Jay Primetown gives his thoughts on each of the fighters who competed at UFC Fight Night 126 in Austin, Texas. Jay gives his letter grades for each fighter on TheMMA-Analysis podcast which can be found on MMAOddsbreaker.com.
Oskar Piechota vs. Tim Williams
Piechota: He took some punches in the opening couple minutes of this bout, but one punch changed this fight and it gave him a knockout victory. Grade remains C-
Williams: He was getting the better of the striking, but he kept his head upright and eventually took a big punch clean to the side of his head sending him to the mat. His movement is a real concern as he faces better athletes in the UFC. Grade remains D+
Josh Burkman vs. Alex Morono
Burkman: He once again was clipped and finished in the first round. This is his third straight loss in the first round. With this latest loss, it’s more than likely his last fight in the UFC. Downgraded from D to F
Morono: He was the better fighter and it showed in this display. He had more to offer on the feet and was able to clip his opponent securing a finish. Morono has proven he’s a capable of fighter and should stick in the UFC long term. Grade remains D+
Sarah Moras vs. Lucie Pudilova
Moras: She’s creative on the mat, but other than that there isn’t much to her MMA skill set. She gets hit way too much on the feet to have long term success in the UFC. Downgraded from C- to D+
Pudilova: A really nice performance from the Czech bantamweight. She beat up Moras both on the feet and on the mat to win a clear decision. At just 23 years of age, there’s a lot to look forward to her as she continues to build her resume. Upgraded from D+ to C-
Joby Sanchez vs. Roberto Sanchez
J. Sanchez: He gave up his back early in this fight and was never able to gain separation. I still believe in his abilities, but this fight certainly didn’t showcase that skill set. Grade remains D+
R. Sanchez: Impressive win by Robeto Sanchez as he dominated the grappling exchanges. He’s a dangerous opponent in this division. Grade remains C-
Brian Camozzi vs. Geoff Neal
Camozzi: He landed a nice punch that opened a cut on Neal’s eyebrow, but he left his neck open. It was this opening that Neal needed and Camozzi was forced to tap. Camozzi has decent all around technique, but he’s not a finisher and it’s hard to win at welterweight without being able to finish fights. Grade remains D
Neal: He throws heavy punches and that’s what it makes him dangerous, however it was a submission in this fight to earn a finish. It was a rare submission victory for Neal as it was his first since 2012. Grade remains D+
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Jared Gordon
Ferreira: I expected ring rust after a two year absence, but he never looked better in the cage. He was effective on the feet and even better on the ground. Great win and performance. Upgraded from C- to C+
Gordon: He was sluggish in this bout and never was able to get out of first gear. Before he knew it, he was dropped to the mat and finished. Grade remains C
Thibault Gouti vs. Sage Northcutt
Gouti: He fought well in this fight nearly finishing Sage Northcutt, but he ran out of gas in the third round and it cost him a chance at a win. Upgraded from D- to D
Northcutt: He showed some resilience in this fight after being hurt to have a strong round three and win a decision. He’s made some improvements particularly in his urgency late in the fight, however his striking defense is a major question mark in his ability to rise in this division. Grade remains D+
Brandon Davis vs. Steven Peterson
Davis: His striking and movement was really strong early in the fight which allowed him to build a large lead. He was fatigued in the third round, but it was already too little too late as he built a big lead to win on the scorecards. Upgraded from D to D+
Peterson: He’s relentless on the feet and pushes for all 15 minutes of his fights. He’s undersized for the division and lacks the punching power to hurt opponents, but he’s the type of fighter who can entertain with his style. Debut grade is D
Thiago Alves vs. Curtis Millender
Alves: He struggled with the length of Millender and ate punches as he tried to get inside. On his way in, he was caught with a head kick in the second round that sent him to the canvas. Alves is on the downside of his career and while he still has decent instincts, he doesn’t have the athleticism to remain competitive. Downgraded from C- to D+
Millender: A fantastic debut from the California based fighter. He really put it on the veteran and earned a spectacular finish to put the division on notice. There’s a lot to like about Millender, so it will be interesting to see how he gets matched up next. Upgraded from D+ to C-
Francisco Trinaldo vs. James Vick
Trinaldo: He couldn’t keep Vick grounded and on the feet struggled to land anything significant. It was a competitive bout, but he clearly dropped a decision. Grade remains C+
Vick: He fought a bit too conservatively in this bout, but his game plan was solid and he took minimal damage in this decision victory. He’s 9-1 in the UFC and closing in on the top ten of the weight class. Grade remains B-
Derrick Lewis vs. Marcin Tybura
Lewis: He landed several big punches in this bout, but it wasn’t until the third round when he was able to find the finish. He struggled to maintain positions on the mat, but his fight ending power always gives him a chance to win fights. Grade remains C+
Tybura: He had a real opportunity to get a win here, but his inability to secure an early takedown in the third round made him vulnerable to a counter Lewis punch to change the complexion of the fight. His lack of fight ending power is becoming an issue for him as he faces better competition. Grade remains C+
Donald Cerrone vs. Yancy Medeiros
Cerrone: Another night at the office for Cowboy. He got into a fire fight with his opponent, but it was Cerrone who was able to land with more accuracy to hurt and ultimately finish his opponent. Upgraded from C+ to B-
Medeiros: This was the biggest moment of Medeiros career thus far. He certainly entertained fans with his aggressive style willingness to engage in the pocket. Grade remains C+
