Rodrigues Beats Hernandez, Calls Out du Plessis, Chimaev

Gregory Rodrigues called for a shot at Dricus du Plessis or Khamzat Chimaev immediately after beating Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision in the UFC Sacramento main event.

"Robocop" turned in what he called the best performance of his career, going the full five rounds with Hernandez and getting his hand raised. It was his fourth straight win, and he wasted no time naming his target in the post-fight interview.

"Dricus du Plessis, where are you, man?" Rodrigues said. "I want you. Let's go. No. 1 contender to fight for the belt. Dricus du Plessis, I want you."

Why Rodrigues Wants a Top-3 Fight Now

Rodrigues made his case at the post-fight press conference that he has already done enough to skip the line rather than take another gatekeeper fight. He entered the card ranked No. 15 at middleweight and expects to jump well past that after beating a ranked opponent in Hernandez.

"Why I'm going to look back?" Rodrigues said. "I just beat the No. 6 in the rankings, tough guy, and I want to go forward. I think Dricus is a good fight or even Khamzat, I don't know.

"I don't know what's going to happen with the division, but the division is changing and I want my place right there."

Rodrigues is now 11-3 in the UFC, with seven of those wins coming by knockout. Beating Hernandez over 25 minutes answered a question that had followed him for a while, whether he could put together a complete performance across a full five-round fight rather than relying on his power to end things early.

He said he is in no rush to push the promotion into a decision and plans to let his team and matchmakers sort out the next step.

"I love what the UFC does," Rodrigues said. "They did amazing job. Hunter [Campbell], Mick Maynard, Dana [White], Sean [Shelby], they did amazing job. So I don't need to rush. I will take my time, I made my call, I'm going to talk with my managers. I'm going to talk with the UFC and we will see it."

Betting Angle

A leap into the top three would put Rodrigues in with either the former champion in du Plessis or one of the most avoided names in the division in Chimaev, and either fight would make him a live betting underdog on paper given the resumes involved. But four straight wins, three of them highlight-reel finishes before this decision, is exactly the kind of form line that shifts a matchup from lopsided to live once oddsmakers see how he performed over a full 25 minutes. If the UFC grants his wish, expect sportsbooks to price him as a clear underdog against either man, with his path to value likely running through his power rather than the scorecards.

Nothing is booked yet. Rodrigues made clear he is waiting on his management and the promotion before any fight gets made official.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Gregory Rodrigues beat at UFC Sacramento?

Gregory Rodrigues beat Anthony Hernandez by unanimous decision in the UFC Sacramento main event, extending his winning streak to four fights.

Who does Gregory Rodrigues want to fight next?

Gregory Rodrigues called out former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis after the win and also mentioned Khamzat Chimaev as an option.

What is Gregory Rodrigues's UFC record?

Gregory Rodrigues is 11-3 in the UFC, with seven of those wins coming by knockout, after his decision win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Sacramento.