UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros (Preview & Predictions)

Cowboy looks to make a statement at UFC Fight Night 126
Cowboy looks to make a statement at UFC Fight Night 126

UFC Fight Night 126 is here, and the card may very well prove to be a sleeper hit, given the number of exciting matchups both on the prelims and the main card.

Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone takes on Yancy Medeiros in the main event of the evening. Meanwhile, Derrick Lewis does battle with Marcin Tybura in the evening’s co-headliner.

Several other intriguing matchups are also set to take place at the event. So, without further ado, here are the complete predictions & preview for UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros


Indian fans can watch UFC Fight Night 126 from 7:30 am onwards on Monday, February 19th, Live & Exclusive on SONY ESPN & SONY ESPN HD*


#Main Card (FOX Sports 1)

#1 Donald Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros

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Donald Cerrone is coming off a brutal stoppage loss to Darren Till. While that loss could be attributed to the fact that Cerrone was a tad burnt out owing to his habit of competing several times in a given year, the bout also showed that Cowboy’s defensive striking still has certain holes that could be exploited by good strikers.

While Yancy Medeiros is a good offensive striker, his defensive striking leaves a lot to be desired. This matchup is highly intriguing as it has two former Lightweights competing against one another in the Welterweight division.

Cerrone has to maintain his distance from Medeiros in the early going, and once the former gets his rhythm and timing down, he could turn up the heat and tag Medeiros with kicks from long range. Fans can expect Cerrone to secure a late stoppage in this one—Round 4 or 5—with a barrage of punches, elbows and knees.

Prediction: Donald Cerrone def. Yancy Medeiros via TKO

#2 Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura

Derrick Lewis looks to KO Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 126
Derrick Lewis looks to KO Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night 126

Derrick Lewis could very well lose this matchup; getting taken down and controlled on the ground by Tybura, as the latter is a much superior grappler as compared to Lewis.

However, Lewis seems to have learnt from his mistakes in the past, and constantly keeps improving on the ground—adding more layers to his overall MMA game, as he already possesses excellent striking and vaunted KO power. Lewis is likely to catch Tybura on the feet early, and swarm him; putting the latter to sleep with a few follow-up strikes.

Prediction: Derrick Lewis def. Marcin Tybura via KO


#3 James Vick vs. Francisco Trinaldo

James Vick put on a career-best performance against Joe Duffy—catching the latter with a beautiful uppercut and putting him out for the win.

Vick may get a tad careless as the fight goes on, however, he’s big for his weight-class and knows how to utilize his size advantage to a T. Expect Vick to stay at long range, away from Trinaldo’s looping hooks.

In the latter half of Round 2, through the rest of the 3-round bout, Vick is likely to put his foot on the gas and out-point Trinaldo by a wide margin—with the fight largely taking place on the feet. Vick takes this one on the scorecards, in yet another dominant showing.

Prediction: James Vick def. Francisco Trinaldo via Decision


#4 Thiago Alves vs. Curtis Millender

Thiago Alves has been through several ups and downs after being one of the scariest Welterweights in the UFC back in the day and almost besting GSP for the 170-pound title.

Alves has been through wars inside the Octagon—the effects of which show each time this battle-worn veteran sets foot inside an MMA cage. Regardless, Alves is still a highly skilled combatant, and is likely to use his excellent Muay Thai skills so as to out-point Millender, en route to a clear-cut decision victory.

Prediction: Thiago Alves def. Curtis Millender via Decision


#5 Steven Peterson vs. Brandon Davis

Steven Peterson and Brandon Davis are both run-of-the-mill MMA scrappers who seem to be proficient in every aspect of the MMA game.

However, when it comes to specialization in a given art, neither Peterson nor Davis can stake claim to the same. Nevertheless, make no mistake about it—this is an evenly matched showdown and likely to go the distance.

This fight will see a few fun exchanges transpire on the feet, with the grappling sequences having both battle for position, albeit with little to no decisive moments coming to fruition on the mat. In the end, Peterson is likely to sway the judges in his favor, on the back of his relatively superior technique not only on the feet but also on the mat.

Prediction: Steven Peterson def. Brandon Davis via Decision


#6 Sage Northcutt vs. Thibault Gouti

Sage Northcutt is an excellent athlete.

