Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Sacramento
UFC returns to the Golden 1 Center on Saturday, August 22, 2026, headlined by a middleweight scrap between two of the division’s most violent finishers. Anthony Hernandez (15-3) enters riding serious momentum, having submitted and battered his way into contention, winning eight of his last nine bouts, and now looks to solidify himself as a top contender against Gregory Rodrigues (19-6), a Brazilian slugger known for putting opponents away early. Expect this one to end inside the distance.
The co-main pits rising talent Vitor Petrino (14-2) against durable veteran Serghei Spivac (18-6) at heavyweight, a classic boxing-versus-grappling puzzle. Right behind it, light heavyweight sees Reinier de Ridder (21-4) test his ground game against the always-dangerous Roman Dolidze (15-5), a fight that could shake up the 205-pound picture.
Rounding out the featured bouts: MarQuel Mederos takes on Mason Jones at lightweight, undefeated Jeisla Chaves faces Carli Judice at women’s flyweight, and unbeaten heavyweight prospect Anthony Wint meets Terrance Chatman. With finishers stacked top to bottom, Sacramento’s card is built for fireworks, and bettors should expect volatile, non-decision-heavy action across the main slate.
Who do our experts like to get their hands raised in these matchups?
Anthony Hernandez vs. Gregory Rodrigues
HayJive – Anthony Hernandez
- “I’ll take Anthony Hernandez in the main event. When in doubt, I trust the cardio and wrestling. Hernandez has shown some vulnerability to the body, but I don’t see Rodriguez as someone who will consistently exploit that. Rodriguez’s durability is also a concern, and over five rounds, I expect Hernandez to wear him down, take over, and get back in the win column.”
Nolan – Anthony Hernandez
- “Fluffy needs a bounce back and I think people are down on him. His style is actually a nightmare for Robocop in a 5 round fight.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Anthony Hernandez
- “I think this is a buy low spot for Fluffy, sell high for Robocop. Hernandez does poorly when the opponent has equally good cardio and pressure striking. In the case of Robocop, his gas-tank is unreliable, though his striking is dangerous.”
The Fight Analyst – Gregory Rodrigues
- “Anthony Hernandez has some of the best cardio in the middleweight division, but his lack of striking defense has come to its head in his last fight against Sean Strickland. If Gregory Rodrigues can defend the takedowns and scramble to his feet he should put Hernandez away inside two rounds.”
Austin Swaim – Gregory Rodrigues
- “I genuinely have no idea what is going to happen in the main event. Robocop is an improved, more technical version of the Dolidze and Pereira matchups, but if this fight starts Round 3, he’s probably still in trouble. I just can’t help but feel the guy who landed 28 body strikes on Kopylov and 23 on Cannonier will target the weakest area of the Californian’s striking defense.”
Serghei Spivac vs. Vitor Petrino
HayJive – Serghei Spivac
- “I’ll take Spivac here. Petrino is a good athlete with legitimate power, but this is a significant step up from the competition he’s been beating. Spivac has improved both his striking offense and defense, and if he gets Petrino to the ground, he should have the grappling advantage. I trust the more experienced fighter to get it done.”
Nolan – Serghei Spivac
- “Petrino is a natural 205’er who can be lower volume. Spivac can use his jab and clinch game to wear down Petrino and land the bigger shots.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Vitor Petrino
- “Petrino will have the advantage when it comes to speed and will have the ability to defend the grappling of Spivac, who if can’t get takedowns, isn’t the most successful.”
The Fight Analyst – Vitor Petrino
- “Vitro Petrino is finally settling into his new weight class and his speed and power will be the difference maker against Serghei Spivac. As long as Petrino keeps off the mat, he will be the one landing the bigger shots potentially putting Spivac away and continue his winning ways.”
Austin Swaim – Vitor Petrino
- “It seems Vitor Petrino’s 3-0 heavyweight run hasn’t impressed anyone — despite the unanimous public love for Asplund. I think he’s still significantly improving and filling out at heavyweight at just 28, and he’s extremely fast on the feet with quality takedown defense. The key in this Spivac matchup will be avoid giving up his neck or back in scrambles.”
Reinier de Ridder vs. Roman Dolidze
HayJive – Reinier de Ridder
- “I’ll take de Ridder, although I think the betting line is a little wide. There isn’t one massive advantage for him, but I trust his aggression and ability to create top control. Dolidze may be willing to grapple with him, but I give de Ridder the slight edge there and trust him a little more at this stage of their careers.”
Nolan – Reinier de Ridder
- “De Ridder should be new and improved at 205. He’s already going to be big for the division, and the easier weight cut should benefit the cardio.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Reinier de Ridder
- “DeRidder’s momentum has been halted, though I think he had a close fight with a great fighter in Borralho while at the same time has been active and showcasing great skill.”
