Betting
UFC Fight Night: Sean Strickland vs Anthony Hernandez Odds, Tips, and Predictions
Date: Sunday, 22 February 2026 Time: 01:00 AM GMT Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, USA Houston will take the limelight for what could be an enthralling UFC fight night. Sean Strickland vs Anthony Hernandez is the undoubted popcorn bout on the main card, and UFC betting sites in the USA operators will be lining up pre-match odds to engage punters.
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Dircus De Plessis and Sean Stricland / Getty Images
Two of the top four fighters in the middleweight division will duke it out in the Octagon, and it could be a thrilling encounter. Strickland (29-7-0) is coming off the back of a loss against Dricus Du Plessis, a fight which was confirmed via the judges’ scorecards, but this will be his first fight in a year.
Hernandez (15-2-0), on the other hand, chalked up three wins on the trot, and after his fight with Reinier de Ridder was cancelled, he should be feeling relatively fresh for this contest. We’ve divulged some UFC betting tips for you to lean into ahead of Strickland vs Hernandez.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
There are always plenty of odds flying about for UFC bouts. To start with, we’ve assessed the matchwinner prices available:
Sean Strickland: 2/1 (3.00) – 33.3%
Anthony Hernandez: 9/25 (1.36) – 73.5%
*Odds courtesy of BetMGM, subject to change.
Tale of the Tape
Some UFC bookmakers in the USA prefer to just set the odds, while others like to have a few stats to paint the scene before a fight. We like to dig a bit deeper, and we’ve provided some key information on Strickland and Hernandez. Our tale of the tape, which has been illustrated in the form of a table, should give you some clues as to how both fighters stack up.
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Sean Strickland | Anthony Hernandez |
| Age | 34 | 32 |
| Height | 6’1” (185cm) | 6’0” (183cm) |
| Weight | 185lbs (83.9kg) | 186lbs (84.36kg) |
| Reach | 76” (193cm) | 75” (191cm) |
| Record | 29-7-0 | 15-2-0 |
| KO/TKO | 11 Wins (38%) | 3 Wins (20%) |
| Submission | 4 Wins (14%) | 9 Wins (60%) |
| Decisions | 14 Wins (48%) | 3 Wins (20%) |
Sean Strickland News
Strickland, who is known in the MMA world as ‘Tarzan’, courted controversy recently after making an insensitive joke on social media in the wake of the death of Renee Good. The prize-winning poet’s death shocked the US last month after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fired bullets at her in Minnesota for allegedly impeding an immigration enforcement operation.
Last summer, Strickland was banned for six months for his part in a brawl at an MMA event in Las Vegas, and he was slapped with a $5,000 fine. His comeback will be highly anticipated, and Strickland, who has a 29-7-0 record, has won nearly 50% of his fights by decision.
Strickland’s style is quite unorthodox, but he is effective at blocking the jab. His takedown defense stat (76%) shows he’s adept at holding on, but he has been forced to go the full five rounds in his past three bouts. Two of these victories came against Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa, so he may need to dig deep against Hernandez. However, Strickland’s unpredictability makes him box-office viewing.
Anthony Hernandez News
While he carries the nickname of ‘Fluffy’, Hernandez is anything but soft. A pitbull in the Octagon, Hernandez, who is fourth in the middleweight rankings, was once a chubby teenager, but he has transformed into a ripped fighter.
Riding the crest of a wave after scoring eight wins on the trot, including a TKO/KO first-round win over Edmen Shahbazyan, Hernandez has had to cope with several bouts being cancelled. The bout with Ridder was due to take place last October, but Hernandez will have had plenty of time to prepare for Strickland.
Hernandez’s style is crowd-pleasing, and he is ruthless. The majority of his victories have come via submissions (60%), and a win over Strickland would enhance his chances of a title fight against the reigning champion, Khamzat Chimaev.
Suggested Bets
US sportsbooks will have a diverse range of lines for bettors to tuck into. We’ve picked out a few odds from recommended MMA betting operators that are worth perusing.
Anthony Hernandez to Win by Submission: Don’t be fooled by the ‘Fluffy’ nickname, as this couldn’t be further from the truth. Hernandez is a beast in the Octagon, and a rear-naked choke has been a go-to option for him. This was demonstrated in his wins over Roman Kopylov and Roman Dolidze, and this could be the way that Hernandez wraps up the win. (9/10 with DraftKings.
Sean Strickland to Win by Decision: Strickland may seem like a loose cannon judging by his antics in and out of the Octagon, and while his results have wavered, winning just one of his past three fights, he will want to get things back on track. His past four fights have gone to the judges’ scorecard, and two of these were unanimous victories. A win by decision shouldn’t be ruled out. (22/50 with Caesars.
Anthony Hernandez Over 0.5 Takedowns: Hernandez has plenty of skills in his locker, and his takedown stats are decent. To be more precise, he averages over six takedowns per 15 minutes, which is extraordinary, and he could have some success over Strickland. Indeed, Hernandez to produce Over 0.5 takedowns across the contest is worth jumping on. (31/50 with BetMGM.
Value Bets
Total Under 3.5 Rounds: Although Hernandez might have the bit between his teeth, scoring three wins on the trot, his fights haven’t been quick. Only one of those victories has been secured inside three rounds, but then again, if either fighter comes out firing on all cylinders, this could be worth unlocking. (3/1 with BetRivers.
Fight to Go the Distance: While Hernandez has been a bit more clinical in his fights, Strickland has often been pushed the distance and gone the full five rounds. It could end up being a war of attrition, and if that’s the case, then don’t rule out the fight going the full five rounds. (4/1 with Hard Rock Bet.
Sean Strickland to Win by TKO/KO: Around 40% of Strickland’s wins have come via TKO/KO, and although his last win via this method arrived over two years ago, Strickland will want to put on a show for the Houston crowd. A TKO/KO victory for Strickland would be something for the fans to savor. (4/1 with DraftKings)
Prediction: Anthony Hernandez to Win by Submission
A pan-American fight is always an exciting proposition, and while Hernandez is just below Strickland in the rankings, he has set his sights on getting his hands on the middleweight belt.
This main card bout has all the ingredients to be a classic, and while Strickland may seem like a loose cannon, he can strike with venom. However, Hernandez could well absorb the pressure early on and take the contest. A win by submission for Hernandez is certainly attainable.
Charles Perrin has spent more than six years covering the world of sports betting, during which he has collaborated with some of the most recognised sportsbooks in the UK, including industry leaders such as bet365 and William Hill.
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