However, when it comes to combat sports, athleticism solely isn’t enough to make it in the big leagues. Regardless, given how young Northcutt is and the people he’s trained with (Tyron Woodley at Roufusport and Urijah Faber at Team Alpha Male), one can expect Northcutt to steadily shore up the holes in his grappling.

Northcutt is a much better athlete than Gouti, and more dangerous on the feet as well. Fans can expect Gouti to get by on his durability in this matchup; taking a one-sided beat-down at the hands of Northcutt.

Prediction: Sage Northcutt def. Thibault Gouti via Decision

#Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1)

#1 Jared Gordon vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira

Jared Gordon is a steadily improving MMA combatant
Jared Gordon is a steadily improving MMA combatant

Jared Gordon is the much more well-rounded fighter in this matchup.

While Gordon seems to consistently underperform under the bright lights, his talent and conditioning alone help him get past many foes. Gordon is likely to start off cautious; jabbing from long range.

Following which, he’ll adjust to Ferreira’s rhythm and timing from Round 2 onwards, and cruise to a decision victory, on the back of superior striking and slick grappling.

Prediction: Jared Gordon def. Carlos Diego Ferreira via Decision


#2 Brian Camozzi vs. Geoffrey Neal

Brian Camozzi is decent in all avenues of the MMA game, however, he seems to have trouble pulling the trigger, at times.

In other words, despite being on a greater skill level than most of his foes, Camozzi seems to be gun-shy when it comes to pushing the pace, and putting the hurt on his foes. Regardless, Geoffrey Neal seems to face the same hesitation conundrum, so to speak, inside the Octagon.

This fight could play out slow, over long stretches of time, with Camozzi likely impressing the judges enough as to warrant the decision victory.

Prediction: Brian Camozzi def. Geoffrey Neal via Decision


#3 Joby Sanchez vs. Roberto Sanchez

Joby Sanchez is perhaps one of the most underrated fighters to have ever graced the MMA cage.

While Joby possesses excellent skills, he does seem to face a few mental blocks under the bright lights of the Octagon. That in turn, causes his skills to be portrayed in a relatively worse light—misleading most fans, and not exhibiting his skills to the fullest. Case in point being his 2015 fight with Geanne Herrera—a bout that Joby started off with good rhythm, however, one that slipped away as he failed to let his hands go with confidence.

Regardless, against Roberto Sanchez, fans can expect Joby to tag his foe at long-to-mid range; drop him, and then secure a submission on the mat.

Prediction: Joby Sanchez def. Roberto Sanchez via Submission


#4 Sarah Moras vs. Lucie Pudilova

Sarah Moras is a steadily improving fighter who seems to be developing a greater understanding of striking fundamentals as and when she acquires more experience.

Moras is one a greater level—technically speaking—as compared to Pudilova. And when that Octagon door slams shut, it’ll show. Moras is likely to out-strike Pudilova, and with the grappling sequences being even-steven, the judges are likely to award Moras the victory.

Prediction: Sarah Moras def. Lucie Pudilova via Decision

#Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass)

#1 Alex Morono vs. Josh Burkman

Alex Morono looks to pick up another win at UFC Fight Night 126
Alex Morono looks to pick up another win at UFC Fight Night 126

Alex Morono is an excellent fighter, and has come a long way since his beginnings as a wild striker who threw with little to no care for defense.

On the other hand, Josh Burkman—renowned for his toughness and heart—has fallen upon tough times as of late, as his legendary chin seems to have taken a ton of damage over the years. While Burkman will likely survive until the final bell, and in fact could very well score a flash KO/sub here, the safe bet would be Morono out-pointing the former over the course of 3 rounds.

Prediction: Alex Morono def. Josh Burkman via Decision


#2 Tim Williams vs. Oskar Piechota

Tim Williams is a savvy MMA scrapper who has vastly underrated grappling.

As regards the striking aspect of this matchup, both Williams and Piechota are evenly matched up. However, Williams will look to take this one to the mat, and work to slap on a submission—something that he could secure in the early stages of the fight when the sweat/blood-induced grease is minimal on both combatants’ bodies.

Prediction: Tim Williams def. Oskar Piechota via Submission

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram