Main Event: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues
Sacramento is set to host a UFC Fight Night event at the Golden 1 Center, featuring a middleweight main event between Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues. This marks the first UFC event in the California capital in over seven years. The main card is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.
The matchup between Hernandez and Rodrigues pits two top-15 middleweight talents against each other. Hernandez, a local fighter, will be competing in his third consecutive main event and fourth in five fights. This will be his first UFC home game, and he aims to restart a winning streak after his eight-fight run was stopped by Sean Strickland. Hernandez, 32, had a strong performance during his previous run.
Rodrigues, 34, will be making his second main event appearance. He enters the fight having secured three consecutive wins since a fourth-round stoppage loss to Jared Cannonier in February 2025. Rodrigues is recognized as a powerful fighter in the 185-pound weight class and is seeking a significant victory to advance in the middleweight division.
The main event is anticipated to be a clash of styles, with Hernandez known for his high-pace and high-volume approach, while Rodrigues possesses fight-changing power. The outcome of the fight is expected to reflect which style prevails.
Additional Main Card Bouts
The main card also features several other notable matchups:
- Serghei Spivac vs. Vitor Petrino
- Reinier de Ridder vs. Roman Dolidze
- MarQuel Mederos vs. Mason Jones
- Carli Judice vs. Jeisla Chaves
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Shamil Gaziev
In the heavyweight division, Serghei Spivac, who debuted in the UFC shortly before the last event in Sacramento, will face Vitor Petrino. Spivac has been a consistent presence in the rankings for the past five years, holding a 7-4 record since 2021, with five of those victories ending inside the distance. Known for his grappling, Spivac is the most experienced opponent Petrino has faced since moving to heavyweight last year.
Petrino, a member of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) Class of ’22, began his UFC career as a light heavyweight, achieving four consecutive wins. Following stoppage losses to Anthony Smith and Dustin Jacoby, and due to rigorous weight cuts, he transitioned to the heavyweight division. Since this move, Petrino has gone 3-0, including a unanimous decision win over Steven Asplund in March, building on two finishes from last year. This fight represents a significant test for Petrino, as he has faltered in similar spots twice before.
Another intriguing bout is between Reinier de Ridder and Roman Dolidze, both of whom have moved back to the 205-pound light heavyweight division after vacating the middleweight division. De Ridder, a Dutch veteran, previously attempted a fifth fight in 12 months last year, which resulted in a fourth-round loss to Brendan Allen. After a loss to Caio Borralho at UFC 326, he decided to return to light heavyweight, where he holds an 8-1 career record.
Dolidze started his UFC journey with two wins at light heavyweight before a six-year, 12-fight run in the middleweight division, which concluded with consecutive losses to Hernandez and Christian Leroy Duncan. He is now moving back up to light heavyweight, aiming to make an immediate impact. Both de Ridder and Dolidze are entering this fight on two-fight losing streaks, making the outcome critical for their standing in the division.
In the lightweight division, MarQuel Mederos, a Contender Series graduate, will compete against Mason Jones, a fighter who trains in Sacramento. Mederos has an unbeaten streak of 10 fights overall, with a record of 3-0-1 in his four starts since earning a contract on Season 7. His last fight was a draw against Chris Padilla at UFC 327.
Jones, a frequent visitor at Team Alpha Male, has been performing well since returning to the UFC, securing three wins and two post-fight bonuses in his three starts. He has won seven consecutive fights dating back to the end of his initial stint in the UFC and is looking for a fourth consecutive victory to conclude his current contract. Jones is known for his aggressive fighting style, which will be tested against Mederos, who is typically a more technical striker.
Preliminary Card Matches
The preliminary card features several bouts, including:
- Wes Schultz vs. Jackson McVey
- Chris Padilla vs. Nasrat Haqparast
- Gauge Young vs. Stan Dorsainvil
- Jamall Emmers vs. Lerryan Douglas
- Shanelle Dyer vs. Elise Reed
- Marcio Barbosa vs. Ryan Kuse
- Anthony Wint vs. Terrance Chatman
One of the preliminary card matchups to watch is Kennedy Nzechukwu against Shamil Gaziev. Daniel Vithlani, an MMA analyst, is backing Gaziev, who is listed at -130 odds, over Nzechukwu, who is at +110 odds. The event will be streamed on Paramount+.
Anthony Hernandez, UFC
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The UFC Fight Night event on Saturday, August 22, 2026, promises a full night of combat sports action.
Source: ufc.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.