Burned?
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Sean Strickland returns from suspension to face No. 4-ranked contender Anthony Hernandez in the UFC Houston main event this weekend (Sat., Feb. 21, 2026) inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
But before he steps back into the Octagon, Strickland once again made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
During UFC Houston media day, Strickland delivered yet another profanity-laced rant that included homophobic and sexist remarks, this time targeting the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano “superfight” and women’s MMA as a whole. The tirade echoed similar comments he made during the UFC 297 build-up in 2024, when he also drew widespread backlash.
Watch it here (if you want).
Former two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes didn’t let it slide.
Responding on Instagram, Nunes wrote: “We do everything he said, and to top it all off, LOL, we’re fighters too. Don’t cry, man.”
Nunes’ comment section quickly filled with support from fellow fighters. Amanda Ribas, Luana Pinheiro, and Dee Gomes all chimed in, mocking Strickland’s remarks and defending women’s MMA.
“He defecates through his mouth,” Ribas wrote.
The controversy didn’t stay confined to the MMA bubble. Mainstream outlet Variety covered the backlash. Other criticism from several NFL players and actors called on Paramount+ to respond to Strickland’s comments.
As for UFC CEO Dana White, history suggests disciplinary action is unlikely. His stance on such matters has consistently fallen under the banner of “free speech.”
Meanwhile, Strickland still has five rounds with Hernandez waiting for him on Saturday night.
