Rodrigues admits glove grab but insists it had no bearing on UFC Sacramento win

Gregory Rodrigues has conceded that he briefly grabbed Anthony Hernandez’s glove during their five-round middleweight headliner at UFC Sacramento, but the Brazilian insists the incident was accidental and had no meaningful effect on his decision victory — a performance that earned Fight of the Night honours.

Hernandez had publicly accused Rodrigues of deliberately grabbing his gloves during grappling exchanges, a claim that cast a shadow over what was widely celebrated as one of the night’s standout bouts. Rodrigues, known as ‘Robocop’, pushed back on that characterisation while acknowledging the contact did occur.

“There was no cheating,” Rodrigues said. “It happened in the heat of the moment while we were against the fence and as soon as he pointed it out, I let go. It wasn’t something that stopped a takedown or had any decisive impact on the fight.”

Rodrigues also suggested that Hernandez himself understands the incident did not swing the result, pointing to a cordial encounter between the two fighters after the event — including a photograph taken together. The Brazilian added that he hopes to share a training camp with Hernandez in the future.

“I have nothing but respect for this guy and I hope we can train together again in the future,” Rodrigues said.

The glove-grab controversy is a recurring issue in MMA, where the infraction is penalisable but often goes unchecked in the chaos of close-quarters grappling. Rodrigues’s account frames the moment as an instinctive reaction rather than a tactical foul, and his willingness to acknowledge it at all is notable given that many fighters in similar situations deny any contact whatsoever.

Whether Hernandez accepts that explanation publicly remains to be seen, but Rodrigues’s framing of their post-fight relationship as amicable suggests the dispute may not escalate further.