UFC Austin kicks off with a pair of bouts on Fight Pass in the middleweight and welterweight divisions.
Before Donald Cerrone and Yancy Medeiros cross paths in the UFC Austin main event, six preliminary bouts will take place, two of which are on UFC Fight Pass. Oskar Piechota aims to stay undefeated against two-time Ultimate Fighter veteran Tim Williams, who will be making his promotional debut. Josh Burkman will look to snap his four-fight losing streak against the durable Alex Morono.
Oskar Piechota is 10-0-1 in his career and finished all of his victories before earning a decision win in his UFC debut in October. The Polish middleweight doles out his stoppages fairly evenly, with five submissions and four knockouts. Tim Williams appeared on both the 17th and 19th seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, garnering a 1-2 record on the show. Since then, Williams is 7-2, only losing to UFC veteran Anthony Smith.
Josh Burkman is a 45-fight veteran who appeared on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. Burkman went 5-4 in his first stint with the promotion, then earned his way back with a great run through World Series of Fighting, defeating UFC veterans Gerald Harris, Aaron Simpson, and Jon Fitch along the way. Since signing with the UFC for a second time, Burkman has gone an abysmal 1-6 with one additional loss overturned.
Alex Morono was on a five-fight win streak before entering the UFC, and extended his run to seven before losing to Niko Price and Keita Nakamura. However, the loss to Price was overturned due to a failed drug test. Morono has stopped his opponent nine times in his 13 career victories.
Oskar Piechota vs. Tim Williams
Piechota went to the leg kick early then caught a swift hook to the chin from Williams. Piechota tried the leg kick again, and Williams answered with a head kick. Both men were catching each other with solid strikes, with Williams chaining together a combination and Piechota sticking with straight punches.
Williams committed to a left hand but whiffed, and Piechota took full advantage. Piechota put all his weight into a right hand that floored Williams. A few follow up shots and that was it, just under two minutes into the first round of the night.
Oskar Piechota def. Tim Williams by TKO (Punches) in Round 1 (1:54)
Josh Burkman vs. Alex Morono
Alex Morono started the fight with a leg kick, then Burkman missed with a head kick. More leg kicks landed for Morono. A leg kick took Burkman off balance momentarily, then a hard one sent a smacking sound throughout the arena, causing Burkman to switch stance.
Burkman went in with a combination, but Morono landed a right hook followed by a left hand that dropped the veteran. Morono hopped on a guillotine, trapping an arm with a leg and forced Burkman to tap.
Alex Morono def. Josh Burkman by Submission (Guillotine) in Round 1 (2:12)
