Gregory Rodrigues isn’t heading to Sacramento looking to make any new friends.
With Anthony Hernandez fighting in front of his hometown crowd and both middleweights trying to push their way toward a title shot, Rodrigues sees Saturday night as the perfect opportunity to walk into enemy territory, beat one of the division’s best and make his case that it’s his turn to join the middleweight title conversation.
“Every fight, specially in the UFC, is the best fighters in the world. Not easy fights there, but I know everyone can see what Fluffy did. 8-win streak, just lost to the current champion Sean Strickland,” Rodrigues told reporters on Wednesday.
“I know that’s going to be a good fight. That’s why I want to fight him because everything he did. I want to fight with the best. I belong in this position as well. That’s why (I’m) excited to fight guys like him and keep working to my goal. One day fight for the title and be a middleweight champion.”
Rodrigues will be walking into enemy territory on Saturday night, but he isn’t worried about having the hometown crowd against him. If anything, he believes all that pressure falls squarely on Hernandez.
“Pressure? On him, not me. His hometown, not mine. So it’s all pressure on him man, but I like it,” he said.
“The people, the fans, is going to love it. It’s a real nice matchup. I’m excited, we are the perfect position to fight each other, to see who’s going to move forward for the title. He had his chance, he fight Sean Strickland, and I was rooting for him in that fight. Sean beat him and became champion. I think now it’s my turn.”
Earlier in the day, Hernandez spoke to reporters and didn’t mince words when discussing what he expected from the matchup. “Fluffy” said he and Rodrigues were going to step into the cage and try to kill each other. Rodrigues agreed, and with the way these two fight, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll give it their best shot.
“Oh yeah. For sure. I will kill him first,” he said with a smile.
