Overview
- Strickland is booked to face Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez in the UFC Houston main event on Feb. 21 at the Toyota Center, marking his first fight since February 2025.
- Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick confirmed to MMA Fighting that he reconciled with Strickland and will be in his corner for the Houston bout.
- Strickland says he fought the UFC 312 rematch with Dricus du Plessis with a broken shoulder after stem-cell treatment in Colombia and claims the promotion pushed him to accept the date.
- He recently completed a six-month suspension for a June 2025 cage altercation, with eligibility restored in December ahead of the February return.
- Hernandez enters on a lengthy win streak, including recent victories over Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze, and multiple outlets characterize the matchup as a potential No. 1 contender fight.