Sean Strickland wants to fight Anthony Hernandez.
Probably because a victory over the “American Khamzat” — currently ranked No. 6 at 185 pounds — may be the fastest way for Strickland to get back into the middleweight title hunt. And by the time “Tarzan” is finished with his current disciplinary suspension, “Fluffy” is likely to be all healed up from his Vancouver-canceling injury.
Hopefully matchmakers can get it booked before Strickland’s “armed revolution.”
“If he wants to fight me, then run it,“
Hernandez told Weighing In podcast (via MMA Junkie). ”I don’t give a f*ck. But I would like to fight [Dricus du Plessis] because that would get me to the f*cking belt, guaranteed. Either way, I think both fights get me to the f*cking belt, so I really don’t care. At the end of the day, whoever the matchmakers make the fight with or call me for, I’m going to sign the waiver and run it.“
“I think both fights would be fun,” Hernandez continued. “Both fights would be very bloody, and I think we both get a lot of money for those fights. So I don’t give a f*ck. I would like to fight DDP because he did like a lot of good sh*t as a champion. He beat a lot of big-name guys. So I think if you beat him, it would be a good champion to beat – like, a once-proven champion.”
Hernandez (15-2, 1 NC) might want blood but Strickland rarely delivers what he advertises.
Du Plessis (23-3) is looking to rebound from his lopsided Khamzat Chimaev loss at UFC 319 last August in Chicago. Considering Du Plessis already holds two victories over Strickland (29-7), “Stillknocks” may also want matchmakers to book the Hernandez fight to expedite his trip back to the 185-pound title, which may be slowed by this important division showdown.
Expect some answers to these 185-pound questions in early 2026.
