Last night (Sat., Feb. 21, 2026), the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) took place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, for UFC Houston. In the main event, the promising Anthony Hernandez was up against former champion Sean Strickland in a critical Middleweight showdown that had significant title implications. Unfortunately, the buildup was somewhat slow, as the “Prelims” were filled with numerous 15-minute wrestling-centric matches, causing the main card to start about 20 minutes late. At least there were fewer commercials to sit through!
Fortunately, this review aims to cut through the average and spotlight the standout performances. Let’s reflect on the best moments and techniques from the night:
Sean Strickland effectively neutralized the hottest contender in the Middleweight category.
The ex-champion successfully lived up to his pre-fight statements, making Hernandez appear quite average. Strickland consistently lured Hernandez into his fighting style. Despite Hernandez’s efforts to initiate combinations, he was often met with Strickland’s jabs during brief exchanges. Strickland effectively maintained a side-on stance, which hindered Hernandez’s mobility, and his unique method of parrying minimized the impact of Hernandez’s punches, making his jab the deciding factor in the opening rounds.
In a bid to reclaim control in the third round, Hernandez pressed forward, seeking to dominate the space and provoke a mistake. However, Strickland capitalized on this by timing a counter knee to the body that significantly hurt Hernandez, following it up with an aggressive offensive onslaught that left his opponent reeling.
Strickland’s victory marked his first knockout win since 2023, signaling his return to the title race. With Dricus du Plessis unseated and Khamzat possibly stepping away, the next six months hold endless possibilities in the Middleweight division, and Strickland could very well find himself in title contention again.
Uros Medic quickly ended his fight, demonstrating his trademark aggression. Although Geoff Neal initially attempted to engage and evade, Medic landed a series of impactful front kicks that visibly affected Neal. Despite Neal’s determination, a counter hook from Medic proved too much, pushing him to the canvas in just 79 seconds.
Determining Medic’s potential remains challenging; while his striking is fierce, questions linger about his grappling abilities since previous losses. If he has improved his takedown defense, he could become a major player in the welterweight division—nobody wants to face the Serbian “Doctor.”
Melquizael Costa achieved a significant milestone by being the first to stop Dan Ige. After initially struggling, Costa utilized his skills effectively, landing a spinning back kick that rendered Ige unable to continue. Emerging victorious, Costa now stands out as a formidable contender in the featherweight division, having won six consecutive matches and called for main event opportunities.
Jacobe Smith showcased his impressive skills by quickly reversing a takedown attempt from Josiah Harrell and unleashing devastating ground strikes for a swift victory. Smith, despite being new to the Octagon, displayed qualities suggesting he could be a future champion with his combination of athleticism and technique.
