'Vintage performance': UFC villain Sean Strickland re-enters title mix after 'brutalising' opponent

Sean Strickland made headlines with his mouth all week - as he so often does - but managed to back it up with a stunning knockout win in his UFC return.

The polarising American fighter, who has fought twice in Sydney and has made plenty of disparaging remarks towards Australia, hadn't competed in over 12 months.

Strickland returned to the octagon against Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez on Sunday afternoon (AEDT), where he entered the bout as a huge underdog.

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But in surprising fashion, the 34-year-old wound back the clock and stopped Hernandez in the third round, ending the Mexican's eight-fight win streak.

Strickland landed a nasty knee to Hernandez's mid-section and then went on the attack, punishing his opponent until the referee stepped in to call an end to the fight.

Former champion Michael Bisping described it as a "vintage performance" from the third-ranked middleweight, who now moves back into the title mix.

"When he knows you're hurt, he's one of the best finishers," Bisping said on commentary for Paramount+.

"He swarmed all over him, brutalised him … few more shots for good measure and Strickland does it again."

Speaking after the win, Strickland (30-7) took the high road and heaped praise on his opponent after a war of words in the build-up.

"He's a tough mother f----r," he said towards Hernandez.

"To me, you were getting a little bit more sloppy, but no part of this man was slowing down, he's a savage. I wanna thank Fluffy, this man is a definition of a f-----g savage.

"I know at the weigh-in we had some words … he is the definition of a man and the type of man I'd hope to be, he's a father and a hard worker." 

While the victory for Strickland puts him right back in the frame to battle Khamzat Chimaev, he remains one of the sport's most controversial figures.

Just this week, Strickland claimed he had no interest in Ronda Rousey's comeback fight against Gina Carano, delivering a stinging assessment.

"We're just gonna watch two middle-aged women going through menopause fight each other ... I have no interest in that. Who gives a f--k?"

Strickland also made homophobic comments regarding Bad Bunny after the Puerto Rican artist's Super Bowl performance earlier this month.