Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is hours away from one of the biggest fights of his career, but he’s still stirring controversy outside the cage.
Strickland, who fights Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston this weekend, used racial slurs against African Americans during one of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s recent livestreams. The incident provoked strong reactions on social media.
After the clip went viral, UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley called out Strickland for using the slur.
“[Sean] You’re not smooth. I know what you’re trying to do,” Buckley said.
“But relax, because the real n– has to be in the biz.”
Joaquin Buckley and Sean Strickland argue over the use of racial slurs
In a series of Instagram comments, Strickland seemed to respond to Buckley’s call.
Here’s the full clip 👇 https://t.co/zLqhJfwFgE pic.twitter.com/d9WG4Yjn9E
— Parry Punch (@ParryPunchNews) February 19, 2026
“Buckley is the black version of a Karen,” Strickland said.
“Lmao, I’ve never lost a game of racist chicken. Buckley is the type of guy who gets kicked out of a store for being obnoxious and then says, ‘It’s because I’m black, you’re racist’. Lmao bro, you’re bad at fighting and you’re even worse at influencing. Your whole [Instagram] is just one giant cringe.”
In response, Buckley seemed to hint that he would face Strickland this weekend at UFC Houston.
“I bet I’ll see you in Houston, big guy,” Buckley said.
Strickland and Buckley were in the same division earlier in their UFC careers. Since making the full-time move from middleweight to welterweight, Buckley has won six of his last seven fights, including finishes against Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson.
This is far from the first element of controversy surrounding Strickland ahead of UFC Houston. Before his fight with Hernandez, Strickland shared an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) image with him and Hernandez, in a perceived shot at Hernandez’s Mexican heritage.
If Strickland and Buckley meet in Houston this weekend, chaos could potentially ensue.
What is your prediction for Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez? Let us know in the comments!
#Joaquin #Buckley #threatens #confront #Sean #Strickland #UFC #Houston #racist #comments #viral #clip