Gregory Rodrigues entered UFC Sacramento as an outsider in the middleweight title picture. Twenty-five minutes later, the Brazilian was demanding a fight that could place him one victory away from the belt.
“Dricus Du Plessis, where are you, man? I want you. Let’s go,” Rodrigues said after defeating Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision.
The victory was his fourth in succession and the most important of his UFC career. Rodrigues now believes Du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev should be his next opponent.
Rodrigues answered the biggest question
Rodrigues was already known for his punching power. Seven of his 11 UFC victories have come by knockout, but doubts remained about whether his aggressive style could remain effective across a five-round main event.
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Against Hernandez, he supplied the answer. Rodrigues completed the full 25 minutes and won on all three scorecards, 49–46 and 48–47 twice.
According to the detailed statistics published by UFCalendar, Rodrigues landed 174 significant strikes and recorded three knockdowns. Hernandez landed 90 significant strikes and failed to score a knockdown.
Hernandez had moments of success, particularly during the third round, but Rodrigues regained control in the fourth and finished strongly enough to remove any doubt from the judges.
Both men received $100,000 Fight of the Night bonuses after one of the most physically demanding bouts of the event.
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The rankings are about to change
The precise positions differ depending on the ranking system. MMA Fighting listed Rodrigues at No. 15 and Hernandez at No. 5, while Sportsnet used the UFC standings that placed them at No. 10 and No. 7 respectively.
Either way, Rodrigues has defeated an opponent ranked significantly above him. A major climb is inevitable when the rankings are updated.
Du Plessis is a former middleweight champion and remains near the front of the queue. Chimaev is one of the division’s biggest names and would bring enormous attention to any title eliminator.
Rodrigues argued that accepting another opponent below the leading group would make little sense. He has beaten four consecutive opponents and just proved that he can maintain his output over five rounds.
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Hernandez makes a serious accusation
The result was followed by controversy. Hernandez accused Rodrigues of repeatedly grabbing the inside of his gloves during grappling exchanges.
Referee Herb Dean warned Rodrigues but did not deduct a point. Hernandez also revealed that he had entered the contest following a shoulder problem and suffered a leg injury during the fight.
According to MMA Fighting’s account of the allegation, Hernandez still accepted responsibility for the defeat and praised Rodrigues’ power and toughness.
The accusation may follow the Brazilian into the coming days, but there is currently no indication that the official result will be changed.
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The UFC must decide how quickly to move him
Rodrigues has a UFC record of 11–3 and four straight victories over Jack Hermansson, Roman Kopylov, Brunno Ferreira and Hernandez. The sequence gives him a credible argument for a leading opponent.
A more cautious booking would match him against another rising contender, potentially Caio Borralho. A more aggressive decision would grant the Brazilian exactly what he requested, Du Plessis or Chimaev in a fight with direct title implications.
Rodrigues was ranked outside the immediate championship conversation before Sacramento. After beating Hernandez over five rounds, the UFC can no longer keep him there without explaining why.
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