Strickland Vs Hernandez: strickland vs hernandez ends in third-round TKO at UFC Houston
Sean Strickland returned in vintage fashion Saturday night at UFC Houston, and the main event — summed up as strickland vs hernandez — ended in a stoppage at the Toyota Center. Strickland halted Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez with a flurry of strikes in Round 3 at 2: 33, snapping Hernandez's eight-fight win streak.
Strickland Vs Hernandez fight recap
The former UFC middleweight champion made his first fight after more than a year out of the cage look decisive. Strickland, who last competed in early February 2025 in a loss to then-champion Dricus du Plessis in a failed bid to regain his UFC middleweight title, recorded his first stoppage since 2023 and improved his record listed in the context to 30-7. Hernandez entered the bout on an eight-fight run and carried the record 15-3, 1 NC.
How the finish unfolded
Fighting under the nickname "Tarzan, " Strickland employed his signature jab and heavy volume over three rounds, peppering Hernandez while facing surprisingly few grappling attempts from Hernandez. Hernandez did find moments with his striking in Round 2, but nothing altered Strickland's game plan. In the third frame Hernandez wilted off a knee to the body and Strickland followed with a flurry of punches that prompted the official stoppage at 2: 33 of Round 3.
Aftermath and callout
In his post-fight comments, Strickland kept his request for another title shot short, saying he "wants a piece" of the division's undefeated king, Khamzat Chimaev. The outcome leaves Hernandez having to go back to the drawing board after a devastating defeat; a win over Strickland likely would have earned Hernandez a shot at Chimaev, and the loss marks Hernandez's third time losing stoppage.
Co-main: Medic halts Neal quickly
In the evening's co-main event, Uros Medic delivered a star-making performance, listed in the context with a record of 13-3, against veteran welterweight Geoff Neal, whose record reads 16-8. A cracking left hook to the temple disconnected Neal 79 seconds into the opening round. The loss was Neal's second consecutive UFC defeat and his fourth loss in his past five bouts.
Costa, other finishes and bonuses
Elsewhere on the card Melquizael Costa, at 25-7, continued his ascent in the featherweight ranks against Dan Ige, listed at 19-10. Costa scored a stunning late first-round spinning back kick to the face, extending his win streak to six. Performance bonuses of $100, 000 were awarded to Strickland, Medic, Costa and Jacobe Smith.
Official scorecards and full results were presented for the event's fights; the card included the main event finish at 2: 33 of Round 3 and the quick co-main knockout at 79 seconds of Round 1. The sequence of events at UFC Houston — Strickland's return and stoppage, Medic's rapid knockout of Neal, Costa's spinning kick, and the announced $100, 000 performance bonuses for Strickland, Medic, Costa and Jacobe Smith — completed the night's headlines.
Closing: Sean Strickland's return at the Toyota Center ended with a third-round TKO at 2: 33, Anthony Hernandez's eight-fight win streak halted, and Strickland publicly requesting a shot at Khamzat Chimaev; co-main and other standout finishes plus four $100, 000 performance bonuses rounded out UFC Houston.
