Sean Strickland landed in hot water at Tuff-N-Uff 145 in Las Vegas on June 29, 2025. The former UFC middleweight champ was cornering his teammate Miles Hunsinger when things got messy. After Hunsinger lost by submission, his opponent Luis Hernandez taunted Strickland and UFC fighter Chris Curtis with a crude gesture. Strickland jumped into the cage and threw punches at Hernandez before security stepped in.
On Instagram stories, he said, “So after the fight, you guys see me corner guys all the time, I’m the first one to shake their hand and say ‘I wish you well, on to the next one’. But after the fight this guy comes up to me, calls me by name, ‘Strickland’, calls me a b****, says he’s going to f*** me up. Does the hand gesture…as a man, I’m not capable not to answer that. If I walk down the street, if I leave my house and somebody says that, my soul will not allow that to not go unanswered.”
The incident could bring punishment from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The Tuff-N-Uff 145 Incident
Hunsinger, from Xtreme Couture, fought Hernandez in a middleweight bout at Tuff-N-Uff 145. Hernandez, 6-0 with all finishes, won with a second-round standing guillotine choke. After the win, he faced Strickland and Curtis, making a “crotch chop” gesture and yelling insults. Curtis pinned Hernandez against the fence while Strickland landed two punches. Referee Chris Tognoni and security broke it up.
Hernandez called Strickland’s punches weak and pushed for a Contender Series spot. Strickland said he stayed quiet in the corner, but Hernandez’s taunts pushed him over the edge. The Nevada State Athletic Commission may fine or suspend him if he was a licensed cornerman.
😤 Luis Hernandez stays undefeated with a Round 2 guillotine choke submission over Miles Hunsinger at #TNU145!
The Miami prospect made a statement — both in the cage and on the mic, calling out Sean Strickland post-fight 🔥#MMA | #FutureStarsOfMMA | #UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/onhk1U5N9b— Tuff-N-Uff MMA (@tuffnuff) June 29, 2025
Sean Strickland just entered the cage at Tuff-n-Uff and punched someone after he beat his teammate 😳
(h/t @AlexBehunin) pic.twitter.com/MSlAKCCRsG
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 29, 2025
Sean Strickland just stormed the cage and punched a fighter after getting celebrated on 😭pic.twitter.com/zbU7sl2PMR
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 29, 2025
Strickland, 34, has a 28-6 MMA record. He won the UFC middleweight title in 2023 by beating Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. He lost it to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 in January 2024 and fell again in a rematch at UFC 312 in February 2025, both by unanimous decision. A California wrestler, he turned pro in 2008, joined the UFC in 2014, and earned a title shot with a five-fight win streak from 2020-2022, beating Jack Hermansson and Uriah Hall. His last fight was the du Plessis loss, with no UFC return set.
Some backed Strickland for standing up for his teammate, while others called his actions unprofessional. Hernandez’s insults and gesture could be seen as against MMA rules, but Strickland’s response went too far. UFC president Dana White and the UFC haven’t commented. If Hernandez presses charges, Strickland could face legal trouble.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission’s review could delay Strickland’s UFC return with a fine or suspension. Hernandez is aiming for a UFC contract through Contender Series.
