The UFC will return to Sacramento on Aug. 22, 2026, for a Fight Night event headlined by a middleweight clash [1].
This event marks a significant return for the promotion to Northern California. The UFC has not held an event in Sacramento for seven years, with the last visit occurring in 2019 [3].
The main event features a high-stakes matchup between two ranked middleweights. Anthony Hernandez, currently ranked No. 6 [4], will face Gregory Rodrigues, who holds the No. 12 spot in the division [5]. The bout serves as a critical juncture for both fighters as they look to climb the middleweight rankings.
The fight will take place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California [2]. Along with the headlining bout, the event will feature a 12-bout undercard [3].
Organizers have positioned this return as a homecoming for the sport in the region. The Golden 1 Center has been selected as the venue to host the crowd for the Aug. 22 date [2].
While most reports identify the fighter as Gregory Rodrigues [1], some outlets have referred to him as Gregory Rodriguez. The promotion continues to finalize the remaining details of the fight card as the event date approaches.
“The UFC has not held an event in Sacramento for seven years”
The return to Sacramento after a seven-year hiatus suggests a strategic effort by the UFC to re-engage the Northern California market. By placing a top-15 middleweight clash at the Golden 1 Center, the promotion is testing the region's current appetite for live MMA events while providing a platform for Hernandez to solidify his position in the top five.
