Fight week tested Sean Strickland long before he stepped into the cage.
The former UFC middleweight champion is set to headline UFC Houston against Anthony Hernandez, but the biggest challenge may have come during his final days of cutting down to 185 pounds. Even though he successfully made weight, Strickland did not hide how hard the process was on his body.
“I can only see out of one eye. I have like double vision,” said Strickland. “I think that’s the worst part about cutting weight. Always having to walk with one eye closed.”
For many fighters, the final weight drop includes dehydration, strict food limits, and long hours in saunas or hot baths. Strickland has often said that making weight is more painful than competing. He repeated that belief this week.
“This is really what we get paid to do is cutting weight,” he later added. “It’s worse than the fight.”
Looks like Sean Strickland is having a rough weight cut 😬
“I can only see out of one eye. I have like double vision.”
(via @SStricklandMMA) pic.twitter.com/HPvoIccT4P
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 20, 2026
This contest carries real meaning for Strickland. In his last three appearances, he has gone 1 and 2. A victory in Houston could move him closer to another title opportunity and possibly secure a place on a future UFC event expected at the White House.
Hernandez enters the matchup with strong momentum and is seen by many observers as the favorite. Still, Strickland has built his reputation on toughness and confidence, especially in high pressure situations.
UFC Houston takes place on Feb. 21, 2026, at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, airing live on Paramount Plus. The five round main event could influence the middleweight title picture, where current champion Khamzat Chimaev sits at the top.
Strickland reached the official limit despite vision issues and visible strain. Now that the weight is behind him, the focus shifts to fight night. Whether the difficult cut affects his performance remains to be seen, but he has made it clear that the toughest part of the week may already be over.
