Sean Strickland Warns of 'Miserable' UFC Fight vs Hernandez

Strickland expects a grueling, mentally-taxing battle against Hernandez's relentless pace and grappling.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez are set to face off in a 185-pound middleweight contest at UFC Houston next month. Both fighters are known for their endurance, toughness, and aggressive styles, setting up what is expected to be an intense and closely contested battle that could impact the middleweight rankings and title contention.

Why it matters

This matchup between Strickland and Hernandez features two fighters with contrasting but equally demanding styles, promising a grueling fight that will test the mental and physical limits of both athletes. The outcome could have significant implications for the middleweight division and future title aspirations for the winner.

The details

Strickland is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, while Hernandez is fresh off a submission victory against Roman Dolidze last August. Former champion du Plessis praised Hernandez's relentless pace, toughness, and ability to break opponents both physically and mentally. Strickland has acknowledged the difficulty of the fight, describing it as potentially 'miserable' due to Hernandez's endless gas tank and grappling pressure.

  • The fight is scheduled for next month at UFC Houston.
  • Strickland last fought at UFC 312 in February, losing to du Plessis.
  • Hernandez last competed in August 2025 at UFC Vegas 109, defeating Dolidze.

The players

Sean Strickland

A UFC middleweight fighter known for his endurance, striking skills, and mental toughness.

Anthony Hernandez

A UFC middleweight fighter with a relentless, grappling-heavy style that wears down his opponents.

Dricus du Plessis

A former UFC middleweight champion who recently defeated Strickland and provided insights on the upcoming Strickland vs. Hernandez fight.

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What they’re saying

“Hernandez was one of the guys I saw come up… He just goes and goes and goes, and his gas tank is crazy, especially with the way he fights. He strikes, he gets in there, he makes it ugly, and he just breaks his opponents. He breaks them mentally, physically, just with the pure pace.”

— Dricus du Plessis, Former UFC Middleweight Champion (Fight Forecast)

“Then you have Strickland, I speak from experience, keeping that guy on the ground, that is another task, and then breaking him physically and mentally, that is not an easy task. I don't see a finish in this one. I can almost guarantee that this fight is not going to a finish… This can go either way, but if I have to put money on it, I'm probably going to go with Strickland. Just in terms of his style. If you fight Strickland and you're going head-to-head, you need really good striking to beat a guy like Strickland.”

— Dricus du Plessis, Former UFC Middleweight Champion (Fight Forecast)

“'Fluffy' is a hard f*cking fight. Endless gas tank, he's beat some of my buddies… Yeah, it's going to be a great fight. I can't wait. It's going to be a miserable fight. There's going to be a level of misery there that's hard to train for. It's hard to train for that kind of misery. You know it's going to be fourth round, fifth round… That's how he's made his career, laying on guys, but it's hard.”

— Sean Strickland (ESPN MMA)

What’s next

The outcome of the Strickland vs. Hernandez fight could significantly impact the UFC middleweight rankings and future title contention for both fighters.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the UFC's most durable and relentless middleweights promises an intense, grueling battle that will test the mental and physical limits of both Strickland and Hernandez. Fans can expect a closely contested fight that could reshape the landscape of the 185-pound division.