Gregory Rodrigues reveals key to surviving Anthony Hernandez’s pressure

Gregory Rodrigues earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Sacramento main event, extending his winning streak to four consecutive wins. The fight, which earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors, saw Rodrigues deploy effective calf kicks throughout the bout while navigating Hernandez's relentless wrestling pressure and southpaw stance, particularly in the later rounds.

In his post-fight interview, Rodrigues credited patience and mental toughness for his ability to weather the storm. The middleweight acknowledged that Hernandez's durability and constant pressure initially threatened to overwhelm him—and that fatigue had been an issue in previous UFC bouts. However, Rodrigues said he refocused mentally during the fight, reminding himself that he had overcome similar adversity before and that multiple rounds remained to execute a winning game plan.

"I started calf kicks. I couldn't finish. He came back," Rodrigues explained. "He hit me really good, but I put my mind on the place and I said, 'OK, I went in this position before. I have to go back and organize my thoughts and keep going forward.' The fight is not over yet. I have three more rounds to put my pace in and find a different way to win. I just keep my patience."

Rodrigues used the victory to call out former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, signaling his readiness for a step up in competition. With four straight wins now on his record and a five-round performance under his belt, Rodrigues has solidified himself as a contender in the middleweight division.