EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — For Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez, the road back to the top of the UFC middleweight division runs through Sacramento.
The El Dorado Hills-based fighter will headline UFC Fight Night on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Golden 1 Center, facing Brazil’s Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues in a five-round middleweight main event that carries significant implications for both fighters.
Hernandez enters the bout ranked No. 6 in the UFC middleweight division, while Rodrigues is ranked No. 11. The UFC officially announced the matchup as a pivotal middleweight contest when it confirmed the promotion’s return to Sacramento.
For Hernandez, the fight represents an opportunity to restart a championship pursuit that stalled earlier this year.
A winning streak stopped in Houston
Before fae impressive recent winning streaks.
The 32-year-old entered the Strickland fight riding eight consecutive victories, including six finishes. His run had established him as a legitimate contender in the 185-pound division.
But Strickland controlled the fight and stopped Hernandez by strikes at 2:23 of the third round. The loss ended Hernandez’s eight-fight winning streak.
The defeat also changed the trajectory of Hernandez’s season. Rather than moving toward another major contender or a potential title opportunity, he was forced to regroup.
That regrouping has included an unusual development: Hernandez has been training with Strickland.
According to Sherdog, Hernandez has worked with his former opponent during preparations for the Rodrigues fight. Hernandez publicly thanked Strickland and his team for the training assistance, writing, “Thank you guys for welcoming me in. Appreciate the tips and tricks.”
The relationship illustrates how quickly the fight game can change. The man who stopped Hernandez’s winning streak has now become part of his preparation for the next fight.
Rodrigues brings knockout power
Standing across the Octagon Saturday will be a dangerous opponent.
Rodrigues enters the Sacramento main event with a 19-6 professional record and 12 career knockout victories. The UFC lists him as the No. 11 middleweight contender.
The Brazilian also brings momentum.
Rodrigues has won his last three fights, including a first-round knockout of Bruno Ferreira on March 7. His recent run has helped position him for another opportunity against a highly ranked opponent.
That makes Saturday’s matchup more than simply a comeback opportunity for Hernandez. It is a meeting between two ranked middleweights moving in different directions — Hernandez attempting to reclaim momentum and Rodrigues attempting to break into the division’s upper tier.
A Northern California homecoming
For El Dorado Hills residents, however, the significance goes beyond rankings.
Hernandez has long been associated with the El Dorado Hills MMA community and trains with MMA Gold, a prominent Northern California fight team based in El Dorado Hills. Sherdog previously reported that Hernandez developed his skills with the MMA Gold Fight Team alongside other accomplished fighters.
El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu Jitsu also has documented Hernandez’s training relationship with coach Eliot Kelly, noting that Kelly has worked with Hernandez since 2021.
That Northern California connection will be on display when Hernandez walks into Golden 1 Center on Saturday.
The UFC lists the Sacramento event’s preliminary card for 2 p.m. Pacific time, followed by the main card at 5 p.m. Pacific time. The event will stream on Paramount+.
For local fans, it is a rare opportunity to watch an El Dorado Hills-based UFC contender headline an event in the Sacramento region.
What is at stake?
Hernandez’s immediate objective is straightforward: win.
A victory over Rodrigues would not automatically guarantee a title fight, but it would give Hernandez the result he needs to begin rebuilding his position in the division.
The stakes are particularly significant because Strickland’s victory over Hernandez ultimately helped propel Strickland toward another UFC middleweight championship opportunity. Strickland went on to defeat Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 on May 9 to capture the UFC middleweight title.
Hernandez now has the opportunity to create a different path.
He will face a dangerous, ranked opponent in front of a regional crowd, with five rounds available to demonstrate that the loss to Strickland was a setback rather than a turning point.
The UFC currently lists Hernandez at 15-3 and Rodrigues at 19-6. Hernandez also has nine career submission victories, while Rodrigues has recorded 12 wins by knockout.
For El Dorado County fight fans, the equation is simple.
One of the county’s most prominent professional athletes is heading north to Sacramento with his UFC career at a crossroads.
On Saturday night, Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez gets his chance to start climbing again.
Sources: UFC — Hernandez vs. Rodrigues event page · UFC — Sacramento event announcement · UFC — Anthony Hernandez profile · UFC — Gregory Rodrigues profile
