After more than a year Sean Strickland invaded the regional MMA cage and punched him in the faceundefeated Middleweight prospect Luis Hernandez will compete tonight (Tuesday, September 15, 2026) for an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract. Contender series At Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hernandez — a full-time Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy better known as “The Stache” — will put his perfect 7-0 professional record and 100 percent finish to the test against the strong French prospect. Hugo Guillon (7-1).
Of course, most fight fans probably remember Hernandez from his wild encounter with Strickland, a fellow UFC veteran Chris Curtis in June 2025 at 145 Tuff-N-Uff.
Strickland and Curtis cornered their teammate, Miles Hunsingerwho Hernandez submitted with a standing guillotine choke early in the second round. Hernandez spoke toward the corner during the finish and celebrated with a Generation D X-style crotch chop towards Strickland.
Strickland did not appreciate the gesture.
The former UFC middleweight champion stormed the cage and punched Hernandez before officials restored order. Curtis also entered the cage and grabbed Hernandez during the melee.
Hernandez, however, insists there is no bad blood left. The two fighters eventually exchanged direct messages and resolved the issue. Hernandez has even expressed interest in visiting Xtreme Couture — Strickland’s Las Vegas gym — to train in the future.
Aside from Strickland’s craziness, Hernandez is an intriguing prospect in his own right. The 30-year-old has achieved all seven professional victories, recording three knockouts and four submissions. He also spread in 2023 after being flattened Brian Topp with a controversial three-second header that some fans accused him of setting up with a fake glove touch (watch the highlights).
Hernandez stopped last Paulo Machado with knees and punches in the third round to capture the Combat Night middleweight title.
Standing in his way today is the 6-foot-6 Guillon, who owns six finishes and has trained with the former UFC champion. Dricus Du Plessis in South Africa.
If “The Statch” earns another layoff, Strickland, a once-assaulted cop, could officially become his UFC counterpart.
Hernandez is currently a +150 underdog.
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