Anthony Hernandez brought the pressure, the takedown attempts and a seemingly endless gas tank, but Gregory Rodrigues brought the answers.
“Robocop” battered Hernandez’s lead leg, stuffed takedown after takedown and survived a relentless five round war to walk out of enemy territory with a hard earned decision victory at UFC Sacramento on Saturday night.
Round 1 – Hernandez immediately brought the pressure to Rodrigues and shot for an early takedown, but instead drove him into the fence. The pace Hernandez fights with is relentless, and it was clear from the start that he wanted to use it as a weapon against the heavy hitting Rodrigues.
Rodrigues defended well, but Hernandez stayed glued to him and continued forcing him to work. Rodrigues managed to reverse the position against the fence, but Hernandez didn’t give him much time to enjoy it before taking control again.
Rodrigues landed a knee to the body that forced Hernandez back. Hernandez didn’t stay at striking range for long, using a right hand to disguise another takedown attempt before attacking the single leg. Rodrigues responded by firing elbows while defending the shot.
The Brazilian stuffed the takedown and immediately went to work with his hands, landing powerful jabs. He stuffed another shot from Hernandez and followed it with a big right hand before connecting with a clean one two.
Hernandez did what Hernandez does. He bit down and fired right back.
A right hand landed clean for Hernandez, followed by another before he immediately transitioned into yet another takedown attempt. Rodrigues stuffed that one too.
Hernandez then landed an elbow that opened a cut on Rodrigues and followed it with a right hand. He shot again and ate a few elbows for his trouble as the fight entered the final 20 seconds of the round.
Rodrigues stuffed another takedown, but Hernandez made sure to get his shots in before the horn sounded.
Hernandez walked back to his corner smiling.
Rodrigues was definitely not amused.
Round 2 – Hernandez came out quickly and landed on Rodrigues, but the Brazilian was more than happy to finally get some space to strike and immediately fired back. Hernandez shot for another takedown, got stuffed and landed an elbow on the break before Rodrigues began walking him down.
Rodrigues started finding a home for heavy calf kicks, but Hernandez continued shooting. At that point, it seemed like the sheer volume of takedown attempts was part of the plan. Even if Rodrigues kept stuffing them, Hernandez was going to make him work every single time.
Another takedown attempt was stuffed, and Rodrigues went right back to work. He attacked the body before a hard leg kick dropped Hernandez to the mat.
That was when things started getting ugly for Hernandez.
Rodrigues landed more damage before another calf kick sent Hernandez down. The compromised leg started opening everything else up, and Rodrigues took advantage by firing heavy shots upstairs.
The Brazilian smelled blood and went hunting.
Another calf kick dropped Hernandez, and Rodrigues followed him to the ground before working his way into full mount. He started unloading from the top, but Hernandez somehow absorbed the damage, fought his way back to his feet and, because apparently he only knows one speed, immediately shot for another takedown.
The problem was his left leg was basically done.
Rodrigues stuffed the shot and dropped Hernandez with another leg kick before attacking with heavy punches up top. Hernandez refused to go away and fired back with big shots of his own.
Late in the round, Hernandez connected with something that appeared to briefly rock Rodrigues. He immediately took advantage and finally secured the takedown just as the horn sounded.
After spending much of the round getting his leg chewed up, Hernandez somehow finished it going forward.
He quickly worked his way to Rodrigues’ back and started landing ground and pound. Hernandez briefly attacked the neck, but when Rodrigues defended the submission attempt, he simply went back to doing damage.
Rodrigues eventually fought his way back to his feet and received a warning for grabbing the cage. Hernandez gave him almost no time to reset, landing an uppercut while already diving into another takedown attempt.
Rodrigues stuffed the shot, but ate a big punch for his trouble.
The pace was clearly starting to catch up with the Brazilian. Rodrigues began picking his shots and waiting for the inevitable takedown attempt, but even when he knew it was coming, defending it required more and more energy.
Hernandez landed another uppercut and immediately went right back to the takedown.
At that point, it became rinse and repeat.
Rodrigues would stuff the shot, Hernandez would make him pay with a punch, then immediately dive right back onto the legs. Even when Hernandez couldn’t get the takedown, he was making Rodrigues work every second of the fight.
Round 4 –
Another round, another big smile from Hernandez.
Rodrigues wasn’t smiling back.
Hernandez went right back to work and landed early, but a stiff right hand from Rodrigues sent him stumbling backward. The Brazilian took advantage and started walking Hernandez down, connecting with punches and knees to the body.
Then both men decided defense was optional.
They stood toe to toe and traded heavy shots in the middle of the cage, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Hernandez landed clean and immediately flew forward looking for another takedown, but Rodrigues stuffed the attempt.
Rodrigues responded with a massive combination that Hernandez somehow absorbed. At that point, you had to wonder how much more the hometown kid could possibly take.
Apparently, quite a bit.
Rodrigues blasted Hernandez with another huge right hand, and the crowd couldn’t believe he was still standing. Hernandez ate it and kept coming forward.
The Brazilian went back to attacking the damaged lead leg, looking to put Hernandez on the canvas again, but Hernandez simply refused to go away.
Hernandez shot for another takedown and got stuffed, but immediately came back with big punches up top before diving right back onto the legs.
After eating everything Rodrigues could throw at him, Hernandez finished the round the only way that seemed appropriate.
With a takedown.
Round 5 – Hernandez’s corner made the situation very clear before the final round.
He needed a finish.
Hernandez came out quickly and immediately attacked another takedown, but Rodrigues stuffed it and turned him into the fence. The two spent nearly a minute doing the fence dance before Rodrigues finally forced his way free.
That didn’t stop Hernandez from going right back after the takedown.
His corner pleaded with him to let his hands go and hunt for the knockout, and Hernandez obliged. He started throwing heavier shots while continuing to mix in takedown attempts, desperately searching for anything that could change the fight.
By that point, Hernandez had landed just three of his 28 takedown attempts. Rodrigues, meanwhile, had absolutely battered the lead leg, and another hard kick eventually sent Hernandez to the canvas.
With just over a minute remaining, Rodrigues took top position as both men emptied whatever was left in the gas tank. They threw anything they could find, looking for one final moment that could put an exclamation point on the fight.
The finish Hernandez needed never came, and the fight went to the judges.
Rodrigues walked away with the victory after surviving Hernandez’s relentless pressure and earning a hard fought win in enemy territory.
Official Result: Gregory Rodrigues def. Anthony Hernandez via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
