The Octagon returned to Texas on Saturday night for UFC Houston, and several fighters walked away richer after delivering memorable performances. The promotion handed out multiple UFC bonus awards following an action-packed event inside the Toyota Center in Houston.
The card was headlined by a pivotal middleweight clash between former champion Sean Strickland and surging contender Anthony Hernandez. Strickland delivered one of his most composed performances since losing the title, using his sharp jab and relentless pressure to control the fight early.
The former champion dictated the pace through the opening rounds, repeatedly frustrating Hernandez with precise striking. In the third round, Strickland landed a crushing knee to the body that visibly hurt “Fluffy.” Sensing the finish, he surged forward with a barrage of punches that forced the referee to step in and stop the contest.
It marked a statement victory for Strickland, who immediately turned his attention toward the middleweight throne.
“I’m still here,” Strickland said after the win. “I want my belt back. Khamzat Chimaev knows I’m coming.”
The UFC Houston co-main event delivered instant fireworks as Uros Medic faced Geoff Neal in a welterweight showdown. Medic wasted little time making an impression. Known as “The Doctor,” he landed a perfectly timed left hook that dropped Neal and ended the fight in the opening round.
“I knew one clean shot would change everything,” Medic said at the post-fight press conference. “That’s what I came here to do.”
Following the conclusion of the event, UFC officials announced the night’s UFC bonus recipients, with each winner earning an additional $100,000.
Sean Strickland picked up a UFC bonus after securing a third-round TKO victory over Anthony Hernandez in the main event. The body knee and follow-up punches capped off a dominant showing from the former middleweight champion.
Undefeated welterweight prospect Jacobe Smith also earned a UFC bonus after scoring an explosive first-round knockout victory over Josiah Harrell. The finish extended Smith’s UFC win streak to three and reinforced his status as one of the promotion’s rising prospects.
“I’m here to make noise,” Smith said. “Every fight, every finish, I’m proving I belong.”
Featherweight standout Melquizael Costa secured his UFC bonus with one of the most spectacular finishes of the night. Costa dropped veteran Dan Ige with a spinning back kick to the face before sealing the victory with ground strikes, extending his winning streak to six fights.
Uros Medic rounded out the UFC bonus winners with his stunning one-punch knockout of Geoff Neal in the co-main event, a finish already being discussed as a potential Knockout of the Year contender.
Beyond the bonus winners, UFC Houston delivered several standout moments. Joselyn Edwards extended her winning streak to four with a powerful slam and submission victory over Nora Cornolle, adding another highlight to an already explosive night in “H-Town.”
With emphatic finishes, breakout performances, and returning contenders making statements, UFC Houston once again proved that spectacular performances remain the fastest route to earning a coveted UFC bonus inside the Octagon.
