Gregory Rodrigues faces off with Denis Tiuliulin during their middleweight bout at UFC 292 at TD Garden on Aug. 19, 2023, in Boston.
Paul Rutherford
Getty Images
Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Sacramento later this summer for its first “Fight Night” in California’s capital since 2019, UFC officials announced Saturday on social media.
The mixed martial arts event will take place 3 p.m. Aug. 22 at Golden 1 Center. A separate post on UFC’s X page announced that middleweight fighters Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues will face off in the main event.
After a winning streak lasting four fights, Hernandez lost his most recent match to Sean Strickland in Houston this February. He looks to get back on track in the Sacramento fight, MMA Fighting reports.
Anthony Hernandez, right, exchanges strikes with Roman Kopylov in their middleweight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on Feb. 17, 2024, in Anaheim, California. Sean M. Haffey Getty Images
Rodrigues will enter the match on a three-fight winning streak. His most recent win in Las Vegas against Brunno Ferreira was decided in the first round, adding to his reputation as a relentless, precise fighter.
The last UFC fight in Sacramento took place July 13, 2019, at the Golden 1 Center, and the venue’s first was held in 2016. The 2019event drew more than 10,000 spectators and the gate cleared more than $900,000, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
Tickets to the upcoming event will be available starting July 9 at ufc.com/sacramento. The event will be broadcast on the Paramount Plus streaming platform, according to the UFC announcement.
Urijah Faber of Sacramento leaves the arena after his victory over Brad Pickett from East London England in their UFC bout at Golden 1 Center on Dec. 17, 2016. Brian Baer Special to The Bee
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