UFC Houston Star Sets Sights on Reclaiming Throne at 185 After Thrilling Win

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland began his 2026 run in a momentous way by taking down title hopeful Anthony Hernandez last weekend, a win that may have earned a shot at his previous throne later this year. 

Sean Strickland Handed “Fluffy” First Loss in Five Years

At UFC Houston, following a brief suspension from competition after getting into an altercation at an event last summer, Sean Strickland was out to prove a point in his meeting with Hernandez. Taking to the Octagon just once in 2025, he tussled with his divisional nemesis and then-UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis.

Suffering an earlier loss to the South African in his first title defense when he held the belt, Sean Strickland couldn’t get the job done in the rematch, falling to “Stillknocks” by unanimous decision after getting his nose brutally broken.

Forced to wait on the sidelines for over a year, Sean Strickland was tasked with halting the advance of the man many considered the next great 185-lb contender, Hernandez. Unbeaten for half a decade, Anthony Hernandez was in the midst of a superb eight-fight win streak.

Anthony Hernandez Had Tough Night vs. Sean Strickland

Emerging as one of the preeminent young names making their way up the stacked middleweight ladder in recent years, the California native had carved a swath through top-level competition, which included Michel Pereira, Roman Kopylov and Roman Dolidze. For much of his extended warpath in the winner’s circle, he was known for implementing a grueling pace that his foes could not withstand, with “Fluffy” outlanding almost every single adversary he faced in terms of significant strikes. 

However, while his gas tank and volume striking tended to melt his former opponents, it was Sean Strickland who brought Hernandez to deep waters early on, pelting the previous LFA title-holder with punches. By the third round, the damage had begun to take its toll on Hernandez, who eventually folded to the pressure of “Tarzan,” leading to the one-time UFC middleweight champion to secure the knockout and his since June 2024. 

Is Sean Strickland Up Next for UFC Middleweight Champion?

What Sean Strickland accomplished last Saturday was nothing short of incredible, handing Hernandez only the third defeat of his almost 20-fight professional career. He also elevated himself into a relevant position in the middleweight rankings, possibly cementing another chance to contend for his old strap. It remains to be seen if that is the case, though, as several other prominent fighters in the weight class have come forward over the past year as additional candidates for a clash with current 185-lb apex Khamzat Chimaev. 

Partaking in his own run of success, France’s Nassourdine Imavov has left a big trail of dominant performances in his wake. Netting just one setback since 2023, with that one loss coming against Strickland, Imavov’s journey to top-contendership has been nothing but extraordinary, garnering fantastic triumphs over Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen and Israel Adesanya. 

Allen himself has done particularly well for himself since dropping a decision defeat to Hernandez last year, collecting two back-to-back victories, vanquishing both his bitter rival Marvin Vettori and previous two-division ruler Reinier de Ridder. The de Ridder win proved to be the most defining one of his entire career, as it was the first time that the Dutchman had lost inside the promotion.

Sean Strickland Firmly in Running for UFC Middleweight Crown

In the tight race toward the belt, Sean Strickland is neck-and-neck with some of the best fighters on the planet. Coming off of splendid triumphs in their own last contests, Imavov and Allen are also clamoring to get their hands on the undefeated Chimaev. Whether he is selected as the next man up for gold or not, Strickland has bounced back from adversity to reestablish himself as a leading figure in the division, a figure that is more than capable of conquering the next generation of up-and-coming talent with apparent ease.