Tension Flares at UFC Houston Weigh-Ins as Strickland Tells Crowd 'F--- You'

Fighters engage in heated faceoffs ahead of Saturday's UFC event in Texas.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:51pm

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Tensions were high at the UFC Houston weigh-ins on Friday as fighters engaged in intense staredowns, with middleweight Sean Strickland telling the crowd 'f--- you' during his faceoff with Anthony Hernandez. Other notable matchups include Geoff Neal vs. Uros Medic, Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa, and Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija.

Why it matters

Heated exchanges and trash talk are common in the lead-up to UFC fights, as fighters try to gain a mental edge over their opponents. However, the level of animosity on display at the UFC Houston weigh-ins suggests the fights could produce some particularly intense action inside the Octagon on Saturday night.

The details

During the Strickland-Hernandez faceoff, Strickland could be heard telling the crowd 'Your f---ing guy wrestles! I fight more like a Mexican than that motherf---er! F--- you!' Other notable staredowns included Geoff Neal vs. Uros Medic, Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa, and Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija.

  • The UFC Houston event will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The ceremonial weigh-ins were held on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Sean Strickland

A 34-year-old American middleweight fighter competing in the UFC.

Anthony Hernandez

A 28-year-old American middleweight fighter competing in the UFC.

Geoff Neal

A 31-year-old American welterweight fighter competing in the UFC.

Uros Medic

A 27-year-old Serbian welterweight fighter competing in the UFC.

Dan Ige

A 29-year-old American featherweight fighter competing in the UFC.

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What they’re saying

“Your f---ing guy wrestles! I fight more like a Mexican than that motherf---er! F--- you!”

— Sean Strickland (Witnessed at the weigh-ins)

What’s next

The UFC Houston event will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, and will be broadcast live on Paramount+.

The takeaway

The heated exchanges and trash talk at the UFC Houston weigh-ins suggest the fights on Saturday night could produce some particularly intense and exciting action in the Octagon, as the fighters look to gain a mental edge over their opponents.