Heat up hot sauce, brown sugar and water in a saucepan until all the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place a metal cooling rack on top of the foil (it can work without, too).

Cut chicken into 1 1/2-inch x 5-inch strips or in 1 1/2-inch cubes.

Soak the chicken in the buttermilk. Mix the panko, cornmeal, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a bowl. Remove the chicken one piece at a time, let the buttermilk drip off, and gently press into the panko cornmeal mixture until coated with crumbs.

Place the chicken on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip each piece and bake for another 10 minutes (total bake time for the chicken is about 20 minutes)

When the chicken is done, brush sauce on both sides of each piece. Return to the baking sheet.