Anthony Hernandez says he accused referee Gregory Rodrigues of “cheating” after UFC Fight Night 285 main event

Anthony Hernandez returned to a tense moment from the UFC Fight Night 285 main event in Sacramento Saturday, saying he told referee Gregory Rodrigues that something in the fight was “cheating.” The statement, shared through an interview reported by Yahoo Sports, frames the matchup as more than just a test of skill and toughness, with Hernandez describing the exchange as an issue of fairness rather than effort.

Hernandez also indicated respect for Gregory Rodrigues as an opponent. In the same reporting, he is described as tipping his cap to Rodrigues for his toughness during the fight, even while stressing that he did not appreciate one particular element involving how the bout played out in the referee’s presence.

What Hernandez’s comment specifically addressed is the central controversy. According to the Yahoo Sports report, Hernandez said he communicated the allegation directly to Rodrigues during the action, putting the officiating into the conversation right after the contest concluded.

For context, UFC Fight Night events often feature main-event bouts that carry both prestige and momentum, with fighters using them to sharpen their standing for future matchups. Even when a referee is not at the center of a dispute for most of the night, a claim like Hernandez’s can extend the story beyond the cage and into the sport’s ongoing discussion about officiating consistency.

Hernandez’s remarks also highlight a familiar reality in MMA judging and officiating narratives: emotions run high after hard exchanges, and fighters can interpret close moments in different ways. Without additional official documentation tied to the incident, Hernandez’s account stands as his perspective on what he saw and what he said, rather than a verified ruling or disciplinary finding.

The UFC’s officiating leadership and referee crews typically handle disputes through established procedures, but this case, as described in the Yahoo Sports piece, remains primarily a fighter-to-fighter-and-officials conversation in the public spotlight. Until the promotion or officials provide further detail, the most accurate takeaway is that Hernandez believed something crossed a line during the fight.

As the sport moves forward, fans will likely watch whether more context emerges around the comment, including any follow-up from the promotion, the referee’s explanation, or clarification on what Hernandez believed was occurring when he made the accusation.

If nothing additional is published, the Hernandez-Rodrigues exchange may still matter for what it indicates: even in victory or defeat, fighters can carry lingering complaints about officiating, and those complaints can quickly become part of the event’s lasting narrative.