SACRAMENTO — The fight between Gregory Rodrigues and Anthony Hernandez lasted five rounds. Judges scored the contest 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in favor of Rodrigues. Both fighters weighed in within the middleweight limit, with Rodrigues at 185 pounds and Hernandez at 186 pounds.

Following the victory, Gregory Rodrigues called out Dricus Du Plessis for a future fight. "Dricus Du Plessis, where are you? I want you. Let's go. No. 1 contender to fight for the belt," Rodrigues said in an in-cage interview.

He later addressed the potential matchup in more detail during post-fight media obligations. "Dricus Du Plessis, that fight makes a lot of sense for my next battle. I will talk to managers and the UFC and see what can happen." The call for a title shot marked a shift in trajectory for the Brazilian fighter, who had previously competed for regional championships before reaching this stage.

Anthony Hernandez acknowledged the high level of competition and the margin for error inherent in elite mixed martial arts. He reflected on the experience of training with his opponent prior to the event. "I trained with him a lot. It was great, man. He's really cool. He helped me adjust some things. The whole Xtreme Couture crew is absolutely amazing. They were nothing but respectful. Nobody was trying to hurt me. Everyone was trying to fuck me up, but no one was trying to hurt me. It was a great experience, and I look forward to coming back."

Hernandez described the loss as part of the broader reality of fighting at the highest level. He's really good. It's a game of inches. You fight the best in the world. If you fuck up, he'll exploit you. It's as simple as that. I've been fighting forever. You win some, you lose some, unfortunately. I don't think about it too much. I'm not going to let shit drag me down. I have way too much going on in my life to think, 'Oh no, I messed up my opportunity. Shit happens. I'm getting back to work, and I'm going to make it happen. It's as simple as that. Nobody gives a fuck about you in this world but you.""

Gregory Rodrigues and Anthony Hernandez each received a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Disclosed salaries from the California State Athletic Commission showed Rodrigues earned $340,000, consisting of a $170,000 show purse and a $170,000 win bonus. Hernandez earned a disclosed salary of $170,000. These figures did not include the additional performance bonuses awarded to both athletes.

Why It Matters

The victory moves Gregory Rodrigues into contention for a middleweight title shot, a position he actively pursued by calling out champion Dricus Du Plessis immediately after the fight. The win against a top-ten ranked opponent like Anthony Hernandez demonstrates Rodrigues' ability to compete at the highest level of the division. His background as an eight-time National BJJ Champion and former LFA Middleweight Champion provided the technical foundation for this breakthrough performance.

The event showed the financial stakes involved in main event bouts, with both fighters receiving substantial disclosed salaries and performance bonuses. The controversy surrounding referee Herb Dean's handling of glove-grabbing incidents shows the ongoing scrutiny of officiating consistency in high-profile matches. These factors combine to illustrate the competitive, financial, and regulatory dimensions of modern mixed martial arts.

Timeline

On June 20, 2026, Anthony Hernandez is ranked #7 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings as of June 20, 2026. On August 8, 2026, Gregory Rodrigues is ranked #10 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings as of August 8, 2026. On August 22, 2026, UFC Fight Night 285 took place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. Also on August 22, 2026, Gregory Rodrigues defeated Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Fight Night 285.

On August 22, 2026, Anthony Hernandez criticized referee Herb Dean for not deducting a point from Gregory Rodrigues for grabbing his gloves. On the same date, Gregory Rodrigues and Anthony Hernandez each received a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Also on August 22, 2026, Gregory Rodrigues called out Dricus Du Plessis for a future fight. During this period, Anthony Hernandez stated, "For me this is like a dream come true, one that I've been chasing since I was kid. To headline in Sacramento in front of all the people that have never been able to like travel the world to go see me because of financial shit, this is like such a big blessing to me and I'm excited for it."

Also on August 22, 2026, Márcio Barbosa defeated Ryan Kuse by TKO at 2:47 of the first round. On the same date, Shanelle Dyer defeated Elise Reed by TKO at 1:42 of the third round.

What's New

Later disclosures revealed that Gregory Rodrigues and Anthony Hernandez each received a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus.

Additional statements included Hernandez saying, "For me this is like a dream come true, one that I've been chasing since I was kid.

Financial records indicated that Gregory Rodrigues earned a disclosed salary of $340,000, consisting of a $170,000 show purse and a $170,000 win bonus. Anthony Hernandez earned a disclosed salary of $170,000. Rodrigues stated, "Dricus Du Plessis, where are you? I want you. Let's go. No. 1 contender to fight for the belt." Hernandez commented on the officiating, saying, I told Herb, 'This guy grabbed my glove like four times.' And I was like, 'Hey, he's grabbing my gloves.' And he told him, 'Hey, stop.' But I mean, whatever, don't take a point. Whatever. Fuck it. I guess people like to cheat, so it is what it is.""

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the details surrounding the conduct of Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues during the event. Another source shows that Gregory Rodrigues and Anthony Hernandez each received a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus, focusing on the positive recognition of their performance rather than the officiating disputes.