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Chimaev’s grappling coach says Alex Pereira shouldn’t take a superfight with Chimaev if he wants to pursue a historic third UFC title, suggesting a move up to heavyweight for the belt; the high-profile matchup would draw big money, but the coach argues it isn’t the wisest legacy move for Pereira, and any potential bout would hinge on UFC decisions and weight adjustments.
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker plans to move up to 205 pounds for his next UFC fight, saying cutting to 185 has hampered his performance and he wants to test himself at light heavyweight. Following a July 2025 split‑decision loss to Reinier de Ridder and a prior first‑round submission defeat to Khamzat Chimaev, Whittaker aims for a June return with roughly four months of prep to build muscle and adapt to the higher weight.
Matt Brown, Harrell’s coach, says Harrell was knocked out on a takedown at UFC Houston and that Jacobe Smith continued punching after the referee tried to intervene, calling the late stoppage a shared fault—though Brown places more blame on Smith and says Hatley should have stopped it sooner. He notes Harrell fought on eight days’ notice and previously required brain surgery, but backstage he was fine and Brown remains confident Harrell will return stronger and could become a champion.
Sean Strickland knocked out Anthony Hernandez in UFC Houston, earning a $100,000 finish bonus and helping former UFC star Derek Brunson cash out about $53,000 from an 11-leg parlay; Conor McGregor defended Strickland after the fight, and Strickland’s mic was cut off at the post-fight press conference.
Ronda Rousey is returning to fight Gina Carano on a Netflix-promoted card in May, not in the UFC; Dana White says talks about a UFC bout with Rousey didn’t materialize due to financial terms, while MVP and Netflix lead the event amid UFC’s shift to Paramount and changes to the pay-per-view model.
After UFC Houston, Sean Strickland said in a post-fight scrum that he made Khamzat Chimaev quit during training and mocked Chimaev’s gym behavior, while Chimaev countered on social media by noting he beat Dricus du Plessis (who has beaten Strickland twice) and dismissed Strickland’s account as he and Strickland trade barbs amid rumors about Chimaev possibly moving up to 205 pounds for an interim title.
Sean Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez by third-round TKO (2:33) in the UFC Houston main event, sealing the win with relentless pressure and sharp striking after a competitive opening two rounds.
Sean Strickland defeated Anthony Hernandez by KO at 2:33 of the third round in the UFC Houston main event, using a sharp jab and a decisive middle-knee that sealed the finish. Immediately after, Strickland called out Khamzat Chimaev, signaling a potential title shot and injecting new life into the middleweight title picture as Hernandez’s streak ended and Strickland eyed a high-profile matchup in 2026.
Sean Strickland returned from a year-long layoff and stopped Anthony Hernandez in the third round with a TKO, ending Hernandez’s eight-fight skid after a decisive knee to the body opened the finish and Strickland followed with clean punches on the feet.
UFC Houston centers on a pivotal middleweight headliner as Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez takes the spotlight, with Geoff Neal vs. Uros Medic on the card and a full prelim lineup including Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa and Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija; early results note Jordan Leavitt and Carli Judice earning unanimous-decision wins.
CBS Sports previews UFC Fight Night in Houston headlined by Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez. Hernandez is listed as the favorite (-278) to Strickland’s (+225), with the writer predicting Hernandez to win a close split decision thanks to his grappling control while Strickland’s defense and experience keep the fight competitive. The card also features Geoff Neal vs. Uros Medic and Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa, with the event set for Feb. 21 at the Toyota Center and streaming on Paramount+. Prediction: Hernandez via split decision.
At UFC Houston's ceremonial weigh-ins, Sean Strickland fired off profane, racially charged remarks toward the crowd and claimed he fights differently than opponent Anthony Hernandez, prompting Hernandez to shrug off the jabs and vow to fight anywhere and wear Strickland down, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the bout.
Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland returns from a year-long layoff to fight Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night in Houston, promising a five-round grappling-heavy battle as he seeks to climb back up the division with strong support from his Xtreme Couture teammates.
Phil Rowe initially missed weight at UFC Houston, coming in 1 pound over on the first attempt, but he secured a second try and hit 170.5 pounds for his bout with Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani. Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez also made weight (with Hernandez at 186 under the 1-pound allowance). Full weigh-in results for the main card and prelims were listed.
UFC BJJ bantamweight champ Mikey Musumeci posted his foot-lock submission clip and fired back at Dillon Danis’s trash talk, proposing they settle it with a grappling match, while Musumeci also teased a future grappling bout with Arman Tsarukyan.