Anthony Hernandez went from getting stopped by Sean Strickland at UFC Houston earlier this year to training with him and his team ahead of his follow-up fight.
MMA
Anthony Hernandez: Sean Strickland helped re-spark love for martial arts ahead of UFC Sacramento main event
Published
3 weeks agoon
Hernandez returns to the octagon six months after the loss to the, now, two-time middleweight champion to face Gregory Rodrigues in the main event of UFC Sacramento. “Fluffy†was asked about what he took away from the Strickland fight, and was able to move on from it pretty quickly.
“Don't lose,†Hernandex told MMA Fighting. “No, I had to make some adjustments, I mean, but, yeah, shit happens. Train with better guys, sharpen some shit up, and then make sure that I'm not doing dumb shit. … But yeah, I'm good, man. It is what it is. I really don't give a f*ck to talk about that fight, man. I'm not going to lie. I'm sorry, but like I really don't give a f*ck about the past.
“I'm focused on Gregory Rodrigues right now, that's all I can think about.â€
From there, Hernandez spent most of his summer in Las Vegas, leaving Sacramento, training partners, and even his family behind to chase his ultimate goal. Getting to work with Strickland and the team at Xtreme Couture, along with getting to utilize the UFC Performance Institute as much as he did was a huge eye-opener and game changer for Hernandez.
“It was great, man,†Hernandez said. “It was a f*cking blast. … It kind of re-sparked that [love for] martial arts for me, and I mean, I've been doing this shit for a long time. And to be honest, I was kind of getting sick of Sacramento anyways. So going out there was f*cking exciting. It was new. It was fun.
“A lot of the guys I fought, and there's a lot of new guys there so it's just like a lot of hungry guys, and they'll take your head off if you f*cking let them. So for me it was like about jumping in the fire and f*cking having to sharpen all my tools with guys with multiple layers, you know what I mean? And it was a f*cking great outcome for me. I had a great camp. Being at the [UFC] P.I., it was fucking amazing having everyone there — from f*cking Charles and Hannah with the meal preps and like just overall it was, I just made everything about fighting and I f*cking left home all summer. My wife, thank God for her, and the grandparents because they've been f*cking holding it down for me while I'm able to chase this dream and go out there and take full advantage.â€
During the interview, Hernandez seemed different. More locked in than ever before.
After dozens and dozens of conversations over the years, they've all been quite similar — laid back, loose, laughing and smiling. This time, it was a much different demeanor. The smiles were fewer, the focus was at an all-time high.
“I don't really feel like I've changed, to be honest, but I don't know,†Hernandez said. “I've always been a hothead, so I don't know, maybe I'm just getting older and I'm sick of people's shit. I don't f*cking know, man. I really don't know, but I'll tell you what, I'm focused as f*ck. I've been working my f*cking ass off. I've been chasing this f*cking dream, I've done everything it takes. So now let's just go out there and have fun and fight, the rest will handle itself. We'll see where the world takes us after Saturday.â€
Hernandez is 8-1 in his past nine fights, including stoppages against the likes of Roman Dolidze, Roman Kopylov and Michel Pereira, while also picking up a big win over Brendan Allen along the way.
Rodrigues looks to get his first UFC main event victory. In his first octagon headliner, “Robocop†was stopped by Jared Cannonier at UFC Vegas 102 in February 2025. Since then, Rodrigues has gone 3-0, including a first-round knockout of Brunno Ferreira in their rematch at UFC 326 in March.
For Hernandez, this is more than just a fight against a guy he has a lot of respect for.
“I knew who he was and he like he called me out, so it's like, if you think you can take me out, perfect. Let's f*cking do it,†Hernandez explained. “I know he's dangerous. I'm not sleeping on him.
“I know he's a really cool guy. I've met him and talked to him for like an hour before, but at the end of the day, this guy's got to take care of his family and so do I. So let's f*cking get it, see who the most violent man can be.
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MMA
Bare Knuckle FC teases Michael 'Venom' Page reunion after potential UFC split
Published
23 hours agoon
September 8, 2026
Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCBare Knuckle FC president David Feldman says they're actively monitoring Michael ‘Venom' Page's UFC status after his contract expired.
UFC welterweight Michael ‘Venom' Page's standing with the promotion remains unknown after his fourth straight win against Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris last weekend. Page, a former Bellator title challenger, was removed from the UFC's media rankings after his latest win, signaling a potential departure from the promotion.
Page's contract expired once he departed the Octagon on Saturday night, and it's uncertain whether or not the UFC will opt to sign him to a new contract. While earning recent victories in the cage, the lackluster, sluggish nature of his wins has turned off many fight fans.
Before Page signed with the UFC in 2023, he fought once in Bare Knuckle FC against Mike Perry in what turned out to be an instant classic fight. If Page isn't brought back to the UFC, his former promotion is interested in a reunion.
David Feldman confirms BKFC ‘interested' in re-signing Michael ‘Venom' Page
In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, BKFC president David Feldman reacted to Page's reported removal from the UFC roster.
