Capping off one of the best UFC cards in some time, Donald Cerrone threw down with Yancy Medeiros at UFC Austin, cracking him with a right hand that set up the finish in the main event.
In the welterweight main event at UFC Austin on Sunday night, fan favorite Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone took on the surging Hawaiian Yancy Medeiros. In the worst slump of his career, Cowboy Cerrone was on a three-fight skid, and had flirted with heading back to lightweight. Yancy Medeiros, meanwhile, was skyrocketing up the rankings. With three straight wins, and a Fight of the Night effort against Alex Oliveira last time out (that some pegged as Fight of the Year), Medeiros had become a fighter to watch.
Old guard vs. new guard was the underlying story line — so would the old war horse fend off the Hawaiian invasion? The pair embraced in a hug before the fight in a show of respect, but once underway, Medeiros came forward early. Cerrone attempted a takedown, only to be stuffed. He then ate a spinning kick from Medeiros. Medeiros was finding a home for his right hand, but Cerrone was able to answer back. They’d circle, and Medeiros was able to land with the right again, then double up on it. Cowboy flashed as if he was moving for a takedown, but backed off. Medeiros then slipped, and Cerrone backed off, allowing him to recover — they embarced again before getting back to work. Cerrone then connected, wobbling Medeiros. Medeiros recovered, pressing forward; Cowboy landed a knee to the body. Medeiros went to the body, Cerrone shot in, was fought off but launched a knee in the clinch.
The pair began engaging in a standup war, with Cerrone getting the better of it. And while it looked like they’d escape the round, Donald Cerrone connected with a heavy right hand to the jaw as the seconds wore down. Yancy Medeiros was wobbled, and looked to be skating in the cage. Cerrone came in as Medeiros went crashing to the ground. A few more follow-up strikes and that was all she wrote!
In another great show of sportsmanship, Medeiros gave Cerrone’s beloved grandma a hug after the fight, capping off a feelgood, action-packed evening in Austin.
Donald Cerrone def. Yancy Medeiros by TKO, Round 1, 4:58
