Dricus du Plessis Next: UFC Middleweight Contender Gregory Rodrigues Calls Out Former Champion

Gregory Rodrigues called out Dricus du Plessis after his unanimous decision win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Sacramento.

What's Next for Rodrigues?

Gregory Rodrigues, a Brazilian middleweight contender, has been on a four-fight winning streak, and his latest victory over Anthony Hernandez has put him in the conversation for marquee middleweight fights. Rodrigues (20-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) extended his winning streak to four fights with a unanimous decision win over Hernandez (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif.

Rodrigues Calls Out Du Plessis

During his post-fight interview with UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping, Rodrigues set his sights on a former middleweight titleholder. "Dricus Du Plessis, where are you?" Rodrigues said. "I want you. Let's go. No. 1 contender to fight for the belt." Rodrigues later spoke to reporters during the UFC Sacramento post-fight press conference, saying he'll soon find out if his managers and the UFC brass can pull off a big fight with "Stillknocks."

Du Plessis' Recent Performance

In his most recent outing, du Plessis defeated former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision. Many feel it was Usman's most decisive loss in terms of being outmatched over the course of five rounds. It was also a much-needed showing from du Plessis, who rebounded after a one-sided loss to Khamzat Chimaev, which ended his UFC middleweight title reign.

Rodrigues' Road to Du Plessis

Rodrigues' victory over Hernandez was a dominant performance, with Rodrigues scoring four calf-kick knockdowns and stifling Hernandez's grappling attack. Rodrigues held Hernandez to a paltry 0 of 7 on takedowns in the opening period, all while heavily outworking Hernandez with a steady diet of punches and kicks on the feet.

Key Takeaways

• Gregory Rodrigues (20-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) extends his winning streak to four fights with a unanimous decision win over Anthony Hernandez (15-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC) at UFC Sacramento.
• Rodrigues calls out Dricus du Plessis for a future showdown.
• Du Plessis defeated former welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman via unanimous decision in his most recent outing.

Table: Recent Performances of Key Fighters