The UFC Houston main event was already heavy with stakes, but the buildup has turned personal fast. And not in the usual trash-talk way. One of Sean Strickland’s social media posts didn’t just poke at Anthony Hernandez; it hit a nerve for how racially insensitive it was. With a five-round title eliminator looming on February 21 at the Toyota Center, the tension now goes beyond rankings. This isn’t just about who gets closer to the belt. It’s about whether lines were crossed, and how that energy shows up once the cage door shuts.

“Honestly, like I laughed when I seen that sh—,” Hernandez told NY Post Sports when asked about Strickland posting an image of himself in ICE gear opposite Hernandez in stereotypical Mexican attire. “I was like, if that’s the best you got to get in my head, it’s gonna be a long f— night.”

“That sh— does not faze me. It’s f—up, yeah, and I don’t like seeing sh— like that. I don’t like that my people got to go through sh– like that. But it’s f— life and that’s the reality of it. Some people are just dirtbags and like to bring it up. But, dude, I’m excited for the fight. Like I said, I hope he keeps that same f— online energy in the f— cage because I’m going to f— torture him.”

That quote landed because of everything around it. Strickland posted the image on January 15 and doubled down on X when the backlash grew. Anthony Hernandez later revealed UFC officials questioned his request to represent Mexico during fight week, asking him to verify his grandparents’ birth certificates to prove eligibility for Mexican-themed gear.

That detail matters. Because when the promotion asks for paperwork tied to identity, then your main-event opponent turns that identity into a meme, it stops feeling like just pre-fight noise. There’s real competitive weight here, too. ‘Fluffy’ carries an eight-fight winning streak into Houston, with wins over Edmen Shahbazyan, Brendan Allen, and Roman Dolidze.

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Strickland, for all the chaos he brings, is still the former champion. He lost the belt to Dricus du Plessis in 2024 and dropped the rematch at UFC 312, but he’s the type of name that fast-tracks you if you beat him clean. Win here, and he’s not just ‘Fluffy’ with a streak. He’s the next guy in line for a shot at the champion.

‘Tarzan’s return also comes off a suspension for entering a cage at a regional event last year and trying to attack a fighter. Add that to his long list of past controversial comments, and the ICE post fits his profile. The question is whether that image helps him when the other guy is showing up with eight straight wins and a chip on his shoulder that you have now made personal.

Sean Strickland’s coach puts faith in his “ground game” against Anthony Hernandez

This is where coach Eric Nicksick’s read on Sean Strickland’s wrestling starts to matter. Strickland isn’t walking into UFC Houston as a mystery. He’s a former champion, he’s been five rounds with the best, and he’s built a career on volume, pressure, and stubborn durability. But against Anthony Hernandez, an in-form grappler who has been quietly stacking wins, the old habits might not be enough.

“Everyone in here knows how good Sean can wrestle and his ground game,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie. “Unfortunately, we don’t see it as much as we’d like in a fight. … At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to come and go, but to me it’s a lot about our preparation and how invested we are in preparing for these types of fights. Man, he’s been all in. Not only has he been all in, so has the team.”

The coach also pulled back the curtain on why this camp feels different. He pointed to the history with Khamzat Chimaev, who spent time training with the team alongside Darren Till, and how that relationship turned into social media back-and-forth. His point was simple: Sean Strickland has been around elite wrestlers, and he knows what that level looks like.

Nicksick also said he and Strickland clashed at times over training habits and preparation, but stressed that the outspoken middleweight has since bought into the changes they felt were needed. So, does Strickland back up the persona with discipline and adjustments? Or does Hernandez turn a personal slight into the biggest win of his career and a fast track to the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!