Former UFC champion Sean Strickland is back in action this Saturday (Feb. 21, 2026) in the main event of UFC Houston after a tumultuous 2025.
Safe to say, last year did not go particularly well for “Tarzan.” His sole bout of the year was a title shot rematch versus Dricus du Plessis, a chance to prove that he was “robbed” the first time around. Instead of vindication, Strickland was largely picked apart and sent packing with a frustrated head coach and badly broken nose. Perhaps Strickland could have returned later in the year, but Strickland earned a Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) suspension after his corner work turned into a brawl.
Subsequently, it’s been just over a year since we last saw Strickland in action.
As a result of the layoff and recent losses to “DDP,” Strickland’s position in the 185-pound ranks is rather uncertain. Nowadays, most former champions remain right in the immediate title mix, the result of the long win streak over multiple Top 10 opponents that is often required to earn a title shot in the first place.
Strickland, however, never quite put together a huge undefeated run. He won five in a row over the likes of Uriah Hall and Jack Hermansson to jumpstart his Middleweight return in 2020, beginning his tenure as unofficial mayor of the UFC Apex. After building that momentum, he was flattened by Alex Pereira and decisioned by Jared Cannonier, losses which seemed to establish a ceiling.
Credit to Strickland, he rebounded with a short-notice Light Heavyweight win over Nassourdine Imavov — a victory that is aging beautifully — and a one-sided drubbing of Abus Magomedov, the most tired man at Middleweight. He wasn’t particularly deserving of a title shot, but when du Plessis was unable to compete at UFC 293, Strickland stepped up and made history.
Since then, he’s won just a single fight.
I hesitate to call Strickland a star, but he’s definitely a name. Khamzat vs. Strickland would certainly put butts in seats if Strickland argues his case well against Hernandez first. Alternatively, if Imavov dethrones the Chechen before Strickland gets the chance, all the better! That rematch and revenge storyline is already written, and a title on the line would only make it sweeter.
At 34 years of age, time is tight for Strickland to get back in the mix and challenge Khamzat, particularly when Chimaev is already eyeing a 205-pound move. In the next 12 months, Strickland can either confirm himself a bonafide Middleweight great or have his legacy settle into more of a “right place at the right time” position.
Either way, it starts in “H-Town.”
