Anthony Hernandez doesn't take kindly to Sean Strickland's joke about his Mexican roots: 'I'll torture him'

Anthony Hernandez before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.

Currently on the rise in the middleweight category (up to 83,9 kg), Anthony Hernandez doesn't have the best feelings about his next opponent. Known for his acidic and politically incorrect sense of humor, Sean Strickland mocked Fluffy's Mexican roots in a social media post. In the post, the former champion appears as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, responsible for deporting his opponent.

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Hernandez made it clear that he was not emotionally shaken by Strickland's provocation, but he also expressed disappointment at the recurrence of provocations against the Mexican-American community, which represents more than 11% of the total population of the United States.

“I laughed when I saw that. If that’s all you can get out of my head, it’s going to be a long night. It sucks, yeah, and I don’t like seeing that kind of thing. I don’t like my people having to go through that, but that’s life, that’s reality, and some people are bastards and like to bring it up. I hope he keeps that same energy online in the cage, because I’m going to torture him,” the fighter declared in an interview with NY Post Sports last Tuesday (17).

“I'm gonna f***ng torture him” – Anthony Hernandez didn't like Sean Strickland targeting his Mexican roots

“I laughed when I saw that. If that's the best you've got to get in my head, it's gonna be a long night. It's f*cked up, yeah, and I don't like seeing sh*t like that. I… pic.twitter.com/vJzTk9istc

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 18, 2026

Away from the octagon since his loss to Dricus Du Plessis in early 2025, Sean Strickland was suspended for six months and fined by the Nevada Athletic Commission after getting into a fight during a minor event in July. At the time, he became enraged by the taunts of a fighter who had just defeated one of his training partners.

Hernandez is currently on an eight-fight winning streak. He's coming off a submission victory against Roman Dolidze and was supposed to return against Reinier De Ridder in October, but was forced to withdraw after suffering an injury.

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