Gregory Rodrigues just moved up the middleweight ranks with a unanimous decision win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Sacramento, but the celebration is already getting nasty. Hernandez didn’t just lose; he dropped a bombshell in the post-fight press conference, accusing Rodrigues of outright cheating during their fight last Saturday.
The “Glove Grab” Bombshell That Stunned Reporters
Hernandez was absolutely NOT quiet about it, telling reporters Rodrigues was “grabbing inside of my gloves.” Can you believe that? He even claimed he told referee Herb Dean about it “four times” during the fight. According to Hernandez, Dean actually told Rodrigues to “stop” the glove-grabbing. Hernandez was clearly furious, saying, “I fight clean, man. So, it is what it is. Maybe I should be more dirty.” That’s a wild statement to make after a main event loss, basically implying his opponent played dirty and got away with it. He wrapped up his post-fight rant with a frustrated, “F**k it. I guess people like to cheat, so it is what it is.” This isn’t just about losing, it’s about the integrity of the fight itself, and Hernandez put everything on blast.
Rodrigues Fires Back: “I Didn’t Cheat Him. He Knows That.”
Rodrigues wasn’t going to let those claims just hang out there without a response, no way. On Monday, he jumped on “The Ariel Helwani Show” to set the record straight, and he came out swinging. Rodrigues shot back, “He can say whatever he wants. The fact is I beat him with the leg kicks, the punches. He didn’t take me down. He didn’t do nothing.” He was quick to point out the strategy he used and Hernandez’s lack of offense, totally dismissing the idea that cheating was the reason for his win. Rodrigues was emphatic, insisting, “I didn’t cheat him. He knows that. I didn’t cheat during the fight.” He called the whole thing a “dogfight” and said, “Everyone saw it. we tried to kill each other every moment and every round.” Rodrigues even brought up referee Herb Dean, noting, “If it was clear, Herb Dean would’ve said something, or everyone’s going to see on TV or whatever.” That’s a solid defense, putting the onus squarely on both the official and the fight footage itself.
So, what’s next after all this drama? Rodrigues just moved up the 185-pound pecking order, but this cheating allegation could definitely cast a shadow over that climb. With Hernandez doubling down on his claims and Rodrigues firmly denying them, it’s a messy situation for the middleweight division. Fans are already re-watching that fight, looking for every angle. Will the UFC weigh in? We’re all waiting to see if this “dogfight” gets a third round of scrutiny.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply