On Saturday night, Anthony Hernandez’s winning streak was brought to an emphatic end.
Hernandez, who has become a fan favourite in the middleweight division, returned to action in UFC Houston’s main event, looking to extend his run to nine consecutive wins and earn his first title shot.
But things did not go as planned. ‘Fluffy’ was outclassed by Sean Strickland, who took control early and finished the fight with a third-round TKO.
Strickland now moves closer to another title opportunity, while Hernandez faces a tough road back after admitting he lost to the “better man.”
Anthony Hernandez vows to come back stronger after defeat at UFC Houston
The 32-year-old American went into the fight on an eight-bout winning streak, having risen through the 185-pound ranks with notable victories over Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze.
That run had many fans touting him as the top threat to Khamzat Chimaev’s title hopes, but his momentum took a hit in Houston. Still, Hernandez is not dwelling on the setback.
After the bout, Hernandez took to Instagram to credit Strickland for his performance and assure fans he plans to return stronger.
He wrote: “Thank you for the love Houston ! 🫶🏽🙏🏽 the energy was unreal. Congratulations to @stricklandmma. He was the better man tonight, much respect. I’ll be back better than ever.”
Sean Strickland could have taken Nassourdine Imavov’s title shot
Strickland, on the other hand, is focused on what comes next. He is already putting his name forward for another title opportunity.
At UFC Houston, the 34-year-old American had his first fight after losing his title rematch with Dricus du Plessis in February 2025. Despite this, he believes he may already be next in line for another title shot.
But with Chimaev set to defend his belt next, Strickland may get a chance sooner than expected. The champion’s team has suggested that the winner of Strickland vs Hernandez could be first in line for a title shot, even though Nassourdine Imavov is currently viewed as the top contender.
After how things played out at UFC Houston, there is now talk that Strickland could jump ahead of Imavov in the pecking order.
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