TLDR
- Sean Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez via third-round TKO at UFC Houston on February 21, 2026
- A devastating knee to the body in round three led to the stoppage at 2:23
- Hernandez entered as the betting favorite on an eight-fight win streak
- Strickland earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the finish
- The victory positions Strickland for a potential title shot against Khamzat Chimaev
Sources: Empire Sports Media | Bloody Elbow | ESPN MMA | Cageside Press
Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland returned to the win column on Saturday night with a third-round TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston. The fight took place at Toyota Center in front of 17,160 fans.
Hernandez entered the fight as the betting favorite despite Strickland’s championship pedigree. The 32-year-old had won eight consecutive fights over more than five years, most recently defeating Roman Dolidze in August 2025.
Strickland hadn’t competed since losing his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis in February 2025. The 34-year-old from Anaheim, California, improved his record to 30-7 with the victory.
Strickland Controls Early Rounds
From the opening bell, Strickland used his jab to keep Hernandez at distance. The El Dorado Hills native tried to pressure forward but struggled to find his rhythm against Strickland’s awkward style.
Strickland mixed in more right hands than usual and landed sharp 1-2 combinations throughout the first two rounds. Most observers scored the opening rounds for Strickland, though both frames were competitive.
Hernandez, known for overwhelming opponents with pace, couldn’t establish any sustained momentum. His offensive attempts were repeatedly shut down by Strickland’s precise jab.
The first round ended with both fighters exchanging heavy shots. Strickland found openings for bigger punches while maintaining his defensive structure.
Body Knee Ends Hernandez’s Streak
The fight’s turning point came midway through round three. Strickland landed a perfect knee to Hernandez’s midsection that visibly hurt the surging contender.
Strickland immediately poured on the pressure, not allowing Hernandez time to recover. He followed with a flurry of combinations that dropped Hernandez to the canvas.
Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 2:23 of the third round. The finish marked the first time Hernandez had lost in over six years.
Strickland earned a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the finish. He addressed the fight afterward, saying Hernandez realized early that “maybe Sean knows how to grapple” after failed takedown attempts.
Hernandez dropped to 15-3 with one no contest. He posted on Instagram after the loss, acknowledging that “players mess up” and vowing to return stronger.
The defeat snapped Hernandez’s streak that included wins over Roman Dolidze, Brendan Allen, Michel Pereira, and Roman Kopylov. He entered UFC Houston ranked fourth in the middleweight division.
Analysts immediately began discussing Strickland’s next opponent following the performance. Many believe he earned a title shot with the dominant victory.
Current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev won the belt in September 2025. Chimaev has competed only once per year in 2023, 2024, and 2025, making his next defense timeline unclear.
Nassourdine Imavov defeated Caio Borralho in September 2025 and was expected to receive the first title shot. An injury to Chimaev prevented that fight from happening in early 2026.
Strickland previously defeated Imavov on short notice. He and Chimaev also have a backstory from training together and have exchanged words publicly.
The UFC has not announced Chimaev’s next title defense or whether Strickland will receive the next shot. Some observers suggest booking Strickland versus Chimaev for International Fight Week would create the biggest possible middleweight matchup.
