Feb. 21, 2026Updated Feb. 22, 2026, 12:30 a.m. ET

Sean Strickland took it to Anthony Hernandez – and then some.

After a string of decisions, Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) added another TKO to his record when he finished Anthony Hernandez (15-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) with a big knee to the body and swarm of punches at 2:33 of Round 3. The five-round middleweight bout headlined UFC Fight Night 267 at Toyota Center in Houston.

Strickland, 34, was able to suck Hernandez into a boxing match, slowly ramping up the pace. After Hernandez got “sloppy” (an adjective used by bother fighters post-fight), Strickland blasted him in the midsection with a big knee. The shot sent Hernandez on the retreat, and Strickland beat him down into the ground, quite literally.

With the win, Strickland solidifies his place atop the division he once owned. He moves to 5-2 in his most recent seven, with the only losses coming against Dricus Du Plessis. He called for a fight with champion Khamzat Chimaev on the microphone afterward, though it’s unclear if he’ll be the next man up. Nassourdine Imavov also waits in the wings.

Hernandez, 32, has an eight-fight winning streak snapped. He might have propelled himself to a title fight had he won against Strickland.

The full UFC Fight Night 267 results include:Sean Strickland def. Anthony Hernandez via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:23Uros Medic def. Geoff Neal via KO (punch) – Round 1, 1:19Melquizael Costa def. Dan Ige via TKO (Spinning kick) – Round 1, 4:56Serghei Spivac def. Ante Delija via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Jacobe Smith def. Josiah Harrell via KO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 2:01Michel Pereira def. Zach Reese via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Carlos Leal def. Chidi Njokuani via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Alibi Idiris def. Ode Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Alden Coria def. Luis Gurule via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Joselyne Edwards def. Nora Cornolle via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:42Punahele Soriano def. Ramiz Brahimaj via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Phil Rowe via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Jordan Leavitt def. Yadier del Valle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Carli Judice def. Juliana Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)