The 3 stars of ‘UFC Fight Night 83: Cowboy vs. Cowboy' in Pittsburgh

The UFC plans to stage more than 40 events in 2016, 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 on Sunday as part of UFC Fight Night 83 at Pittsburgh’s CONSOL Energy Center. Now that the FOX Sports 1-televised event is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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Third star: Cody Garbrandt

It wasn’t the opponent he wanted, but UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) made a statement all the same when he put his crisp hands to use and scored a first-round TKO of UFC newcomer Augusto Mendes (5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Originally meant to fight brawler John Lineker, “No Love” got a last-minute change in opponent to grappling standout Mendes. The contrast in styles didn’t alter Garbrandt’s strategy, though, and he still came forward and looked to put strikes on his opponent’s chin.

After a few minutes of searching, Garbrandt finally found a home for a fight-ending combination that led to the stoppage. With an undefeated record and three straight UFC wins, it’s clear the Team Alpha Male product is going to be a significant part of the 135-pound division for a long time to come.

Second star: Derek Brunson

It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that Derek Brunson (15-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) was decked and knocked out in just 41 seconds by Ronaldo Souza under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner.

What Brunson has done in the less than four years since that loss, though, has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s turned into one of the most dangerous middleweights in the sport and has won six of seven fights since his encounter with “Jacare.”

Brunson’s performance against Roan Carneiro (20-10 MMA, 3-4 UFC) may have been the most impressive of that run. He mauled and knocked out the Brazilian veteran in less than three minutes to push his current winning streak to four.

Carneiro is a legitimate opponent, but Brunson tore through him in a way few others have. What’s even more concerning for his fellow 185-pounders is the fact Brunson is getting better each fight. It will be a hard climb to the middleweight title, but Brunson is taking the appropriate steps in becoming a name not many fellow contenders will be eager to fight.

First star: Donald Cerrone

A lopsided title-fight loss wasn’t enough to keep Donald Cerrone (29-7 MMA, 16-4 UFC) down for very long, apparently.

It was a little more than two months ago when Cerrone suffered a title loss to UFC lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos in a mere 66 seconds in an opportunity that took him several years to earn. That would discourage most athletes, but for “Cowboy,” it forced him right back on the saddle and into a main-event showdown with Alex Oliveira (13-4-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

In attempt to change things up going into the fight, Cerrone jumped up a weight class from his longtime home at 155 pounds. The result makes him an instant force in the welterweight division. Cerrone locked up a triangle choke just minutes into the fight and forced Oliveira to tap out in a hurry.

It ultimately wasn’t the most meaningful fight of Cerrone’s career in terms of ranking, but it did help him get back on the winning side of the equation. Now it’s time to see what he can make of his new life in a new weight class.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 83, check out the UFC Events section of the site.