Hernandez and Rodrigues headline UFC Fight Night in Sacramento
A five-round middleweight main event anchors a card that also features a light heavyweight clash and the UFC debut of former New York Jets player Anthony Wint.
Veteran middleweights Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues will headline UFC Fight Night at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Saturday, 22 August. The five-round bout serves as the main event for a card that also includes a light heavyweight contest between Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze, as well as the UFC debut of former New York Jets player Anthony Wint.
Hernandez, who is based in El Dorado Hills, California, is seeking to bounce back from a non-title loss to reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The defeat snapped an eight-fight winning streak for the 15-3 (1 NC) fighter, who has since trained with Strickland and the Xtreme Couture camp to adjust his approach. Hernandez described the training environment as respectful, noting that the experience has helped him refine his game ahead of the Sacramento event.
His opponent, Gregory Rodrigues, arrives with a six-fight winning streak and significant momentum. Although Rodrigues is a decorated jiu-jitsu athlete, he has relied on knockout power rather than submissions in his mixed martial arts career, having not achieved a submission win in nearly a decade. The 19-6 fighter aims to use this bout as an opportunity to break into the middleweight top 10, stating that he is prepared for a full 25-minute contest.
The card also reflects a broader shift within the middleweight division, where several veterans have recently moved up in weight. Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze, both former middleweights, will face each other in a light heavyweight bout. De Ridder said he has adjusted his training regimen to avoid the physical toll of previous weight cuts, pushing himself twice a day for eight weeks in preparation for the fight.
Anthony Wint will open the main card in his UFC debut after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series last week. The former New York Jets player secured the deal by knocking out his opponent in 34 seconds. Wint, who is listed as a more than 10-to-1 favourite against fellow debutant Terrance Chatman, said his transition from the NFL to the Octagon felt natural given his recent performance.
The event will be broadcast on Paramount+, with subscription plans starting at $8.99 per month or $89.99 per year. The main card is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, while the preliminary fights will commence at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
