Sean Strickland wanted a fight with Anthony Hernandez next, and he will get his wish when the UFC heads back to Texas in the new year.
After serving his suspension with the Nevada Athletic Commission for entering the cage as a cornerman at a regional event in Las Vegas and engaging in a physical altercation with an athlete who had just submitted his fight, former middleweight champion Strickland (29-7 MMA, 16-7 UFC) is back against Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in a matchup with key divisional implications.
During Saturday’s UFC 323 pay-per-view broadcast, the promotion announced the bout as the main event for a UFC Fight Night card set for Feb. 21 at Toyota Center in Houston (Paramount+).
Strickland, No. 4 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings, will compete in Australia for the fourth time in his past five fights when he heads “Down Under” yet again to the scene of his most recent bout and loss. The 34-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to then-champ Dricus Du Plessis in a title rematch, and has since been out of action nursing injuries and serving his suspension.
With plans for an early 2026 fight, Strickland told MMA Junkie in October that he wanted Hernandez next because he was the “American Chimaev,” noting his style is similar to reigning 185-pound kingpin Khamzat Chimaev, whom Strickland has personal issues with and wants to challenge for the belt.
He will get what he asked for with No. 6-ranked Hernandez, who is on a eight-fight winning streak and most recently dismantled and submitted Roman Dolidze in a main event. The 32-year-old was scheduled to face Reinier de Ridder in a title eliminator in October, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Don’t underestimate Sean here styles make fights
jab jab teep, jab jab teep.
- Fluffy
- Sean
I dunno, I just feel that Strickland is getting so worn out…. could be wrong…. but I never am LOL….
go sean
UFC Houston Main Event on Paramount+:
185 lbs.: Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez
UFC Houston Main Card on Paramount+ (9 p.m. ET):
185 lbs.: Michel Pereira vs. Zach Reese
170 lbs.: Geoff Neal vs. Kevin Holland
265 lbs.: Ante Delija vs. Serghei Spivac
UFC Houston Preliminary Card On Paramount+ (7 p.m. ET):
125 lbs.: Alibi Idiris vs. Ode Osbourne
125 lbs.: Alden Coria vs. Luis Gurule
170 lbs.: Seokhyeon Ko vs. Jacobe Smith
170 lbs.: Austin Vanderford vs. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
Sean isn’t losing to a pothead named fluffy. Just not possible. Sean will keep it standing and batter him
Fluffy, Puffy will win this fight with ease. I could be wrong, but I never am.