UFC Fighter Hernandez Vows to 'Torture' Strickland Over Racist Post

Hernandez says he'll make Strickland pay for his controversial social media stunt promoting their upcoming fight.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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UFC fighter Anthony Hernandez is vowing to 'torture' his upcoming opponent Sean Strickland in their fight at UFC Fight Night 267 in Houston after Strickland posted a controversial, racially-charged social media post to promote the matchup. Hernandez, who is of Latino descent, says he's been receiving strong support from the large Latino community in Houston and is eager to make Strickland pay for his actions, even if it means dragging out the fight for all 25 minutes.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing issues of racism and insensitivity in the world of combat sports, where fighters sometimes resort to controversial tactics to hype up fights. Hernandez's strong response and the backing of the local community underscores the need for greater accountability and respect within the sport.

The details

Ahead of their UFC Fight Night 267 main event in Houston, Sean Strickland posted a photoshopped image on Instagram depicting himself as an ICE agent and Hernandez dressed in traditional Mexican clothing. Hernandez says he 'laughed' at the post, but also acknowledged it was 'f***ed up' and indicative of Strickland's 'dirtbag' behavior. Despite the controversy, Hernandez says he's excited for the fight and is prepared to 'torture' Strickland for all 25 minutes if needed, as he 'really enjoys hurting people' in the Octagon.

  • UFC Fight Night 267 is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas.

The players

Anthony Hernandez

A UFC fighter with a 15-2 professional record who is set to headline UFC Fight Night 267 against Sean Strickland.

Sean Strickland

A UFC fighter with a 29-7 professional record who is Hernandez's opponent in the UFC Fight Night 267 main event.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I laughed when I seen that sh*t. I was like, if that's the best you've got to get in my head, it's going to be a long f*cking night. That sh*t does not faze me. It's f*cked up, yeah, and I don't like seeing sh*t like that.”

— Anthony Hernandez, UFC Fighter (New York Post Sports)

“I don't like that my people have got to go through sh*t like that, but it's f*cking life and that's the reality of it. Some people are just dirtbags and like to bring it up, but I'm excited for the fight. Like I said, I hope he keeps that same f*cking online energy in the f*cking cage because I'm going to f*cking torture him.”

— Anthony Hernandez, UFC Fighter (New York Post Sports)

What’s next

The highly anticipated UFC Fight Night 267 main event between Anthony Hernandez and Sean Strickland is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing need for greater sensitivity and accountability around issues of race and representation in combat sports. While fighters may use provocative tactics to hype up fights, Hernandez's strong response and the backing of the local community in Houston shows that there are consequences for crossing the line into outright racism and insensitivity.