‘Sean is great’: Conor McGregor, pros react to Sean Strickland’s knockout win at UFC Houston

· Yahoo Sports

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 21: Sean Strickland reacts after a TKO victory against Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Toyota Center on February 21, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Sean Strickland found his finishing touch in the UFC Houston main event and he drew praise from “The Notorious” Conor McGregor.

In Saturday’s main event, Strickland out-struck red-hot middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez and put him away with strikes midway through the third round. The win kept Strickland in the thick of the UFC title picture, while Hernandez saw an eight-fight win streak snapped.

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Strickland used his post-fight promo time to call for a bout with UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, who still awaits his first title defense booking after taking the belt from Dricus du Plessis this past August. A former champion, Strickland lost his title to du Plessis at UFC 297 and then failed to snatch it back in their rematch at UFC 312. With his finish of Hernandez, Strickland could end up back in a title fight sometime in 2026.

Several fighters tweeted about Strickland’s win, including UFC star Conor McGregor.

“That’s what nothing but hours and hours of sparring gets you,” McGregor wrote. “Just show up and shit spar everyday and voila! Overthink nothing. Who gives a f*ck! Haha! Sean is great!”

See more reactions from fighters below.

If you spar in a big group, alternating each round, and it’s sloppy and messy and ugly, and no one give a fuck, and its no ego, and nothing matters, that is valid training to become a World Champion in our game. I hereby coin the term “shit sparring” It is a real thing and it produces World level. You are now enlightened. Again. You’re welcome. Conor McGregors Deal

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