UFC Houston Preview: Hernandez Looks to Swarm Strickland

Betting picks, DFS analysis, and predictions for this weekend's UFC event in Houston

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The UFC heads to Houston for a 14-fight card that features a main event between Sean Strickland and Alex Hernandez. Our experts break down the top betting plays, DFS picks, and predictions for the entire UFC Houston event.

Why it matters

This UFC Houston card provides an opportunity for bettors and DFS players to capitalize on some potentially mispriced fighters and matchups. With a mix of rising prospects and established veterans, there are several intriguing angles to consider across the different betting markets.

The details

In the main event, Hernandez will look to overwhelm Strickland with his grappling-heavy, high-volume style. Hernandez has averaged 144.2 DraftKings points in his last three fights, making him a slam-dunk DFS play at his current price. Elsewhere on the card, Costa vs. Ige features a height and reach advantage for Costa, while Smith vs. Harrell could see "Cobe" show some growth against a less physically imposing opponent. The co-main event between Delija and Spivac is an interesting heavyweight clash, with Delija offering value as a KO/TKO play.

  • The UFC Houston event takes place on Saturday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Sean Strickland

A veteran UFC middleweight known for his measured, technical striking style.

Alex Hernandez

A rising UFC lightweight with an aggressive, grappling-heavy fighting approach.

Ante Delija

A former PFL heavyweight champion who is known for his powerful punching.

Serghei Spivac

A Ukrainian heavyweight prospect looking to continue his climb up the UFC rankings.

Chidi Njokuani

A UFC middleweight known for his striking skills and knockout power.

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What they’re saying

“It's hard to do anything but slam Hernandez into lineups at this price, as his all-action, grappling-heavy style has resulted in an average of 144.2 DraftKings points in his last three fights.”

— Christopher Olson, RotoWire Contributor (rotowire.com)

“Ante Delija remains a long, powerful puncher with a solid grappling base, making me wonder how Serghei Spivac is going to generate his offense. The longer this fight stays on the feet, the more likely it is that the Polish fighter will not see the scorecards.”

— Christopher Olson, RotoWire Contributor (rotowire.com)

What’s next

The UFC Houston event will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2026. Fans can tune in to watch the fights and see if the predictions and betting picks pan out.

The takeaway

This UFC Houston card presents several intriguing betting and DFS opportunities, with fighters like Hernandez, Delija, and Njokuani offering potential value plays. The main event between Strickland and Hernandez is a stylistic clash that could produce fireworks, while the co-main heavyweight bout between Delija and Spivac is an interesting clash of power and grappling.