Hernandez On Strickland's Role In UFC Sacramento Prep

Anthony Hernandez spent his summer in Las Vegas training with Sean Strickland and the Xtreme Couture crew, a camp he says reignited his passion for the sport ahead of his main event clash with Gregory Rodrigues at UFC Sacramento this Saturday.

Hernandez, who lost to Strickland by stoppage at UFC Houston in February, told MMA Fighting that the Vegas stint was an eye-opener. He left Sacramento, his family, and his usual training partners behind to chase improvement at the UFC Performance Institute and alongside a roster of hungry middleweights.

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Strickland Camp Reignites Hernandez's Fire

The 31-year-old said the experience was transformative. Working with Strickland and the P.I. staff, including the nutrition team, allowed him to make fighting his sole focus for months. He called the camp intense and credited his wife and family for holding things down at home while he pursued the opportunity.

Hernandez acknowledged a shift in his own mindset. After dozens of interviews over the years that were typically loose and lighthearted, this time he appeared locked in and serious. He said he does not know if he has changed, but confirmed he is focused and has worked harder than ever.

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The middleweight contender is 8-1 in his past nine outings, with finishes over Roman Dolidze, Roman Kopylov, and Michel Pereira, plus a decision win over Brendan Allen. Rodrigues enters the bout on a three-fight streak after being stopped by Jared Cannonier in his first UFC headliner last February. His recent run includes a first-round knockout of Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 in March.

Hernandez said he knows Rodrigues is dangerous and has no intention of underestimating him. He added that while he respects the Brazilian and once spent an hour talking with him, Saturday is about providing for their families and proving who can bring the most violence. The bout airs live from Sacramento on Saturday night.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Anthony Hernandez: Sean Strickland helped re-spark love for martial arts ahead of UFC Sacramento main event