Anthony Hernandez praises former foe Sean Strickland: 'He’s a cool dude'

Anthony Hernandez has nothing but praise for Sean Strickland despite their recent rivalry. Hernandez (15-3), who entered his February matchup with Strickland as a heavy favorite on the strength of his grappling prowess, suffered an upset third-round stoppage when the middleweight neutralized his wrestling and dominated the striking exchanges. Strickland's dominant performance earned him an immediate title shot against then-champion Khamzat Chimaev, whom he defeated in another shocking upset at UFC 328 last month.

Appearing on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Hernandez expressed genuine respect for his former opponent. "He's a cool dude, man. I got nothing bad to say about the guy," Hernandez said. "He's been helping me, and I've been training with him." The middleweight revealed that Strickland had invited him to train camp ahead of the Chimaev fight, though injuries prevented Hernandez from participating at that time. Now, with plans to spend more time in Las Vegas for training, Hernandez and Strickland have formalized their training partnership.

Hernandez offered particular insight into Strickland's toughness and conditioning. "That motherfucker's tough as hell, bro. He's a tough son of a bitch," Hernandez said, underscoring the mental and physical fortitude that enabled Strickland to overcome adversity twice in consecutive title fights. The competitive respect between the two fighters has blossomed into a genuine friendship and training relationship.