Anthony Hernandez claims Gregory Rodriguez was ‘cheating,’ grabbing his gloves in UFC Sacramento main event

Anthony Hernandez suffered his second consecutive loss at UFC Sacramento on Saturday, dropping a unanimous decision to Gregory Rodrigues in the main event. The middleweight bout was competitive enough to earn both fighters Fight of the Night honors and a $100,000 bonus each, with Rodrigues taking the victory on scores of 49–46 and 48–47 twice.

While Hernandez praised Rodrigues' toughness and striking power, he left the cage frustrated over what he perceived as foul play. Hernandez claims Rodrigues repeatedly grabbed the inside of his gloves during crucial grappling exchanges, a tactic he brought to referee Herb Dean's attention multiple times during the fight. According to Hernandez, Dean issued only a verbal warning rather than assessing a point deduction.

"I told Herb four times he was grabbing my gloves," Hernandez said at the post-fight press conference. "But whatever. I guess people like to cheat, so it is what it is." Despite the accusation, Hernandez acknowledged that Rodrigues' superior boxing and leg kicks—which had him stumbling repeatedly—were the decisive factors. He noted he dealt with a shoulder injury in training camp that hampered his preparation, though he accepted responsibility for his performance.

Hernandez maintained his composure about the loss, expressing respect for his opponent's striking prowess while suggesting he may need to adjust his approach in future fights. The Sacramento native, fighting at home, showed plenty of aggression and landed significant strikes, but it proved insufficient to overcome Rodrigues' volume and precision.