UFC Houston: Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez Fight Card Picks & Predictions

MMA KO's Drew Beaupré breaks down the full fight card for UFC's return to Houston this Saturday.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The UFC returns to Houston, TX this Saturday (February 21), and MMA KO's Drew Beaupré is here to provide predictions for all 14 fights on the card. The main event will see Anthony Hernandez try to extend his eight-fight win streak when he takes on former middleweight titleholder Sean Strickland, who is coming off a failed bid to reclaim the division's title.

Why it matters

The UFC's return to Houston marks an important event for the promotion, as the city has been waiting almost 10 years for the UFC to come back. The main event between Hernandez and Strickland is a key middleweight matchup, while the co-main event between Geoff Neal and Uros Medic will have implications for the welterweight rankings.

The details

In the main event, Hernandez will look to use his active striking and grappling to defeat the former champion Strickland, who has struggled in his recent fights. The co-main event features the #12-ranked welterweight Geoff Neal defending his spot in the rankings against the surging Uros Medic. Other notable fights on the card include Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa in a featherweight bout, and Serghei Spivac taking on Ante Delija in a heavyweight clash.

  • The UFC Houston event takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The main event between Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez is the headliner of the card.

The players

Sean Strickland

A former UFC middleweight champion who is looking to rebound after a failed title bid in his last fight.

Anthony Hernandez

A rising middleweight contender who is riding an eight-fight winning streak and looking to take out the former champion Strickland.

Geoff Neal

The #12-ranked UFC welterweight who will be defending his spot in the rankings against Uros Medic.

Uros Medic

A surging welterweight prospect who is looking to crack the UFC rankings with a win over the veteran Geoff Neal.

Drew Beaupré

The MMA KO analyst who is providing the fight predictions for the UFC Houston card.

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What they’re saying

“Hernandez should absolutely be favored here, but I do wonder how much success he's going to have trying to take Strickland down. That being said, he'll still be the far more active striker on the feet, and it's hard to trust Strickland to really go for the win after his last few performances.”

— Drew Beaupré, MMA KO Analyst (si.com)

“Medic's kill-or-be-killed style could allow him to catch Neal with a big shot, but I think it's more likely that 'Handz of Steel' picks up a knockout-win of his own and defend his spot in the UFC welterweight rankings.”

— Drew Beaupré, MMA KO Analyst (si.com)

What’s next

The UFC will be closely watching the main event between Strickland and Hernandez, as the winner could potentially earn a title shot in the middleweight division.

The takeaway

UFC Houston features a stacked fight card with several key matchups that will have implications for the UFC's middleweight and welterweight divisions. The main event between Strickland and Hernandez is a must-watch fight, while the co-main event between Neal and Medic could produce a new contender in the welterweight rankings.