Ufc Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez Headline Chaotic Night at Toyota Center
The Ufc Fight Night weekend in Houston culminated in a middleweight main event between Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez at the Toyota Center, and the night reshaped headlines for both men. The fight mattered because it paired a former champion returning from a long absence with a rising contender on an eight-fight win streak, producing significant betting movement and visible crowd reaction.
Ufc Fight Night main event: Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez
The main event featured 34-year-old Sean Strickland and 32-year-old Anthony Hernandez. Hernandez entered his second consecutive main event riding an eight-fight win streak, coming off a submission of Roman Dolidze in August 2025 at the UFC Vegas 109 headliner and a 2025 victory over Brendan Allen at UFC Seattle a year ago. Strickland returned after more than a year out of the octagon; he had lost the middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in January 2024, won a decision against Paulo Costa at UFC 302 five months later, and dropped a lopsided unanimous decision in a rematch with du Plessis at UFC 312 in February 2025. Strickland also spent time recovering from injuries and went through a suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission, making his return one of the week’s central storylines.
Tactics, officials and crowd response at Toyota Center
Hernandez was introduced first and drew a big response from the Houston crowd; Strickland drew a mixed reaction during Bruce Buffer’s introductions. Herb Dean served as referee, and the judges were Sal D’Amato, Chris Lee and Junichiro Kamijo. FanDuel closed the fight with Hernandez as the moderate favorite at -245 and Strickland listed at +200. Pre-fight analysis suggested Hernandez’s pressure, takedowns and wrestling could force a finish late in the contest, with one prediction calling for a TKO in Round 4 if Hernandez imposed a grapple-heavy game plan.
Action round by round: early exchanges
Round 1 opened with both men touching gloves and taking center. Strickland used a steady jab and teep while Hernandez stalked forward, working a body jab and an inside leg kick. Hernandez began to land the more meaningful shots late in the frame, including a big combination that pinned Strickland against the fence before Strickland separated. In a late sequence Hernandez landed three hard rights that sent Strickland to the canvas, which was judged a slip. Observers noted Strickland’s higher volume of jabs but Hernandez’s cleaner, heavier strikes in the round’s final flurry.
At the start of Round 2 the fighters smiled and touched gloves before the bell. Hernandez faked for a takedown and landed a right hand; he marched forward and connected on a hard combination, while Strickland continued to work his jab and answered with a right hand at times. The round featured a solid counter over the top from Hernandez and sustained forward pressure.
Undercard finishes and decisions that shaped the card
The co-main featured a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Uros Medic; Medic finished Neal by first-round KO at 1: 19. Other finishes and decisions on the card included Melquizael Costa defeating Dan Ige by first-round TKO at 4: 56 and Jacobe Smith knocking out Josiah Harrell at 3: 01 of Round 1. Joselyne Edwards submitted Nora Cornolle with a rear-naked choke in Round 2 at 2: 44.
Several decisions rounded out the evening: Serghei Spivac defeated Ante Delija by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Carlos Leal beat Chidi Njokuani by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Alibi Idiris bested Ode Osbourne by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) and Alden Coria won by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Punahele Soriano defeated Ramiz Brahimaj by unanimous scorecards of 29-28 across the panel. Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani took a split decision over Phil Rowe (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), while Michel Pereira edged Zachary Reese by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) in a result that drew criticism for questionable strikes. Jordan Leavitt beat Yadier del Valle unanimously (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), and Carli Judice defeated Juliana Miller by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
Why this night mattered for both camps
Strickland’s extended absence, prior title run and recent suspension combined to make his return a focal point; Hernandez’s unbeaten run placed pressure on him to continue a rapid ascent. The betting line movement and the official assignment of Herb Dean and the three judges underscored the stakes. What makes this notable is how the bout juxtaposed a former champion’s attempt at reclamation against a contender’s sustained momentum, producing both close rounds and decisive finishes elsewhere on the card.
Further rounds and the final scoring were unfolding live at the Toyota Center on Saturday night in Houston, Texas, with results and reactions from the undercard already reflecting a night of quick stoppages and contested decisions.