“I don't know if his contract is actually terminated,†Feldman said of Page.
“That's a pretty fast time to get his contract terminated, so I don't wanna make any moves on him yet, and say that's what we want. We would definitely welcome ‘MVP'. When he fought for us with Mike Perry, it was a pretty exciting match, and a lot of people actually thought he won that fight.
“You can't really be boring in BKFC, so it's hard for him to fight that type of fight in BKFC,†Feldman continued on Page. “We would be interested? Yes. I think BKFC will force excitement out of ‘MVP', and I think that the fans would love that.â€
What should be Michael ‘Venom' Page's next move? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
MMA
GRAPHIC | Dillon Danis shares nasty aftermath of injury that forced Mike Perry fight withdrawal
Published
1 day agoon
September 8, 2026
Credit: Ben Roberts Photo/GettyPolarizing combat sports star Dillon Danis' arm injury which forced him out of his scheduled Mike Perry clash was gruesome.
Dillon Danis and Bare Knuckle FC superstar Mike Perry were supposed to clash in the inaugural Duel Arena MMA main event last month in Florida. But just hours before the event, Danis withdrew from the fight due to an arm injury suffered during his final preparations.
Despite his brash nature, Danis seemed genuinely heartbroken at having to pull out of his clash with Perry in his MMA return. Perry went on to lose to short-notice replacement Brandon Jenkins in the Duel Arena 1 main event due to injury.
Danis shared initial footage of his injury showing a graphic laceration on his arm during Duel Arena 1 fight week. As Danis prepares for his potential combat sports return, he shared additional footage that showed the severity of the ailment.
Dillon Danis shares graphic footage of arm injury suffered ahead of Mike Perry fight
In a recent tweet, Danis shared the aftermath of his gruesome arm injury. You can watch the video he posted here.
Danis hasn't fought in Mixed Martial arts since submitting Warren Spencer in 15 seconds at Misfits 22 last year. He won the inaugural Misfits MMA light heavyweight championship after six years away from the cage.
In addition to his MMA aspirations, Danis remains a top name on the Real American Freestyle mats and will face off with Arman Tsarukyan next month. Danis lost back-to-back wrestling matches against Colby Covington and Khamzat Chimaev earlier this year.
As of this writing, it's uncertain how long Danis will need to recover from his arm injury, but he's expected to miss the rest of 2026. When he's ready to return to action, expect Danis to be a name to watch in 2027.
Would you want to see a Dillon Danis vs. Mike Perry MMA rebooking? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
MMA
Salahdine Parnasse uncertain Max Holloway will accept fight after his UFC Paris win: 'I’m ready for anyone'
Published
1 day agoon
September 8, 2026

Salahdine Parnasse isn't sure Max Holloway will accept his callout.
Parnasse is coming off his UFC debut, as he headlined UFC Paris on Saturday and scored a first-round TKO win over Dan Hooker. It was a great performance, and after the win, he called out Holloway but isn't sure if he will accept it, as he knows he poses a lot of problems for the Hawaiian.
“I really, really think I'm ready. I've been training for a long time, since I was 11 years old, for this. I'm very ready for that. In KSW, I had three fights before fighting for the belt, against very big names in KSW. I had great fights. In the UFC, I don't know what's going to happen, but I called out Max Holloway. I really hope he's going to accept,†Parnasse said to Ariel Helwani.
Parnasse vs. Holloway does make a lot of sense, as the winner could get a title shot. Yet, whether or not the Hawaiian would take on Parnasse, who isn't as well-known as other contenders.
Salahdine Parnasse open to fighting whoever after UFC Paris
Although Parnasse called out Holloway after his win, he said he's open to anything.
Parnasse knows some top contenders may not want to fight him, so he's willing to face whoever to prove how good he is.
“Look at my face. It's clean. Tomorrow, I'm ready,†Parnasse added. “Max Holloway would be the perfect fight. He likes challenges, and I think we could have a very good war together. I have a lot of respect for Max, and I don't like trash talk — that's not my personality. I'm ready for anyone in the top five.â€
Parnasse is 24-2 as a pro and coming off the win over Hooker. He's the former KSW featherweight and lightweight champion.
Would you like to see Salahdine Parnasse vs. Max Holloway after UFC Paris?
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
Bare Knuckle FC teases Michael 'Venom' Page reunion after potential UFC split
GRAPHIC | Dillon Danis shares nasty aftermath of injury that forced Mike Perry fight withdrawal
Salahdine Parnasse uncertain Max Holloway will accept fight after his UFC Paris win: 'I’m ready for anyone'
Bare Knuckle FC teases Michael 'Venom' Page reunion after potential UFC split
GRAPHIC | Dillon Danis shares nasty aftermath of injury that forced Mike Perry fight withdrawal
Salahdine Parnasse uncertain Max Holloway will accept fight after his UFC Paris win: 'I’m ready for anyone'
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