Anthony Hernandez Vows to Punish Sean Strickland After Racist Post
The UFC middleweight contender says he’ll “torture” Strickland in their upcoming bout after derogatory remarks targeting his Mexican heritage.
Anthony Hernandez has made it clear he’s bringing more than just his eight-fight win streak into the Octagon this weekend. The fourth-ranked UFC middleweight contender is set to face former champion Sean Strickland, and the fight has taken on added intensity after Strickland mocked Hernandez’s Mexican roots in a social media post.
The post, which depicted Strickland as an immigration officer alongside Hernandez in a poncho and sombrero, drew widespread criticism. Hernandez addressed it on Against the Cage, saying:
“Honestly, I laughed when I seen that shit,I was like, if that’s the best you’ve got to get in my head, it’s going to be a long f*cking night. That shit does not faze me. It’s f*cked up, yeah, and I don’t like seeing shit like that. I don’t like that my people have got to go through shit like that, but it’s f*cking life and that’s the reality of it. Some people are just dirtbags and like to bring it up.
“But I’m excited for the fight. Like I said, I hope he keeps that same f*cking online energy in the f*cking cage because I’m going to f*cking torture him.”
Hernandez, born in California but proud of his Mexican heritage, said the comments only fuel his determination.
“But I’m excited for the fight. Like I said, I hope he keeps that same f*cking online energy in the f*cking cage because I’m going to f*cking torture him.” Hernandez added.
The 32-year-old fighter has been vocal about representing Mexico, even noting last month that UFC officials required him to provide proof of residency before allowing him to walk out with the Mexican flag.
Strickland, meanwhile, has drawn criticism beyond this incident, including for derogatory remarks about Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny following his Super Bowl halftime show. He has also publicly aligned himself with conservative politics.
Fans have rallied behind Hernandez, flooding him with messages of support. He says he doesn’t plan on ending the fight quickly:
“I’m not focused on trying to take him out of there fast in the first round. I don’t mind f*cking torturing a motherf*cker for all 25 minutes. I really enjoy hurting people, as f*cked up as it sounds. It’s therapeutic as hell to me. So I don’t know, I’m going to come and if I can get the finish, awesome. If not, then I’m going to f*cking enjoy it.”
With Hernandez riding an eight-fight win streak and Strickland looking to reassert himself, Saturday’s bout promises to be one of the most emotionally charged matchups of the year.
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