Rodrigues outlasts Hernandez, targets du Plessis

A stacked Saturday of results: UFC Sacramento delivered 10 finishes and a grueling five-round main event that pushed Gregory Rodrigues into the middleweight title picture, while Reinier de Ridder made an emphatic light heavyweight debut. In Tampa, Cris Cyborg survived her toughest fight in years to retain PFL gold and refused to retire, and on the RAF wrestling mat Henry Cejudo needed just 36 seconds to bury Merab Dvalishvili.

Rodrigues grinds down Hernandez, calls out du Plessis

Gregory Rodrigues (20-6) won his first five-round fight, taking a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2) over Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Sacramento main event. Chopping down Hernandez with calf kicks and outstriking him in the clutch, Rodrigues extended his win streak to four and earned Fight of the Night. He immediately called for former champion Dricus du Plessis. Hernandez, who entered No. 5 at 185, has now lost two straight for the first time in his career.

Why it matters: Rodrigues vaults from the fringe into the middleweight title mix, while a second straight loss stalls Hernandez and raises questions about his future at 185.

De Ridder mauls Dolidze in light heavyweight debut

Reinier de Ridder (22-4) made a statement in his move to 205 pounds, stopping Roman Dolidze via first-round TKO (4:01) in the featured bout at UFC Sacramento. Dolidze committed almost entirely to leg-lock attempts from his back; de Ridder patiently rode top position, worked to mount and poured on unanswered strikes until the stoppage. It was the first time Dolidze had ever been finished by strikes.

Why it matters: After a two-fight skid at middleweight, the former two-division ONE champion resets at light heavyweight with a dominant win that immediately makes him a name to track in a thin division.

Cyborg survives Vieira, waves off retirement and calls out Harrison

Cris Cyborg retained the PFL women's featherweight title with a unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46) over Ketlen Vieira in Tampa, in perhaps the most competitive fight of her career — Vieira, ineligible for the belt after missing weight by seven pounds, buckled Cyborg late in the second and scored reversals. Now 30-2 with a 10-fight win streak and off her PFL contract, Cyborg declined to retire, calling out bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison and boxer Claressa Shields.

Why it matters: The most decorated woman in MMA history keeps the door open rather than walking away, dangling the long-ducked Harrison superfight as free agency looms.

Cejudo gets revenge, pins Merab in 36 seconds at RAF 12

Henry Cejudo avenged last month's comeback loss to Merab Dvalishvili on the RAF wrestling mat, scoring a four-point takedown and immediate pinfall just 36 seconds in to claim the promotion's lightweight crossover title. Dvalishvili called for a wrestling trilogy; Cejudo instead called out Cody Garbrandt. In the co-main, Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs returned from a two-year layoff to tech-fall UFC welterweight Sean Brady 11-0.

Why it matters: Pure crossover spectacle, but it keeps two active UFC names busy in the offseason — Dvalishvili still has a Petr Yan trilogy booked at UFC 333 in October.

Ex-NFL linebacker Anthony Wint wins UFC debut 11 days after DWCS deal

Heavyweight Anthony Wint, a former New York Jets linebacker, submitted Terrance Chatman with a first-round arm-triangle choke to open the UFC Sacramento main card — just 11 days after earning his contract with a 34-second knockout on Dana White's Contender Series. Wint moves to 8-0 with finishes in nearly every pro appearance, giving up 35 pounds on the scale but never in trouble.

Why it matters: A remarkably fast prospect-to-winner turnaround adds another football-to-MMA convert to a heavyweight division always hunting for fresh, finishing power.

Dana White doubles down on Ian Machado Garry criticism

At the UFC Sacramento post-fight presser, Dana White again ripped Ian Machado Garry for being too respectful in his UFC 330 title loss to Islam Makhachev, singling out the Irishman hugging his opponent between rounds instead of hunting a fifth-round finish. Makhachev echoed the sentiment, saying Garry 'respects too much.' White insisted Garry may never get another Makhachev shot.

Why it matters: The public dressing-down signals Garry has slipped in the UFC's eyes and will likely have to rebuild through the welterweight contender pack before sniffing another title fight.

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