Few headliners enter fight week talking about suspension perks. However, Sean Strickland has never really followed the script. As UFC Houston approaches, the former middleweight champion isn’t downplaying his six-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission—he’s almost celebrating it.

The layoff occurred after Sean Strickland stormed the cage at a regional MMA event last summer and punched part-time fighter and full-time patrol officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department, Luis Hernandez Jr, during a heated confrontation. The NSAC suspended him for six months and issued a $5,000 fine. Now, ahead of his return against Anthony Hernandez at the Toyota Center on February 21, ‘Tarzan’ is reflecting on that stretch with his typical blunt honesty.

Sean Strickland reflects on NSAC suspension before UFC Houston return

“I mean, the suspension was dope, man,” Sean Strickland admitted to Full Send MMA. “I had a bunch of injuries that got healed up, you know? I don’t get to hit cops often and not go to jail, too, which is nice. That’s cool. I didn’t know he was a cop at first, but it made it significantly better. That six months off, ah, I’m down for this.”

‘Tarzan’ made it clear that the altercation had nothing to do with his teammate losing that night. He believed it was all about respect.

“We all lose fights. Nothing to do with that. It was the disrespect you gave to me, dawg,” Strickland said. “You just take your W, and you shut the f— up, nothing. Would have been fine. But you had to go be a d——-. I was cool with you. I didn’t make fun of you dude.”

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That mindset remains unchanged as we approach UFC Houston. Sean Strickland returns after more than a year away, still looking for another shot at the title he lost to Dricus Du Plessis. But first, he must overcome Anthony Hernandez, a pressure-heavy challenger with significant momentum.

For Strickland, the suspension did not mark the end of anything. It was a restart. Injuries have healed. Perspective sharpened. The question now isn’t whether he regrets the last six months. The question is whether the time off will make him smarter—or rustier—when the Octagon door closes on Saturday night. After all, he himself calls this the toughest fight of his career.

‘Tarzan’ shares honest take on Anthony Hernandez fight

If the suspension was a reset, then this clash feels like a stress test. Sean Strickland isn’t pretending otherwise. Ahead of UFC Houston, he openly said that Anthony Hernandez may be the most difficult challenge he’s faced—not because of hype, but because of style. The 15-2-0 doesn’t give you space. He draws you into the deep water and keeps you there.

“‘Fluffy’ is a hard f—— fight,” Strickland told ESPN MMA. “Endless gas tank… Yeah, it’s going to be a great fight. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a miserable fight.

“There’s going to be a level of misery there that’s hard to train for… You know it’s going to be the fourth round, fifth round. Like, f—. Five more minutes of this f—— parasite.”

That’s not trash talk; it’s recognition. Anthony Hernandez wins by making opponents uncomfortable for 25 consecutive minutes. For Sean Strickland, whose reputation is built on pressure and durability, the question becomes who can impose their grind first.

He claims it’s the most difficult bout of his career. Saturday will reveal whether the layoff sharpened him—or whether misery favors the man riding momentum.