UFC Austin preview: Medeiros looks to resume his welterweight renaissance
A move up in divisions doesn't always remedy inconsistency and weight management issues, but Yancy Medeiros might say otherwise.
Since ditching the cut to 155 pounds in September 2016, the 30-year-old fan favorite - who, astoundingly enough, debuted as a light heavyweight a decade ago - has dispatched three straight dance partners inside the distance and cracked the UFC's welterweight top 15. Just over two months after taking one of 2017's most enthralling slobberknockers with a third-round TKO of Alex Oliveira, he'll look to make it four in a row opposite fellow stoppage machine Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone to close out Saturday's UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin.
Much like Medeiros, the 34-year-old Cerrone enjoyed a resurgence when a failed bid to dethrone then-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos prompted a move up to 170 pounds two years ago. The change of scenery paid off, as he mounted a four-fight stoppage streak at the expense of Oliveira, Patrick Cote, Rick Story, and Matt Brown at his typically prolific work rate. But a cruel 2017 had "Cowboy" briefly entertaining a return to lightweight, as Jorge Masvidal, Robbie Lawler, and the budding Darren Till accounted for the career-long three-fight skid that looms large over his date with Medeiros.
Whether Medeiros' streak resumes or Cerrone's ends, those in attendance at Frank Erwin Center will be regaled with fireworks of the highest order in the former's first top billing.
'The Black Beast' back on the hunt
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Derrick Lewis' year ended nearly as badly as Cerrone's.
After his six-fight win streak ended via Mark Hunt's mitts this past June, "The Black Beast" saw a lingering back injury rear its ugly head once more and keep him from facing Fabricio Werdum mere hours prior to UFC 216. The adopted Texan now aims to get back in the win column in Saturday's heavyweight co-headliner opposite Marcin Tybura, then publicly ponder "where Francis (Ngannou's) tired ass at?"
Lewis and Tybura were booked to meet two Octobers ago in the Philippines at UFC Fight Night 97, a card that met its demise when BJ Penn pulled out of the main event with an injury just over a week out. Fittingly enough, Tybura is nursing a loss to Werdum, one that came in the form of a lopsided decision at UFC Fight Night 121 in November. He meets Lewis with a promotional record of 3-2.
Texans take over
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If James Vick had his way, he'd be headlining Saturday's bill.
Instead, he'll lock horns with Brazil's Francisco Trinaldo moments before Lewis and Tybura do the damn thing in his home state. One of the card's seven fighters to call Texas home, Vick has incessantly campaigned for a push up the lightweight pyramid over the past year, and he's held up his end of the bargain, disposing of Abel Trujillo, Marco Polo Reyes, and Joe Duffy by stoppage over his trio of walks to the Octagon in 2017. Trinaldo, on the other hand, vies for a second straight victory in a rare trip stateside after rebounding from a tapout loss to Kevin Lee with a unanimous decision over Jim Miller at UFC Fight Night 119 in October.
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Joining Vick on the bill are a pair of Lone Star State products making their maiden voyages under the UFC banner. Former Legacy FC bantamweight champion Steven Peterson meets short-notice fill Brandon Davis in a featherweight tilt on the main card six months after dropping a razor-close split decision to Benito Lopez on Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series - a loss he atoned for with a second-round TKO of Dustin Winter at LFA 28 in December.
Another DWTNCS and LFA alum in welterweight Geoff Neal - who earned the call with a pair of first-round knockouts just 11 days apart this past summer - looks to hand Brian Camozzi his third loss in as many UFC showings on the evening's prelims.
Related - UFC Austin predictions: Will Cerrone's career-long skid end or rage on?