It's a showdown of elite Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight fighters when the world's most recognized mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion brings a stacked UFC 192 pay-per-view (PPV) card to Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Reigning 205-pound champion Daniel Cormier aims to make the first title defense of his Octagon career against two-time title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in the evening's headliner. Another interesting light heavyweight matchup takes co-main event honors as Rashad Evans returns from a near two-year layoff to challenge streaking contender Ryan Bader.
Elsewhere on the main card are intriguing tilts featuring top-15 flyweights Joseph Benavidez vs. Ali Baugautinov, while Jessica Eye defends her status as a contender in the women's bantamweight division against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 winner Julianna Pena.
However, before we can get to the night's main courses, Maniacs everywhere are treated to a set of seven "Prelims" bouts, which begin on Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET, before transferring over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET for the final four.
Below are recaps of the three Fight Pass "Prelims":
Francisco Trevino vs. Sage Northcutt
Two Texas natives wanting to work their way up the 155-pound ladder meet when Trevino goes toe-to-toe with the 19-year-old Northcutt.
A front-leg sidekick to start comes from Northcutt. Trevino slips throwing a high kick, which causes a rabid response from Northcutt. He pounces on "Sitkayan" with numerous rights and lefts, before dumping him on his back -- and pummeling him some more -- to earn the lightning fast first-round technical knockout.
Your winner: Sage Northcutt via first-round technical knockout
Northcutt improves his record to 6-0, while Trevino falls to 12-2.
Chris Cariaso vs. Sergio Pettis
The former flyweight title challenger Cariaso wants to avoid a third straight Octagon loss against a recent addition to the 125-pound division Pettis.
Body kick attempt for Cariaso. Pettis catches a kick, trips him and takes the 34-year-old down. Pettis is working in full guard. The 22-year-old Pettis moves into half guard. Butterfly guard now. Cariaso's guard is quite impressive; he's halting any offense or advancement. Cariaso gets himself to the cage and is back to his feet. Pettis switching between southpaw and orthodox. Sidekick attempt for the Roufusport fighter. Cariaso looks for the clinch and Pettis goes for the trip, but he can't get it. "Kamikaze" scores with a couple of good bodykicks. Solid right jab finds the mark for Pettis. He's giving the veteran a bunch of different looks; head kicks, jabs, body kicks. Pettis drops him with a right hand. He's in hot pursuit, with Cariaso trying to survive. Pettis postures up in full guard and is starting to land heavy shots.
A good leg kick by Cariaso starts off round two. He's putting together nice combinations early. "The Phenom" is sticking the right jab in his face and then gets a takedown. Pettis is in full guard. He secures half guard moments later. They're stood back up after a stalemate with 2:30 left. All of Cariaso's combinations are one-two's with the leg kick to finish. Very basic. Pettis partially lands a head kick. The Milwaukee-based fighter shoots hard and lands the takedown. He passes into side control. Some blood coming from Cariaso's nose. Pettis stands up and starts kicking the legs of Cariaso. He slides back into full guard, where he begins elbowing Cariaso to end the second frame.
Pettis catches a kick and throws Cariaso to the ground. He goes for the guillotine choke, but doesn't get it. Then, Pettis looks for the mounted crucifix position. He gets Cariaso's back momentarily, but after a scramble, he's reversed and put on his back. A good upkick connects for Pettis, which stuns Cariaso, who's in side control. Pettis working for the kimura. Not much action going on. Pettis gets himself back to full guard. Cariaso slides into half guard. Back to full guard. Cariaso is attacking with a heel hook and possibly an armbar. It looks deep, but Pettis is out of harms way and saved by the bell.
Your winner: Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision
Pettis improves his record to 13-2, while Cariaso suffers the dreaded third straight loss.
Derrick Lewis vs. Viktor Pesta
The knockout machine Lewis searches for consistency in 265-pound division with a signature win over Viktor Pesta.
Lewis goes high with a kick to get us started. "The Black Beast" shoots in for the takedown about 20 seconds in and gets it. Pesta back up in a hurry with Lewis in hot pursuit. Pesta reverses, grabs underhooks and gets the trip. He's working in side control. The 25-year-old is landing some short shots. Some good knees find the mark. Lewis explodes and gets off his back. The pair trade takedowns momentarily, but it's Pesta in the dominant position currently. The Texas native Lewis searches for a kimura from the bottom briefly. He gets to north-south position and then rises up. Pesta with the double underhooks lands his third takedown of the round. We're back up yet again, with the Czech fighter smothering him against the fence.
The pair are tentative to engage early in round two. Pesta shoots, but Lewis is defending well and we're now up against the fence. He trips him down to the mat. Pesta starts work in half guard. He's lands a couple elbows in full guard. The referee stands them up halfway through round two. Lewis throws a combination, but it's futile and Pesta takes him down again. Five total takedowns for Pesta in this fight. Lewis is back to his feet with two minutes left, but Pesta is a pitbull. Lewis then launches an all-out assault blasting him with rights and an uppercut, before sprawling out with Pesta. The 30-year-old Lewis ends up on top and proceeds to hammerfist Pesta's face in, before the second-round bell saves the latter.
Lewis misses on a right hand. Pesta retaliates with a takedown attempt and shoots hard. Lewis sprawls hard. He's back on top of Pesta. Big bombs being dropped from Lewis. He gets full mount now. Lewis is awarded the third-round technical knockout stoppage 1:15 in.
Lewis improves his record to 13-4, while Pesta drops to 10-2.
Your winner: Lewis via third-round technical knockout
For more on the UFC 192: "Cormier vs. Gustafsson" fight card, click here.