Monster Energy’s Sean Strickland Knocks Out Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 267
Sean Strickland celebrates a dominant Round 3 TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 267 in Houston.
Back in the Winner’s Circle: Monster Energy Congratulates Sean Strickland on UFC Victory
Monster Energy proudly celebrates MMA athlete Sean Strickland for his impressive TKO win over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night in Texas on Saturday. Competing in the Middleweight division, the 34‑year‑old Anaheim native stopped his opponent via TKO in Round 3, marking a dominant return to form.
The performance not only secured Strickland the victory but also earned him the UFC’s $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez—also known as UFC Fight Night 267—took place before a sold‑out crowd of 17,160 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The six‑bout Main Card was broadcast live on Paramount+, the new home for UFC live events.
Strickland (30‑7) entered the bout motivated to rebound from his previous loss to Dricus Du Plessis in their UFC Middleweight Championship contest at UFC 312 in February 2025. His opponent, Hernandez (15‑3) of El Dorado Hills, arrived in Texas riding an impressive eight‑fight win streak, undefeated for more than five years after most recently defeating Roman Dolidze at a UFC Fight Night in August 2025.
The fight opened on a tactical note, with Strickland using his signature jab to disrupt Hernandez’s offense. The end of Round 1 saw both athletes trading heavy shots, with Strickland landing meaningful damage and exposing openings for powerful strikes.
Round 2 continued at a high pace as neither fighter backed down. Strickland stayed sharp behind his accurate jab, while Hernandez hunted for big punches to shift momentum.
The decisive moment came in Round 3. Strickland landed a crushing knee to Hernandez’s midsection, sending him to the canvas. Smelling the finish, Strickland unleashed a relentless series of combinations, ultimately dropping Hernandez and sealing the moment with sustained ground‑and‑pound.
Referee Herb Dean stopped the action at 2:23 of Round 3, awarding Strickland the TKO victory. The win snapped Hernandez’s long streak and solidified Strickland’s return to the win column—along with the night’s $100,000 bonus.
Reflecting on the fight, Strickland said:
“I just think when he shot at me a few times, he was like, ‘Oh, maybe Sean knows how to grapple.’”
A former UFC Middleweight Champion, Strickland is once again back on track. Stay tuned for what comes next in his journey.
