UFC Austin predictions: Will Cerrone's career-long skid end or rage on?

Prior to Sunday's UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, theScore's Themistoklis Alexis makes his picks for the evening's main-card bouts.

Welterweight

Donald Cerrone (19-7 UFC, 32-10)
vs.
Yancy Medeiros (6-4 UFC, 15-4)

The takedown has surprisingly figured into Cerrone's arsenal of late, and he'd be wise to resort to it if he's to end his three-fight skid.

Medeiros has been far too willing to eat a zinger or three to give one, but as much as Cerrone loves to bang, he may be treated to flashbacks of his lopsided loss to Nate Diaz if he allows Medeiros to settle into a groove on the feet. As the superior jiu-jitsu player, Cerrone's much-needed W resides on the mat. It behooves him to neutralize Medeiros' funky boxing, bring him there and angle for a tapout.

THE PICK: Cerrone

Heavyweight

Derrick Lewis (9-3 UFC, 18-5)
vs.
Marcin Tybura (3-2 UFC, 16-3)

This isn't always the case, but swangin' and bangin' gets the nod over technical proficiency in Saturday's co-main event.

Polished, he is not, but Lewis' fearsome knockout power will certainly command the methodical Tybura's respect. The adopted Texan should see his tendency to start slow met with a few licks from Tybura, and while countering with haymakers might not do his gas tank many favors, it'll only take one to rock Tybura before Lewis can bring him to the canvas and pound him out to get back in the win column.

THE PICK: Lewis

Lightweight

James Vick (8-1 UFC, 12-1)
vs.
Francisco Trinaldo (12-4 UFC, 22-5)

Vick didn't get the top billing he asked for, and he'll vent his frustration on Trinaldo come fight night.

As the longer, rangier fighter, expect Vick to keep the ever game Trinaldo on the end of his reach with a variety of kicks as he did against Joe Duffy in his latest outing. If the Texan's length can give Trinaldo fits and prompt a reckless entry from the Brazilian, Vick should catch him with a counter on the way in and finish him off on the mat for his fourth straight stoppage victory.

THE PICK: Vick

Welterweight

Thiago Alves (14-8 UFC, 22-11)
vs.
Curtis Millender (0-0 UFC, 14-3)

If Alves wants to make it two in a row, he'll have to take away Millender's space.

The newcomer has dispatched two straight by head kick, and could make the shorter Alves the recipient of a third if the pair stay in space. The Brazilian should oblige Millender with a duel on the feet as expected, but keep it on his terms by pressuring the debutant, entering the pocket and scoring from the Muay Thai clinch. As long as he can replicate the formula for three rounds, he'll leave Texas with his first win streak in over three years.

THE PICK: Alves

Featherweight

Steven Peterson (0-0 UFC, 16-6)
vs.
Brandon Davis (0-1 UFC, 8-3)

It won't be pretty, but Peterson's grit and grappling should net him the W.

With Davis aiming to stage a fire fight, the former Legacy FC champ - durable as he is - would be wise to nullify his striking and either make it a clinch-heavy affair against the fence or work for takedowns. The longer he can wear Davis down or keep his back pinned to the canvas, the greater Peterson's chances are of getting his hand raised in his first walk to the Octagon.

"Ocho" grinds out a decision.

THE PICK: Peterson

Lightweight

Sage Northcutt (4-2 UFC, 9-2)
vs.
Thibault Gouti (1-3 UFC, 12-3)

The UFC appears to have learned how to groom the raw, yet improving Northcutt.

"Super Sage" got some much-needed reps in his three-round rout of Michel Quinones in November, and enters another favorable style matchup in Gouti, a fellow striker who last dispatched Andrew Holbrook in under a round. Unlike Holbrook, Northcutt won't pause to admire every strike he lands on Gouti, instead walking him down, keeping his volume up and punctuating every round with well-timed takedowns - as he did to Quinones - for a win on points.

THE PICK: Northcutt