UFC has confirmed upcoming Fight Nights on February 21 at Toyota Center in Houston featuring Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez in the main event, alongside Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa and others. On February 28 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Brandon Moreno faces Lone’er Kavanagh in the flyweight headliner, with Marlon Vera vs. David Martinez also booked. These events fill out the early 2026 schedule post-UFC Vegas 113, providing key opportunities for middleweight and flyweight contenders. Strickland's bout could impact the middleweight title picture, while Moreno's fight advances flyweight rankings. Expect potential ranking shifts and bigger matchups for winners.
Reports indicate the UFC has a pair of Fight Nights taking shape for early 2026, though neither card has been officially confirmed. According to the report, Sean Strickland defends his middleweight standing against Anthony Hernandez on February 21 at Toyota Center in Houston, while February 28 brings Brandon Moreno against Lone'er Kavanagh in the flyweight headliner at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Marlon Vera versus David Martinez is also said to be booked for the Mexico City card.
Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7 record and holds middleweight champion status. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter out of Xtreme Couture boasts one of the division's higher striking outputs, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his 42 percent accuracy reflects his high-volume approach. His reach checks in at 76 inches, or 193 cm.
Standing across from him would be Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez, ranked third at middleweight and sitting at 15-3. The 32-year-old American is a legitimate grappling threat, averaging a striking accuracy of 60 percent and an impressive 5.88 takedowns per 15 minutes. At six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Hernandez represents a meaningful stylistic test.
Also reportedly on the Houston card, Melquizael "Melk Cauthy" Costa brings a 26-8 record into a featherweight contest against Dan Ige. The 29-year-old Brazilian southpaw out of Chute Boxe averages 4.29 significant strikes per minute and lands at a 47 percent clip.
Why it matters
- A Strickland win over the third-ranked Hernandez would reinforce his middleweight standing and could shape the division's next title conversation
- Hernandez's elite takedown rate at nearly six per 15 minutes poses the kind of grappling threat that directly challenges Strickland's preferred striking game
- Moreno's flyweight headliner in Mexico City carries ranking implications in a division that remains unsettled at the top
- Neither card has been officially announced, so all matchups should be treated as unconfirmed
