The three stars of ‘UFC 192: Cormier vs. Gustafsson' in Houston

Albert Tumenov

The UFC plans to stage 41 events in 2015, and during that time, hundreds of fighters will enter and exit the octagon.

While pre-fight hype is an enjoyable aspect of the sport, it’s ultimately the in-cage performances that speak most to fans. For the majority of fighters, the opportunity to present their skills to the world only comes along a few times per year.

A total of 26 fighters got the chance at part of Saturday’s UFC 192 pay-per-view event at Houston’s Toyota Center. Now that UFC 192 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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Third Star: Ryan Bader

Although it wasn’t the definitive stoppage victory he wanted, Ryan Bader (20-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) soundly defeated former UFC champion Rashad Evans (19-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) for one of the most significant victories of his career.

Although Evans entered the contest after a nearly two-year layoff, a victory over “Suga” is still a meaningful accomplishment, and Bader made it happen in convincing fashion.

“The Ultimate Fighter 8” winner landed more shots on the feet and mixed in timely takedowns to keep Evans off balance for all three rounds. Bader prevented the ex-titleholder from building any offensive momentum largely in part to his improved footwork and varied striking attack.

Bader’s victory pushed his winning streak to five at 205 pounds, and even if he’s not granted the next title shot, “Darth” is still a top contender in the weight class and continues to improve with every fight.

Second Star: Albert Tumenov

UFC welterweight Albert Tumenov (16-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) once told MMAjunkie he’s the best striker on the UFC roster. Every time he scores a knockout, Tumenov takes another step toward proving it.

In one of the most anticipated preliminary-card matchups at UFC 192, Tumenov made quick and violent work of Alan Jouban (12-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC) en route to highlight-reel knockout victory less than three minutes into the opening round.

“Einstein” possesses the perfect mix of technique, power and patience. He forced Jouban into striking exchanges and picked his shots until a head kick and series of perfectly placed punches led to Jouban falling to the canvas.

Tumenov’s victory marked his fourth consecutive triumphant performance inside the octagon. He’s finished his opponent by knockout in three of those victories, and at 23, he’s quickly becoming a name to fear at 170 pounds.

First Star: Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is clearly a battle-tested champion following his first successful defense of the UFC light-heavyweight belt, which came against Alexander Gustafsson (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC).

Cormier and Gustafsson turned in a “Fight of the Year” contender after five rounds of back-and-forth action that left both men battered and bloody. Cormier emerged victorious with the split decision.

Although Cormier is typically accustomed to dominating the opposition, Gustafsson refused to be a pushover. “The Mauler” had “DC” on the verge of defeat and became the first to score a takedown and a knockdown on Cormier in MMA competition.

The champion showed his resolve through every bit of adversity, though, and continued to push forward with his relentless offensive pressure until the 25-minute time limit expired.

The victory moved Cormier one step closer to a rematch with ex-UFC champ Jon Jones, who hinted after UFC 192 that his return to the octagon could come in the near future.

For complete coverage of UFC 192, check out the UFC Events section of the site.