Sean Strickland could ‘only see out of one eye’ during brutal UFC Houston weight cut

Sean Strickland seemingly had a very difficult weight cut for his next UFC fight.

Strickland, a former middleweight champion, will return to the action in the main event of UFC Houston on Saturday night. His opponent will be surging, No. 4-ranked contender Anthony Hernandez.

Ahead of the fight, Strickland needed to get his weight down to 186 lbs—the limit for non-title middleweight fights. While he ultimately made weight, he apparently suffered vision issues and other symptoms as he attempted to shed water weight.

Sean Strickland describes brutal UFC Houston weight cut

Looks like Sean Strickland is having a rough weight cut 😬

“I can only see out of one eye. I have like double vision.”

(via @SStricklandMMA) pic.twitter.com/HPvoIccT4P

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 20, 2026

“I don’t know why but when I cut weight I can only see out of one eye, or I have like double vision,” Strickland said in a video posted on his social media channels. “I think it’s the worst part of cutting weight, always having to walk around with one eye closed. This is really what we get paid to do, cutting weight. It’s worse than fighting. We’re almost there.”

Strickland is riding back-to-back decision losses to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis. The first loss marked the end of his UFC title reign, and the second saw him fail to reclaim the belt.

Hernandez, his opponent, has won eight straight fights. While the next crack at middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev is expected to go to Nassourdine Imavov, nothing is official yet. That means the Strickland vs. Hernandez winner could conceivably cut to the front of the line.

Both men made middleweight contenders made weight for the fight. Strickland tipped the scales at 185 lbs, and Hernandez hit 186. The oddsmakers favor Hernandez to win the matchup.