UFC Houston: Strickland vs. Hernandez Date, Time, Card

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 09: Sean Stricland of the United States speaks to the fans after his fight with Dircus De Plessis of South Africa during UFC 312 at Qudos Bank Arena on February 09, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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HIGHLIGHTS

• A former middleweight champion faces a surging contender in a five-round main event with title implications
• One of the most compelling undercard fights features two undefeated fighters with very different paths to the octagon
• The full card streams on Paramount+ with prelims starting in the afternoon

The Toyota Center has been the site for some memorable UFC events. Perhaps the next one is coming up this weekend. Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland takes on rising contender Anthony Hernandez in a high-stakes bout at 185 pounds. Here’s everything you need to know about the event.

When, Where and How to Watch UFC Houston: Sean Strickland Vs. Anthony Hernandez?

The UFC invades H-Town on Saturday. The event takes place on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, marking the UFC’s first visit to the city since UFC 271 in 2022.

Prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET , with the main card kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. The entire card streams on Paramount+ in the U.S. International viewers can catch it through UFC Fight Pass and the usual regional broadcast partners.

What’s the Full Card?

This isn’t a Fight Night stacked with big-name fighters, but it could be the launch pad for a few guys and girls to move to the next level. Here’s the current lineup:

Main Card (Paramount+ 8 p.m. ET)

Prelims (Paramount+ 5 p.m. ET)

Why Is Jacobe Smith Vs. Josiah Harrell a Big Fight?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 28: Jacobe Smith poses for a portrait after his victory during the UFC 317 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)

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Whenever two undefeated young fighters clash, it’s worth paying attention to the outcome. Smith is 11-0 with two UFC wins — a 73-second KO of Preston Parsons and a submission of Niko Price — while Harrell comes in at 11-0 with almost all wins by finish. The backstory makes it even better.

Harrell was pulled from a 2023 UFC debut when pre-fight scans found a rare brain condition. He underwent brain surgery and has since gone 4-0, making this debut a validation of his entire recovery.

The winner instantly jumps into “one to watch” territory at 170, and Harrell in particular becomes a mainstream story if he beats an 11-0 UFC prospect in his first octagon appearance. This is a card worth circling for the undercard alone.

What’s At Stake in the Main Event?

SHENZHEN, CHINA – AUGUST 31: Anthony Hernandez celebrates after his submission victory over Jun Yong Park of South Korea in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre on August 31, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

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Strickland needs a win to remain in striking distance for another shot at the middleweight title. Hernandez is coming on fast and Strickland might be the final impediment before he gets his chance at UFC gold.

Strickland enters as a former champion and current top-3 contender coming off a decision loss to Dricus du Plessis. Hernandez rides an eight-fight win streak highlighted by relentless grappling and a submission over Roman Dolidze.

A Strickland win likely puts him right back in line for a title eliminator or a direct shot at Khamzat Chimaev, a matchup he’s already publicly angling for. A Hernandez win gives “Fluffy” the signature name he needs to break into the true elite and make his own title case.

The stylistic clash is clear — Strickland’s high-output, jab-heavy pressure against Hernandez’s suffocating wrestling and pace should answer whether Strickland can handle a prime chain-grappling threat after a layoff, and whether Hernandez’s style scales over five championship-caliber rounds.

Be on the lookout for post-event coverage with a look at the bonus winners and highlights from the finishes.