Rejected! Sean Strickland’s ‘petty,’ revenge-driven teammate denied fight with UFC’s red-hot Sheriff’s deputy – ‘There’s no forgiveness’
· Yahoo Sports
No forgiveness!
Exciting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) prospect Luis Hernandez scored a “Performance of the Night” submission victory over Sedriques Dumas in the “Featured Fight” of UFC Vegas 121 this past weekend (Sat., Sept. 26, 2026) inside the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada (watch highlights).
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It was a memorable Octagon debut for the undefeated Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy, but Hernandez had already gone viral long before earning his UFC contract.
Hernandez became embroiled in a wild altercation with former UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis at Tuff-N-Uff 145 in June 2025. Strickland and Curtis were cornering their Xtreme Couture teammate, Miles Hunsinger, who Hernandez submitted with a standing guillotine.
Following the stoppage, Hernandez taunted Hunsinger’s corner and delivered a D-Generation X-style crotch chop in Strickland’s direction. Strickland stormed the cage and punched Hernandez in the face, while Curtis entered the cage and became physically involved in the confrontation.
Hernandez has since revealed that he and Strickland settled their differences through direct messages.
Curtis, however, is still holding a grudge — and he has already asked UFC matchmakers for an opportunity to settle it inside the Octagon.
“I’m getting a lot of messages saying, ‘Fight Luis Hernandez, fight Luis Hernandez,’” Curtis said on Instagram. “Guys, I am petty as hell. The moment Luis Hernandez got signed to the UFC, I messaged the matchmakers, and the response from both was that he wasn’t ready yet. He had no fights and wasn’t ready yet. I’m like, ‘Okay.’
“Last night, he got his win. I immediately messaged the matchmakers, and I got the response: ‘He’s not ready. He’s still not ready. He’s not on your level.’ So, I can’t fight him right now. I’ve tried. I’m a very petty man.”
Although disappointed by the rejection, “The Action Man” wants Hernandez to continue winning until UFC officials can no longer deny him the revenge fight.
“I want him to do well,” Curtis continued. “I want him to get a few wins because the moment he gets a few wins — the moment he’s not brand new in the UFC — I’m going to fight him. I’ve been circling this man like a shark in the water, and the moment he gets a few more wins, I am going to be there for him. The moment they stop saying he’s not ready and they let him have a real fight, I am going to fold this man like a cheap suitcase. I cannot wait.”
UFC’s hesitation makes sense.
Hernandez is 9-0 with a 100 percent finishing rate, but he has only made one Octagon appearance. Curtis, meanwhile, owns 45 professional fights and is a 12-fight UFC veteran who has shared the cage with significantly more experienced competition.
Curtis made it clear that the experience gap has not softened his stance.
“Like, understand how petty I am, and I don’t let anything go. There’s no forgiveness,” Curtis concluded. “I ran to one of his boys the other day. He’s like, ‘Oh, he wants to squash the beef.’ I told him I want to pop his head like a grape when I see him. Like, there’s there’s no forgiveness. There’s no letting it go. Like, no. So you know what, Luis Hernandez? Congratulations, good work, Stash. But the moment they say yes, if we sign that contract, I’m gonna strangle you and drown you like a bag of unwanted puppies.”
Curtis has struggled to build consistent momentum since beginning his UFC career with three consecutive victories. He is coming off a boring unanimous decision loss to Myktybek Orolbai, who controlled him for three rounds.
Hernandez was asked about Curtis’ challenge Monday and made it clear that he would happily accept the fight.
“He’s coming out of the woodwork. I guess he’s trying to get some fame,” Hernandez told Yahoo Sports. “If his name comes down the list, I could be the final coffin to put him into retirement. I’ve been respectful. If he has a problem with me, I guess we could settle it. He’s 6-5 in the UFC. He’s almost on his way out. If I’m the final nail, it’ll happen sooner or later.”
UFC matchmakers may believe Hernandez needs more experience before facing Curtis, so the bitter matchup apparently will not happen next.
But if “The Stache” keeps winning and Curtis remains on the roster, this grudge fight could become impossible to ignore.
After all, Curtis insists there is no forgiveness — and apparently no expiration date.
For complete UFC Vegas 121 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.