Ufc Fight Night: Sean Strickland Rolls Against Anthony Hernandez in Houston Main Event

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 22, 2026 7:55 AM ET

Ufc Fight Night: Sean Strickland Rolls Against Anthony Hernandez in Houston Main Event

The ufc fight night at Toyota Center in Houston ended with Sean Strickland rolling against Anthony Hernandez in the middleweight headliner, leaving a card that featured several early finishes and a split-decision controversy. The result matters because it reshapes momentum for a fighter who returned after more than a year away and had been the subject of suspension and recovery headlines.

Ufc Fight Night main event: Strickland vs. Hernandez

In the middleweight main event, 34-year-old Sean Strickland defeated 32-year-old Anthony Hernandez. Hernandez entered the fight on an eight-fight win streak, and Strickland arrived having dropped two of his past three bouts and with a mixed recent record that also lists three wins in his last five fights. FanDuel set the closing odds with Hernandez as the moderate favorite at -245 and Strickland at +200.

Strickland’s recent history was laid out in the buildup: he lost the middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in January 2024, then rebounded with a decision over Paulo Costa five months later at UFC 302. He met du Plessis again in a championship rematch at UFC 312 in February 2025 and dropped a lopsided unanimous decision. After recovering from injuries and serving a suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission, Strickland became the central story of the week for the Houston card.

Toyota Center in Houston: walkouts, crowd and officials

Hernandez was first to leave the locker room and drew a big response from the Houston crowd; Strickland received a mixed reaction when Bruce Buffer introduced the main event. Herb Dean served as the referee, while the judges on the contest were Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee and Junichiro Kamijo.

Round-by-round action: early rounds

The opening round began with a conventional exchange at center cage — Strickland using his jab and a teep while Hernandez stalked forward. Hernandez landed a body jab and an inside leg kick; Strickland responded with volume and a sneaky uppercut. Hernandez turned the pressure late, forcing exchanges against the fence and landing a flurry that sent Strickland to the canvas in what was described more as a slip than a definitive knockdown. Observers noted Hernandez landed the more meaningful shots while Strickland accumulated jabs and volume. The final seconds featured another forward surge from Hernandez.

Round 2 opened with both men smiling and touching gloves. Hernandez faked a takedown and followed with a right hand; Strickland answered with his jab and a right. Hernandez marched forward with a hard combination and connected with a counter over the top. The live account continued with Strickland maintaining his jab into the second stanza.

Co-main and undercard results at UFC Houston

The co-main event saw Uros Medic defeat Geoff Neal by first-round knockout at 1: 19. The rest of the card produced the following confirmed outcomes:

Melquizael Costa defeated Dan Ige by TKO in the first round at 4: 56.
Serghei Spivac defeated Ante Delija by unanimous decision with judges’ scores of 30-27 and 29-28 twice.
Jacobe Smith defeated Josiah Harrell by first-round knockout at 3: 01.
Michel Pereira defeated Zachary Reese by split decision (29-28 twice, 28-29), a result that drew criticism for questionable shots.
Carlos Leal defeated Chidi Njokuani by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 twice).
Alibi Idiris defeated Ode Osbourne by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 twice).
Alden Coria defeated Luis Gurule by unanimous decision (30-27 three times).
Joselyne Edwards defeated Nora Cornolle by submission rear-naked choke in Round 2 at 2: 44.
Punahele Soriano defeated Ramiz Brahimaj by unanimous decision (29-28 three times).
Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani defeated Phil Rowe by split decision (29-28 twice, 28-29).
Jordan Leavitt defeated Yadier del Valle by unanimous decision (29-28 three times).
Carli Judice defeated Juliana Miller by unanimous decision (29-28 twice, 30-27).

Odds, records and the storyline going forward

Hernandez, nicknamed "Fluffy, " came in on the strength of a dominant 2025 submission over Roman Dolidze this past August in the UFC Vegas 109 headliner and a 2025 victory over Brendan Allen at UFC Seattle a year ago. One preview projected Hernandez would pressure Strickland, pursue takedowns and seek a fourth-round TKO finish; that tactical expectation framed much of the fight-night commentary.

What makes this notable is that Strickland’s win closes a narrative loop: a former champion who has weathered a suspension and injury layoff re-entered a high-stakes spotlight and produced a definitive main-event outcome. The confirmed results across the undercard — including three first-round stoppages and a split decision that drew scrutiny — indicate the night’s measurable impact on rankings and momentum for several fighters.

The ufc fight night in Houston leaves officials, oddsmakers and fighters with fresh data points: fight-night odds, judges’ tallies and finish times that will shape the next matchups and promotional positioning for both winners and losers on the card.