<p><em>UFC Fight Night in Houston, Texas, will feature two of the promotion's top middleweights going at it in the Octagon, with Sean Strickland facing Anthony Hernandez on Sunday, February 22 (from 09:00 AEDT).</em></p> <p>They headline a fight card featuring 14 bouts, with this one likely to be the contest of the night, given how both approach their fights.</p> <p>Indeed, this <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/ufc/ufc-news/weight-divisions">UFC middleweight weight</a> clash pits a former champion's striking volume against a grappler on an eight-fight win streak. One is ranked #4 in the UFC's middleweight division (Strickland), whereas the other is ranked #5.</p> <p>Expect fireworks and explosions when they come to blows inside the cage…</p> <h2>Quick Picks</h2> <p><strong>Our pick: </strong>Hernandez to win</p> <p><strong>Value bet: </strong>Hernandez to win by decision</p> <p><strong>Long shot:</strong> Hernandez to win by submission</p> <h2>Tale of the Tape</h2> <p>The eight-fight win streak is almost too good to ignore. Hernandez has been dominating and decimating his opponents, winning most of his bouts by stoppage. The Mexican is a dangerous proposition, but one that Strickland can manage.</p> <p>The American is a former champion, but he has suffered two defeats in his last three fights heading into this bout. Still, he is a highly experienced professional and excels in high-volume striking, landing 5.95 significant strikes per minute and achieving 60% striking defence.</p> <p>With that in mind, it's worth considering how they compare, starting with Strickland's figures…</p> <ul> <li>Age - 34 vs 32</li> <li>Height - 6'1" (185cm) vs 6'0" (183cm)</li> <li>Stance - Orthodox vs Orthodox</li> <li>Record - 29-7-0 vs 15-2-0</li> <li>KO Record - 11 vs 3</li> </ul> <h2>Betting Preview</h2> <p>How have they performed in their last five fights?</p> <p><strong>Strickland's last five fights:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Dricus Du Plessis - Loss (UD, 5) - Feb 2025</li> <li>Paulo Costa - Win (SD, 5) - Jun 2024</li> <li>Dricus Du Plessis - Loss (SD, 5) - Jan 2024</li> <li>Israel Adesanya - Win (UD, 5) - Sep 2023</li> <li>Abus Magomedov - Win (TKO, 2) - Jul 2023</li> </ul> <p><strong>Hernandez's last five fights:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Roman Dolidze - Win (Sub, 4) - Aug 2025</li> <li>Brendan Allen - Win (UD, 3) - Feb 2025</li> <li>Michel Pereira - Win (TKO, 5) - Oct 2024</li> <li>Roman Kopylov - Win (Sub, 2) - Feb 2024</li> <li>Edmen Shahbazyan - Win (TKO, 3) - May 2023</li> </ul> <h2>Betting Markets to Watch</h2> <p>The favourite to win this match is Hernandez, which could offer up some potential betting value across some markets.</p> <p>Notably, the favourite has won each of Sean Strickland's last three UFC fights by Decision. Indeed, Strickland's last five <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-matches">UFC betting odds</a> as an underdog have also gone the distance, suggesting that there may be value in this one going the full five rounds.</p> <p>By extension of these trends, we see potential value in the decision market, as we think Hernandez to win by points is the likely outcome.</p> <h2>Our Prediction</h2> <p>Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/ufc-mma/ufc-matches/sean-strickland-v-anthony-hernandez-9951024">Strickland vs Hernandez betting odds</a> at Sportsbet.</p> <p>As revealed above, we think that it is likely Hernandez continues to blow through UFC and continues to destroy everyone who stands in his path. Strickland is arguably his toughest opponent to date, but the Mexican has been unstoppable.</p> <p>As highlighted, we think this fight will go the distance, but a submission victory may provide value as a long shot. He has nine wins by this method, although Strickland hasn't lost this way before. If you're new to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-ufc">betting on UFC</a>, understanding how different victory methods affect the odds can help inform your selections.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/ufc/predictions">Who's tipped to win this weekend's UFC card?</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/ufc/ufc-news/greatest-fighters-of-all-time">The fighters who've left the biggest mark on the octagon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/ufc/ufc-news/best-ufc-fights-of-all-time">The bouts that had everyone on the edge of their seats</a></li> </ul>