Sean Strickland returned to the Octagon with a vengeance on Saturday night, proving he is still a major player in the middleweight title picture. In the main event of UFC Houston, the former champion snapped the eight-fight win streak of Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez with a ruthless third-round stoppage.
Fighting for the first time since his February 2025 loss to Dricus du Plessis, Strickland (30-7) showed no signs of cage rust. “Tarzan” utilised his signature “Philly Shell” defence and a relentless jab to dismantle Hernandez over three frames.
The Stoppage
While Hernandez (15-3) found minor success in the second round, he was unable to implement his grappling game against the veteran. In the third, the pressure became too much. Strickland landed a heavy knee to the body that visibly folded Hernandez, followed by a clinical flurry of strikes to force the referee’s intervention at 2:33 of Round 3.
In typical Strickland fashion, the post-fight interview was short and aggressive. He immediately took aim at the reigning, undefeated king of the division: Khamzat Chimaev.
“I want a piece of the king,” Strickland declared, making it clear he expects to be next in line for a shot at gold.
Co-Main Chaos: Medic Starches Neal
The co-main event provided one of the most brutal knockouts of the night. Uros Medic (13-3) needed just 79 seconds to starch veteran Geoff Neal. A perfectly timed left hook to the temple disconnected Neal from his senses, likely signalling a change of guard in the welterweight rankings. For Neal, it marks a difficult run of four losses in his last five outings.
Costa’s Spinning Special
Elsewhere on the card, Melquizael Costa continued his meteoric rise. Facing top-15 mainstay Dan Ige, Costa produced a “Knockout of the Year” contender with a spinning back kick to the face late in the first round. The victory extends his win streak to six and sets him up for a massive jump in the featherweight division.
💰 PERFORMANCE BONUSES ($100,000)
UFC CEO Dana White was in a giving mood in Houston, awarding massive six-figure bonuses to the following standout performers:
- Sean Strickland (Performance of the Night)
- Uros Medic (Performance of the Night)
- Melquizael Costa (Performance of the Night)
- Jacobe Smith (Performance of the Night)
🗣️ FIGHT FANS: IS STRICKLAND NEXT FOR CHIMAEV?
Strickland is back in the win column, but does he have the wrestling to stop the Borz?
- Should Strickland get the next title shot, or does he need one more win?
- Was Melquizael Costa’s kick the best KO of 2026 so far?
Drop your predictions in the comments below! 👇🥊