Rodrigues called the top-15 bout a potential division shifter and said his team built a game plan to neutralize Hernandez, who enters after a February loss to Sean Strickland ended his eight-fight streak.
The matchup is framed as striker versus grappler, but Rodrigues said he may test his ground game too, even suggesting Hernandez could be his first submission win since 2018.
At the wider title picture, Rodrigues argued Imavov deserves the next shot at champion Sean Strickland as the middleweight division reshuffles with younger contenders rising.