Welcome to Bloody Elbow’s each day round-up of combat sports news as one other week of controversy draws to an in depth.
That is your one-stop shop for the highest five stories from February 19, 2026. One in every of the primary talking points of the day was the response to Sean Strickland‘s controversial comments on the UFC Houston media day.
Fortunately, though, Strickland’s antics on the microphone weren’t the one topic of conversation this Thursday, as UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira made headlines for teasing his next outing.
Alex Pereira defends Tom Aspinall from critics
UFC fans proceed to hound the heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.
The Brit recently shared news that he underwent double eye surgery following his eye poke saga against Ciryl Gane last October.
Despite attempting to update his fans and be open together with his injuries, Aspinall was criticised by fans who continued to say that he’s faking the horrendous injury.
UFC light heavyweight champion, Pereira, jumped to the defense of his potential future rival, claiming that he’s ‘not gonna fake that’, attempting to silence the haters.
Islam Makhachev doubts Ilia Topuria can be essentially the most dangerous puncher at welterweight
A large majority of the fanbase continues to call for a UFC White House matchup between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria.
Despite that, the Russian champion recently offered an update on that potential clash, claiming that it won’t occur on the historic event because the promotion has different ideas.
The welterweight champion did, though, declare that he remains to be all in favour of the fight happening in the long run, highlighting 2027 because the potential 12 months for it.
And with the fight greater than prone to occur at 170lbs if it does come to fruition, Makhachev has shut down the concept that Topuria can be essentially the most dangerous puncher within the division.
Pereira reveals his current weight as he teases next fight is ‘very close’
Pereira defending Aspinall wasn’t the one time that the Brazilian made headlines this Thursday.
With Aspinall out of motion and there being no return date in sight, rumors proceed to whirl of a possible interim heavyweight title fight between Gane and Pereira.
‘Poatan’ recently revealed that his next fight is ‘very close’ to being announced, which immediately had fans excited.
And that excitement was raised this Thursday when the 38-year-old posted a video on his Instagram, showing off his current weight.
Paramount facing pressure to deal with Strickland’s recent comments
This coming Saturday, former middleweight champion, Strickland, returns for the primary time in over a 12 months when he headlines UFC Houston.
Ahead of his clash against Anthony Hernandez, Strickland once more shared his controversial views on several topics, with female MMA being certainly one of them.
And after claiming that he isn’t all in favour of the recently announced fight between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, the 34-year-old went on a harmful rant about women’s MMA.
Following his comments, the UFC’s recent broadcaster Paramount faces pressure to deal with Strickland’s comments.
Amanda Nunes fires back at Strickland’s sexist comments
After Strickland’s comments were picked up by the mainstream media and criticized by the vast majority of UFC fans, they were also picked up by former double champion, Amanda Nunes.
During his rant, the previous 185lb champion claimed that ‘the weakest man’ could beat up ‘The Lioness’, who once reigned over the ladies’s bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
His comments were picked up by the Brazilian who told Strickland ‘don’t cry’ as she fired back at his controversy.