The UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez (UFC Fight Night 267) headliner features a clash between the defensive technicality of #3-ranked Sean Strickland and the relentless pace of #4-ranked Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez.
This middleweight bout is widely viewed as a "strikers vs. grapplers" stylistic conflict, with Hernandez opening as a significant betting favorite.
Sean Strickland (29-7) is known for his "Philly Shell" defense and high-volume jab. Strickland is looking to bounce back from a title-rematch loss to Dricus du Plessis. Analysts highlight his elite 76% takedown defense as the critical factor in this matchup.
Anthony Hernandez (15-2, 1 NC) enters on a dominant eight-fight winning streak, recently finishing Roman Dolidze. His style relies on "breaking" opponents with a frantic pace, averaging an elite 6.46 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Additionally, there is a top-10 heavyweight matchup between #7 Serghei Spivac and #9 Ante Delija (former PFL champion), which was rescheduled from an earlier date to bolster this Houston card.
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UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez Betting at Bookmaker
Toyota Center in Houston, TX, will host UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET, with media coverage on Paramount+.
Now let’s look at the main card odds.
Anthony Hernandez opened as a -250 favorite to Sean Stickland at +200.
Since opening, the line has moved significantly in Hernandez's favor across major sportsbooks.
Hernandez's elite grappling and eight-fight win streak have made him the "chalk" pick. Some analysts see Strickland at +230 or higher offers "bloated" underdog value for those betting on his 76% takedown defense.
Geoff Neal -185vs. Uros Medic +155: Neal is favored to snap his losing streak in his home state of Texas.
Melquizael Costa -200vs. Dan Ige +170: Costa has emerged as a solid favorite over the veteran Ige.
Ante Delija -180vs. Serghei Spivac +155: The former PFL champion Delija is favored in this rescheduled heavyweight clash.
Jacobe Smith -350vs. Josiah Harrell +285: Smith is the largest favorite on the main card following a late opponent change.
Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez
The matchup between #3 Sean Strickland and #4 Anthony Hernandez at UFC Fight Night 267 is a classic technical striker vs. relentless grappler encounter. Analysts view this five-round main event as a test of whether Strickland’s elite takedown defense can withstand the most prolific wrestling pace in middleweight history.
Hernandez holds the record for most takedowns landed in UFC middleweight history (54). He often "breaks" opponents by forcing a frantic pace, averaging nearly 6.5 takedowns per fight.
Strickland is famously difficult to keep down, holding one of the lowest "bottom position" percentages in division history 1.14% . His upright stance and "Philly Shell" defense are designed to stifle volume while he counters with a constant jab and kicks.
Both fighters are renowned for elite gas tanks. Strickland has gone five rounds multiple times against top-tier competition like Dricus du Plessis. At the same time, Hernandez thrives in late rounds, as seen in his recent fourth-round submission of Roman Dolidze.
Serghei Spivac vs. Ante Delija
This bout is a battle of two well-rounded heavyweights with elite grappling backgrounds and proven finishing ability.
#7 Serghei Spivac is a dominant grappler known for his high-level judo and smothering ground-and-pound. Spivac is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak after dropping a controversial decision to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and a TKO loss to Jailton Almeida in 2025. His path to victory relies on securing early takedowns to neutralize Delija's size and power.
#8 Ante Delija is the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Champion and made a massive impact in his UFC debut, knocking out Marcin Tybura in one round. Though he lost his most recent outing to Waldo Cortes-Acosta via KO, Delija is a training partner of Tom Aspinall and possesses superior physical size and explosive striking.
UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Hernandez Best Bets
Sharps believe that Delija’s size and superior wrestling defense might make it difficult for Spivac to implement his grappling-heavy game plan.
Wise Guys like Stricklan’s huge underdog price. They believe it is difficult to "break" him, physically or mentally, in over 25 minutes. If Strickland's 76% takedown defense holds, his technical striking usually wins him a decision.
Main Picks: Ante Delija and Sean Strickland
Fighter Prop: Sean Strickland Win By Decision
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