declaring he expects a top-three opponent next rather than a backward step in competition.
Hernandez, known as "Fluffy," came in with a 15-4 record and had built a reputation as one of the more complete fighters in the division. The 32-year-old American, who trains out of MMA Gold Fight Team, averages 4.57 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate and is a credible wrestling threat, averaging nearly six takedowns per 15 minutes. Rodrigues described the victory over him as the best performance of his career.
The two men he is targeting occupy the top of the middleweight ladder. Du Plessis, the South African former champion now ranked second at 185 pounds and seventh pound-for-pound, carries a 24-3 record and averages 5.21 significant strikes per minute. Chimaev, ranked first in the division and 10th pound-for-pound, is 15-1 and combines heavy striking output with a takedown rate of 5.29 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A ranking jump from 15th to inside the top ten would place Rodrigues in genuine title-contender territory at middleweight.
- Both named targets are ranked in the top two of the division, meaning any booking would carry direct title implications.
- Rodrigues and Chimaev share a wrestling-heavy, high-output style, while a matchup with the striker-first du Plessis would pit contrasting approaches against each other.
