Sean Strickland calls out Khamzat Chimaev after beating Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night - 'That’s what I want'
Published 22/02/2026 at 08:52 GMT
React to this story
Sean Strickland called out Khamzat Chimaev after beating Anthony Hernandez to cap a stacked card at UFC Fight Night. Strickland lost his last bout against Dricus du Plessis, but he made a huge statement by ending Hernandez’s eight-fight unbeaten run. Further down the card, Uros Medic came out on top against Geoff Neal and Melquizael Costa recorded a win against Dan Ige.
Strickland stops Hernandez with ferocious flurry of strikes in third round
Video credit: TNT Sports
Sean Strickland called out Khamzat Chimaev after an impressive TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night in Houston.
The 34-year-old fighter bounced back from defeat against Dricus du Plessis in February 2025 with one of the biggest wins of his career, securing the stoppage with a barrage of punches in the third round.
The defeat was Hernandez’s first in eight bouts, an unbeaten record that stretched all the way back to May 2020.
Strickland said that he wanted Chimaev next: "Chimaev probably gets off the bench. You never know with him. You never know with that guy, but that’s what I want."
He was also full of praise for Hernandez, who went toe-to-toe with Tarzan until a knee to the body put him on the back foot.
"Hey, you have some solid boxing, man. No one ever told me," he said after the bout.
- 'What a right hand' - Ruffy lights up UFC 325 with a 'monumental' win over Fiziev
- Was Pimblett unlucky with 'missed' eye-poke?
"I don’t know what he felt, but I kind of felt he started throwing a little wild. It was like no part of you, to me, was slowing down, but to me, you were getting a little bit sloppy.
"But no part of this man was slowing down, he was a savage."
Further down the card, Uros Medic proved he is among the best strikers in the welterweight division as he knocked out Geoff Neal.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/22/image-9b9a9633-b3a8-4f8f-9b7c-87203295d48a-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Medic puts Neal out with brutal right hook in first round
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Serbian star sent his opponent to the canvas with a brutal left hook to record his third UFC win in a row.
Melquizael Costa also came out on top in Texas, beating Dan Ige via TKO after a spinning back kick and an onslaught of punches.
The Brazilian wrapped up the win in the first round, becoming the only man to beat Ige via KO or TKO in the UFC in the process.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/22/image-ec974617-3043-4b33-9f99-269a1e62e37d-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Costa lands stunning spinning back kick KO on Ige
Video credit: TNT Sports
Serghei Spivac beat Ante Delija via unanimous decision to avoid a third defeat in a row.
The two fighters went the distance, but the judges backed Spivac for the win, scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 in his favour.
Jacobe Smith did not need the judges to get his victory, producing his third stoppage in a row, against Josiah Harrell.
Smith won after just over three minutes of action in round one, reversing a takedown into a crucifix position before unloading several dangerous shots to his opponent’s head.
The main card got underway with Michel Pereira against Zachary Reese. The bout went the distance, but Pereira edged the closely-fought encounter on the judge’s scorecards 29–28, 28–29, 29–28.
All events can be re-watched on the streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK, discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement