Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez Reacts to Sean Strickland’s ‘ICE’ Taunts: “People are Just Dirtbags”

Top middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez talks about his upcoming fight with Sean Strickland at UFC Houston.

Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez Reacts to Sean Strickland’s ‘ICE’ Taunts: “People are Just Dirtbags”

Anthony Hernandez vs. Sean Strickland (via X)

In Short
  • Anthony Hernandez and Sean Strickland will headline UFC Houston in a highly anticipated middleweight fight.
  • Strickland's recent controversial taunts targeting Hernandez's heritage have intensified their rivalry.
  • Hernandez aims to extend his eight-fight win streak and secure a title shot with a victory over Strickland.

Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez and Sean Strickland are set to headline UFC Houston this weekend in a highly anticipated middleweight showdown. For Strickland, this marks his first appearance following a temporary suspension, adding an extra intrigue and heightened expectations surrounding his return.

In the buildup, both fighters have exchanged sharp verbal jabs, fueling genuine animosity and intensifying the stakes before fight night. After the fight announcement, Sean Strickland posted an edited poster casting himself as an ICE agent opposite Hernandez, who is of Mexican descent.

Given the current political climate in the United States, many fans labeled the imagery controversial, though hardly surprising considering Strickland’s history. In a recent interview, Hernandez addressed the post directly, launching into a fiery rant and warning the ‘Tarzan’ ahead of the fight.

Honestly, like I laughed when I seen that (expletive). I was like, ‘If that’s the best you got to get in my head, it’s gonna be a long (expletive) night. It’s (expletive) up…’ I don’t like that my people got to go through (expletive) like that. Some people are just dirtbags and like to bring it up. But, dude, I’m excited for the fight. Like I said, I hope he keeps that same (expletive) online energy I’m going to (expletive) torture him.

Anthony Hernandez via New York Post Sports 

Sean Strickland has long been regarded as one of the most controversial figures in UFC. He frequently speaks without filtering his words, often disregarding potential backlash or consequences that may follow publicly. Strickland is also widely known for relentless trash-talks, strategically using verbal warfare to mentally unsettle opponents before fights.

Sean Strickland has publicly supported Donald Trump during recent election cycles, frequently praising his leadership and policies. He has also voiced support for ICE, often defending strict border policies and law enforcement actions publicly.

At the same time, Strickland has criticized certain Trump administration foreign policy decisions, saying America comes first. Nevertheless, Hernandez is riding an impressive 8-fight win streak, most recently submitting Roman Dolidze with a rear-naked choke.

Confident in his momentum, Hernandez believes defeating Strickland decisively will push him closer toward securing a long-awaited middleweight title opportunity. Meanwhile, the former champion has dismissed ‘Fluffy’ as a manageable matchup, claiming victory sets up a clash with rival Khamzat Chimaev.

Sean Strickland talks about his recent suspension 

Last year in June, Sean Strickland was suspended following a cage-side altercation at a Las Vegas regional MMA event promotion. After his teammate lost, Strickland stormed the cage and punched opponent Luis Hernandez, escalating tensions instantly before security intervened quickly.

Sean Strickland talks about his recent suspension
Sean Strickland talks about his recent suspension (via X)

The Nevada State Athletic Commission formally reviewed the incident and announced a six-month suspension shortly afterward, plus a monetary fine. The suspension was made retroactive to June 29, 2025, meaning he remains sidelined until December 29, 2025.

Officials also allowed Strickland to reduce the suspension length by completing an approved anger management program during the ban period. In a recent interview, the fighter mentioned how the suspension actually benefited him in the process.

The suspension was dope. I had a bunch of injuries that got healed up. I don’t get to hit cops off, and I don’t get to go to jail either, which is nice. It had nothing to do with my boy losing.

Sean Strickland via FULL SEND MMA 

Sean Strickland recently claimed he possessed a complete skillset required to defeat Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight gold. ‘Borz’ responded publicly and welcomed the challenge, insisting he was prepared whenever the opportunity arises. Given their heated exchanges and simmering rivalry, a potential showdown promises fireworks and significant commercial success for the UFC.

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