Strickland Vs Hernandez — strickland vs hernandez ends with third-round stoppage in Houston
strickland vs hernandez culminated in a third-round stoppage at the Toyota Center as Sean Strickland halted Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez and immediately targeted reigning champion Khamzat Chimaev. The win was Strickland's first stoppage since 2023 and his first fight after more than a year out of the cage.
Strickland Vs Hernandez fight summary
In the main event, the former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland (30-7) stopped Hernandez (15-3, 1 NC) in Round 3 with a flurry of strikes at the Toyota Center. The official time of the stoppage was 2: 33 of Round 3. The finish followed a knee to the body that caused Hernandez to wilt and a subsequent burst of punches that prompted the halt.
Strickland's return and background
Strickland returned in vintage fashion after more than a year away. He last competed in early February 2025, losing a lackluster effort to then-champion Dricus du Plessis in a failed bid to regain the UFC middleweight title. Against Hernandez, Strickland fought behind his signature jab and heavy volume over three rounds, minimizing trouble from surprisingly few grappling entries by Hernandez.
What Strickland said and aftermath
After the stoppage, Strickland directed his ire at the division's top fighter, the reigning UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, and in his post-fight comments said he "wants a piece" of the division's undefeated king. Observers called the performance a statement: after a year away, many described it as a clear and "very impressive win. "
Hernandez's setback and stakes
The loss ended an eight-fight win streak for Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez and marked his third career defeat by stoppage. Hernandez now must go back to the drawing board after a devastating defeat; a victory over Strickland likely would have earned him a shot at Khamzat Chimaev.
Co-main: Medic's swift knockout
In the evening's co-main event, Uros Medic (13-3) delivered a star-making performance against veteran welterweight Geoff Neal (16-8). A cracking left hook to the temple disconnected Neal just 79 seconds into the opening round. The defeat was Neal's second consecutive UFC loss and his fourth loss in his past five bouts.
Costa's spinning kick and Ige fight
Elsewhere on the card, Melquizael Costa (25-7) continued his ascent up the featherweight rankings. Tasked with facing perennial top-15 contender Dan Ige (19-10), Costa scored a stunning late first-round spinning back kick to the face, extending his win streak to six.
Bonuses and final notes
In the bonus department, Sean Strickland, Uros Medic, Melquizael Costa and Jacobe Smith each earned $100, 000 performance bonuses. The night at the Toyota Center produced several decisive finishes, with the main event stoppage coming at 2: 33 of Round 3 and undercutting a key opportunity for Hernandez to secure a title shot.
Full official scorecards and play-by-play coverage of the final fights were compiled for the event. The sequence of finishes, official stoppage time, fighter records and post-fight remarks above reflect the outcomes at UFC Houston.
