Gregort Rodrigues claimed an upset triumph over home-town favourite Anthony Hernandez in the middleweight main event of a UFC Fight Night at the Golden 1 Centre in Sacramento on the morning of Sunday 23 August.
"Robocop" knocked down “Fluffy” four times en route to a dominant unanimous decision win. Despite fighting in enemy territory in front of a heavily partisan crowd, Rodrigues (20-6) successfully fended off 26 of Hernandez's 29 takedown attempts and stifled the Californian's vaunted grappling attack to earn 48-47, 49-46 and 48-47 scorecards in his favour.
Afterward, Rodrigues called out former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis for a No 1 contenders bout.
"Dricus du Plessis, where are you, man?" the Brazilian shouted. "I want you! Let's go. That's a No 1 contender [match] to fight for the belt. Dricus du Plessis, I want you."
The rest of the main card featured a unanimous decision win for Vitor Petrino over Serghei Spivac in the heavyweight co-main event; Reinier De Ridder made quick work of Roman Dolidze in a light heavyweight bout; Marquel Mederos stopped Mason Jones in the second round of their lightweight match; Carli Judice did the same to Jeisla Chaves in a women’s flyweight fight; and the heavyweight opener saw Anthony Wint submit Terrance Chatman.
The UFC continues next weekend with a Fight Night at the Oriental Sports Centre in Shanghai, China, headlined by a bantamweight match between Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong.
UFC Fight Night: Hernandez v Rodrigues – Main card results
Main event: Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues def. Anthony Hernandez via unanimous decision (R5)
Co-main: Heavyweight: Vitor Petrino def. Serghei Spivac via unanimous decision (R3)
Light Heavyweight: Reinier De Ridder def. Roman Dolidze via TKO (R1)
Lightweight: Marquel Mederos def. Mason Jones via TKO (R2)
Women’s Flyweight: Carli Judice def. Jeisla Chaves via TKO (R1)
Heavyweight: Anthony Wint def. Terrance Chatman via submission (R1)