UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje
{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2019}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name= UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje
|image= UFC_on_ESPN+_16.jpg
|promotion=Ultimate Fighting Championship
|date={{start date|2019|09|14}}
|venue=Rogers Arena
|city=Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
|previousevent=UFC 242: Khabib vs. Poirier
|followingevent=UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens
}}
UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Gaethje (also known as UFC Fight Night 158 or UFC on ESPN+ 16) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 14, 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2019/06/jim-crute-vs-misha-cirkunov-official-ufc-on-espn-plus-16-vancouver|title=Jim Crute vs. Misha Cirkunov official for UFC on ESPN+ 16 in Vancouver|author=Nolan King|date=2019-06-24|publisher=mmamunkie.com|access-date=2019-06-26}}
Background
A lightweight bout between former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Donald Cerrone and former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje served as the event's headliner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmanews.com/donald-Cowboy-vs-justin-gaethje-headlines-ufc-vancouver/|title=Donald Cerrone vs. Justin Gaethje Headlines UFC Vancouver|author=Clyde Aidoo|date=2019-07-18|publisher=mmanews.com|access-date=2019-07-18}}
A middleweight bout between former WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion David Branch and The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia light heavyweight winner Andrew Sanchez was scheduled for the event. However, it was reported that Branch was forced to pull out of the event due to injury and was replaced by Marvin Vettori.{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/david-branch-haakt-geblesseerd-af-voor-gevecht-tegen-andrew-sanchez-tijdens-ufc-vancouver/|title=David Branch drops out injured for battle against Andrew Sanchez during UFC Vancouver|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Redactie|date=2019-08-02|access-date=2019-08-02}} {{in lang|nl}} In turn, it was reported that Sanchez was forced to pull out of the event due to an eye infection, resulting in cancellation of the bout.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/andrew-sanchez-vs-marvin-vettori-off-ufc-on-espn-plus-16-illness|title=Andrew Sanchez vs. Marvin Vettori pulled from UFC on ESPN+ 16 due to illness|date=2019-09-11|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Dave Doyle|access-date=2019-09-12}} In turn, the pairing was left intact and was rescheduled a month later at UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/ufc-vancouver-andrew-sanchez-eye-infection-forced-off-card-marvin-vettori|title=Andrew Sanchez: Eye infection forced me off UFC Vancouver; Marvin Vettori fight rebooked|author=Farah Hannoun|date=2019-09-12|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|access-date=2019-09-12}}
A welterweight bout between Michel Pereira and Sergey Khandozhko was scheduled for the event. However, it was reported that Khandozhko was removed from the card due to visa issues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/9/7/20854060/sergey-khandozhko-out-ufc-vancouver-fight-michel-pereira|title=Sergey Khandozhko out of UFC Vancouver fight with Michel Pereira|author=Guilherme Cruz|date=2019-09-07|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2019-09-08}} He was replaced by promotional newcomer Tristan Connelly.{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/ufc-vancouver-michel-pereira-vs-tristan-connelly-booked-days-notice|title=Michel Pereira draws hometown newcomer Tristan Connelly at UFC Vancouver|author=Nolan King|date=2019-09-10|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|access-date=2019-09-10}} At the weigh-ins, Pereira weighed in at 172 pounds, 1 pound over the welterweight non-title fight limit of 171. He was fined 20% of his purse and his bout with Connelly proceeded at a catchweight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/9/13/20864686/ufc-vancouver-weigh-in-results-michel-pereira-fails-to-make-weight-fight-against-tristan-connolly|title=UFC Vancouver weigh-in results: Michel Pereira fails to make weight, but fight against Tristan Connelly still on|author=Newswire|date=2019-09-13|publisher=mmafighting.com|access-date=2019-09-14}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card (ESPN+)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|1
|4:18
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|vs.
|No Contest (accidental eye poke)
|1
|4:03
|An accidental eye poke rendered Duffee unable to continue.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Catchweight (172 lb)
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–27, 29–27)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Light Heavyweight
|def.
|Submission (peruvian necktie)
|1
|3:38
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary Card (ESPN+)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|0:59
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 30–27, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|def.
|Ryan MacDonald
|TKO (punches)
|1
|4:43
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|def.
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes|MMAevent bout=}}
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.
- Fight of the Night: Tristan Connelly vs. Michel Pereira (Michel Pereira was ineligible to receive any bonus money due to missing weight, therefore Tristan Connelly received a $100,000 bonus.)
- Performance of the Night: Justin Gaethje and Misha Cirkunov
See also
{{portal|Martial arts|Canada}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{UFC Events}}
{{2019 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Mixed martial arts events in Vancouver
Category:2019 in mixed martial arts