Tensions are rising ahead of this weekend’s clash between Anthony Hernandez and Sean Strickland at UFC Houston.
Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) enters Saturday’s main event riding an impressive eight-fight winning streak at 185 pounds, solidifying his position as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders. “Fluffy” dominated Roman Dolidze last August, delivering one of the standout performances of 2025. A win over former champion Strickland could vault him directly into title contention.
Strickland (29-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC), meanwhile, returns for the first time since falling to then-champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 in February 2025. With current middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev sitting atop the division, Saturday’s headliner could determine the next title challenger, or at minimum, set up a No. 1 contender matchup.
The buildup, however, has not been without controversy.
Strickland recently posted a Photoshop-edited fight poster depicting himself dressed as an ICE officer while portraying Hernandez in a sombrero and traditional Mexican poncho. The imagery drew criticism online, and Hernandez addressed it directly in an interview with New York Post Sports this week.
“Honestly, I laughed when I saw that s**t,” Hernandez said. “I was like, ‘If that's the best you got to get in my head, it's going to be a long fu**ing night.’ That s**t does not faze me. It's fu**ed up, yeah. And I don't like seeing s**t like that. I don't like that my people gotta go through s**t like that. You know what I mean? But it’s life and that's the reality of it. Some people are just dirtbags and like to bring it up.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the post, Hernandez made clear his focus remains on the fight itself.
“But dude, I'm excited for the fight,” he added. “I hope he keeps that same online energy in the cage because I'm gonna torture him.”
