UFC Fight Night returns to Sacramento this weekend with a pivotal middleweight main event between Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez and Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues scheduled on Sunday (AEDT).
The highly anticipated UFC Sacramento matchup pits the No. 6-ranked Anthony Hernandez against the No. 12-ranked Gregory Rodrigues in a fight with major implications for the UFC middleweight rankings and the division’s crowded title picture.
With both contenders looking to make a statement, Hernandez vs. Rodrigues has all the ingredients of a high-stakes UFC Fight Night showdown, and Josh Bell is on deck to offer his usual analysis and betting suggestions!
At 32 years of age. Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez is in the prime of his career and he earns this main event spot thanks to eight wins in his last nine fights.
He won eight straight fights including finishes over Michel Pereira. Rodolfo Vieira and Roman Dolidze.
That streak was ended by Sean Strickland in February and he faces another tough challenge on Sunday.
Robocop has been ranked in the Middleweight division for quite some time now and has won six of his last seven, four which have been knockouts.
This is an interesting battle between two elite strikers but the fact Rodrigues has four knockout losses during his career has me siding with Fluffy.
Prediction: 2 Units Anthony Hernandez by KO/TKO
Serghei Spivac has an overall record of 18:6 with eight submissions amongst those wins.
He is a well-rounded mixed martial artist who has fought some of the very best in the heavyweight division including wins over Marcin Tybura and Derrick Lewis.
Vitor Petrino won a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022 and won his first four nights which had many thinking he may fight for UFC gold one day,
It hasn’t played out that way so far but he does eneter this co main event on a three fight winning streak.
I think he can make it four despite this being the biggest test for quite some time.
Prediction: 3 Units Vitor Petrino To Win
Former two division One Championship champion Reinier De Ridder moves back up to light heavyweight for this important fight.
Back to back losses to Brendan Allen and Caio Borralho has shifted his mindset and he returns to this division for the first time in over four years.
It is a very similar story for Dolidze who has lost his last two consecutive fights which prompts a move up in the weight.
He’ll likely be looking to take this fight to the canvas but I’m predicting he gets caught before that happens.
Prediction: 2 Units De Ridder by KO/TKO
