There was a lot on the line for Sean Strickland at UFC Houston.
Strickland entered his latest main event booking as a significant underdog to Anthony Hernandez, a surging contender riding a very impressive and dominant eight-fight win streak. Many fans and pundits alike (including this one) were expecting “Fluffy” to get his wrestling going and secure the first title shot of his career. Instead, Strickland turned back the clock, rendered Hernandez’s wrestling a non-factor, and then pummeled him en route
to a late stoppage (watch here).
It wasn’t just a good win, it was quite possibly the best performance of Strickland’s career. He made an excellent younger talent look very ordinary. This was no ho-hum decision over Paulo Costa to get back into the title mix — this was a beating that a lot of us didn’t think Strickland had left in him so deep into his career. The win very much confirms Strickland is a player in the title mix, potentially landing him an immediate title shot versus Khamzat Chimaev.
Let’s be honest: Strickland vs. Khamzat is the biggest fight the UFC could make at 185 pounds right now. Does Paramount care about anything beyond booking the biggest fights possible? Expect Nassourdine Imavov to be pushed to the side if indeed Khamzat remains at 185 pounds.
Sadly, this great moment of Strickland’s career comes as the former champion’s schtick grows more annoying than ever. This entire media week was filled with Strickland quotes and hot takes too offensive and too pointless for us to publish. Strickland has always been an edgy character, but lately, his media persona is entirely distilled rage-bait straight from X.com discourse.
There’s nothing genuine behind Strickland’s presser rants anymore. Does anyone actually believe Strickland gives a single f—k about Bad Bunny? Like Colby Covington before him, the persona has grown old and tired yet continues to drag on.
Unlike Covington, however, Strickland remains one of the very best fighters in the world. That’s the unfortunate takeaway from UFC Houston: Strickland is really damn good. After this win, there can be no writing off Strickland’s reign as a flash in the pan. In his 18th year as a professional, he’s somehow still in his prime and could well become champion again.
A loss would have ejected Strickland from the Middleweight title picture and sent him back to the Apex permanently. Instead, he might end up as a major booking at the UFC White House, performing in front of — in his own words — “the f—king Epstein list.”
Like it or not, fight fans are along for the ride, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.
