UFC returns to Sacramento for middleweight showdown

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brought its mixed martial arts promotion back to the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on 22 August 2026. The event marked the organisation’s first appearance in the city since 2019, a year in which the promotion featured Germaine de Randamie on its card.

The main card was headlined by a middleweight bout between Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues. Hernandez entered the contest seeking redemption following a stoppage loss to middleweight champion Sean Strickland, a result that had interrupted his trajectory toward a title opportunity. Rodrigues, who had recently defeated Brunno Ferreira by knockout, arrived on a winning streak, with sources describing his recent form as extending across multiple fights.

While the headliner drew significant attention, the card also included a notable middleweight matchup between Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze. Both fighters are established names in the division, though neither is currently in immediate title contention. De Ridder had recently suffered losses to Caio Borralho and Brendan Allen, while Dolidze was coming off a defeat to the event’s headliner, Hernandez.

Other bouts on the main card included a heavyweight contest between Serghei Spivac and Vitor Petrino, a lightweight fight between MarQuel Mederos and Mason Jones, and a women’s flyweight bout between Carli Judice and Jeisla Chaves. The card concluded with a light heavyweight fight in which Anthony Wint defeated Terrance Chatman.

Wint’s victory was a particular point of interest, as the former NFL player made his UFC debut against a total newcomer. The event was broadcast live via the Paramount+ streaming platform, with the main card scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

The return to Sacramento signals a continued expansion of the UFC’s footprint in the western United States, leveraging the Golden 1 Center as a venue for high-profile middleweight and heavyweight contests.