Strickland Vs Hernandez: Strickland Dominates with Third-Round TKO at UFC Houston
In the main event at UFC Houston, the result of strickland vs hernandez was a decisive third-round stoppage as Sean Strickland halted Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez with a flurry of strikes at the Toyota Center, marking Strickland's first stoppage since 2023.
Strickland Vs Hernandez — Main event breakdown
Sean Strickland (30-7) ended the eight-fight win streak of Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez (15-3, 1 NC) with a run of strikes that finished the fight in Round 3. The official time of the stoppage was 2: 33 of Round 3. Strickland, fighting behind his signature jab under the nickname "Tarzan, " used heavy volume across three rounds. Hernandez offered minimal resistance on the mat, with surprisingly few grappling attempts, and while he found moments with his striking in Round 2, none disrupted Strickland's game plan. The decisive sequence in the third saw Hernandez wilt after absorbing a knee to the body, then a flurry of punches put the contest to an end.
Strickland's return and recent context
The performance was Strickland's first fight after more than a year out of the cage. His previous outing came in early February 2025, when he lost a lackluster effort to then-champion Dricus du Plessis in a failed bid to regain the UFC middleweight title. The Houston stoppage represented Strickland's first finish since 2023 and signaled a strong comeback in his return to competition.
Aftermath: callout and implications for the division
After the stoppage, Strickland set his sights on the top of the division, targeting reigning middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. In his post-fight remarks he kept the request brief, saying he "wants a piece" of the division's undefeated king. For Hernandez, the loss is a major setback: it ends his winning run and forces him back to the drawing board. A win over Strickland likely would have earned Hernandez a shot at Chimaev, and this defeat marks Hernandez's third career loss by stoppage.
Co-main event and other card highlights
The evening's co-main produced a highlight-reel knockout as Uros Medic (13-3) delivered a left hook to the temple that knocked veteran welterweight Geoff Neal (16-8) out cold just 79 seconds into the opening round. The finish continued a slide for Neal, marking his second consecutive UFC loss and his fourth defeat in his past five bouts. Elsewhere, Melquizael Costa (25-7) extended his win streak to six with a stunning late first-round spinning back kick to the face of Dan Ige (19-10), adding another emphatic finish to the card.
Bonuses and full event coverage
Performance bonuses of $100, 000 were awarded to Sean Strickland, Uros Medic, Melquizael Costa and Jacobe Smith for their efforts on the Houston card. Full UFC Houston results and highlights were available following the event, along with third-party play-by-play recaps of the final fights of the night.
Overall, the night at the Toyota Center delivered clear finishers and momentum shifts: Strickland returned with a statement stoppage that ended Hernandez's long streak, Medic produced a lightning-quick knockout in the co-main, and Costa continued an emphatic run at featherweight.