The Fight Analyst – Reinier de Ridder
- “Reinier de Ridder is making the rightful move up to light heavyweight to take on Roman Dolidze. Without worrying about the brutal weight cut to 185 pounds, de Ridder should be able to dominate Dolidze in the grappling, eventually finishing up and making a statement in his new weight class.”
Austin Swaim – Roman Dolidze
- “Dolidze has endured a pair of nightmare matchups with Anthony Hernandez toppling his base and CLD’s outstanding footwork. The public has forgotten his dominant wins prior to those. Reinier de Ridder is a quality grappler with serviceable Muay Thai, who probably has a distance advantage here, but I think the Georgian’s strength edge in the clinch is being underrated. I’ll pick Dolidze to pull the upset in a competitive bout.”
MarQuel Mederos vs. Mason Jones
HayJive – Mason Jones
- “I’ll take Mason Jones primarily because of his cardio and experience. Medeiros has the speed to make this competitive, and I don’t expect Jones to find an easy early finish. As the fight extends, though, Jones’ pressure, cardio, and ability to mix in wrestling should allow him to pull away.”
Nolan – Mason Jones
- “Mederos hasn’t shown me enough to power to ward off Jones pressure and volume. Jones is a junkyard dog while Mederos wants a clean fight.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Mason Jones
- “Durable,aggressive and has the volume to counter the style of Mederos in what could be a very fun back and forth that goes down to specific moments.”
The Fight Analyst – Mason Jones
- “Mason Jones comes into this fight riding a seven-fight winning streak with four of those wins coming inside the distance. This is going to be a tough test for a fighter like MarQuel Mederos who needs a clean fight in order to beat Jones. If Jones can make this a brawl like he always does, he should wear down Mederos over time, eventually finishing him and extending his winning streak to eight in a row.”
Austin Swaim – MarQuel Mederos
- “I really can’t see this fight going any other way than a razor-close decision. Mederos proved me wrong by hanging tough in a bout with Padilla, and Jones’ 50% striking defense can be inconsistent and sloppy. Mason has the wrestling edge, but I think Mederos is more technical on the feet. This is another great match on the main card.”
Carli Judice vs. Jeisla Chaves
HayJive – Carli Judice
- “I’ll take Carli Judice. She’s the much more dynamic striker, while Chaves can be a little robotic and hasn’t faced the same level of competition. Judice continues to improve and has advantages in movement, hand speed, and the angles she creates. I think she has this matchup covered in most areas.
Nolan – Carli Judice
- “Carli’s technical striking, athleticism, speed, and footwork should gives Chaves problems. Chaves’s debut was pretty underwhelming.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Carli Judice
- “So much volume, versatility and the killer instinct we don’t usually see with the strawweight division can be found in Judice, which will make a difference.”
The Fight Analyst – Carli Judice
- “Carli Judice is battle-tested, and her striking arsenal, pace, and cardio will wear down the undefeated Jeisla Chaves, which could eventually sit her down and put her away midway through the fight.”
Austin Swaim – Carli Judice
- “It’s not a good look for Jeisla Chaves that there was a (weak) argument that she lost to Yuniesy Dubin. Now, she’ll enter the monsoon. Carli Judice is an unbelievable offensive striker, posting the highest rate of significant strikes per minute (9.32) in the division (min. 30 octagon minutes). I think the Louisiana native returns to her finishing ways by cranking up the pace late in the fight.”
Anthony Wint vs. Terrance Chatman
HayJive – Anthony Wint
- “I’ll take Anthony Wint. Chapman has a puncher’s chance early, but Wint holds almost every other physical advantage. He’s faster, stronger, more athletic, and more explosive. Unless Chapman lands something big early, I expect Wint to take over and get the win.”
Nolan – Anthony Wint
- “Wint should be the far more athletic, explosive, and more powerful guy here. He’s got the wrestling to fall back on as well.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Anthony Wint
- “Carrying the momentum from an electrifying Week 1 in the DWCS, he makes his UFC debut and will impress.”
The Fight Analyst – Anthony Wint
- “Anthony Wint just got his contract a couple weeks ago and now they are letting him kick things off on the main card against another debutant Terrance Witman. Look for Wint to make quick work of Witman like he did on the Contender Series and make a statement in his UFC debut.”
Austin Swaim – Anthony Wint
- “This is an advertisement more than a fight. The Kill Cliff-trained former NFL linebacker absorbed 0 significant strikes during his Contender Series bid, and the total won’t be much higher Saturday. Terrance Chatman is at such an athletic disadvantage that, even if Wint faces any adversity at distance, an extremely fast a takedown — and ferocious ground-and-pound — can erase it.”
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