Stipe Miocic defended his heavyweight title with a come-from-behind TKO victory over Alistair Overeem at UFC 203.
The main event started out wild, with Overeem knocking down Miocic with a straight left and cranking a guillotine. After the fight, Overeem claimed Miocic tapped, but that the ref didn’t see it. Replays did not seem to support the claim.
Miocic survived however, and landed some shots of his own that hurt Overeem to the body. With Overeem crumpled to the ground, Miocic jumped into mount and reigned down strikes to force the stoppage at 4:27.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
Miocic and Overeem earned Fight-of-the-Night, while Jessica Andrade and Yancy Mederios earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Cassie Wiseman checks in.
UFC FIGHT PASS EARLY PRELIMS
DREW DOBER VS JASON GONZALEZ
WINNER: DREW DOBER VIA TKO R1 1:45
WISEMAN PREDICTION: DREW DOBER VIA UNNAIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: Gonzalez was showing impressive striking, mixing up levels, and a fast pace. However, Dober’s right hook was just too much tonight. He connected with the hook, then unleashed a flurry until Gonzalez dropped for the TKO finish. A dominant display tonight.
YANCY MEDEIROS VS SEAN SPENCER
WINNER: YANCY MEDERIOS VIA SUBMISSION R2 0:49
WISEMAN PREDICTION: YANCY MEDERIOS VIA TKO
Wiseman: While these guys can both put on a show, it was really Medeiros who took it home. Setting up a head kick in both the first and second round with a jab, Spencer just didn’t know what was happening. Medeiros jumped on Spencer and squeezed in the rear naked choke for the finish. Amazing performance for Medeiros.
WINNER: YANCY MEDERIOS VIA SUBMISSION R2 0:49
WISEMAN PREDICTION: YANCY MEDERIOS VIA TKO
Wiseman: While these guys can both put on a show, it was really Medeiros who took it home. Setting up a head kick in both the first and second round with a jab, Spencer just didn’t know what was happening. Medeiros jumped on Spencer and squeezed in the rear naked choke for the finish. Amazing performance for Medeiros.
TSN 2 PRELIMS
CB DOLLOWAY VS FRANCIMAR BARROSO
FIGHT CANCELLED DUE TO INJURY
NIK LENTZ VS MICHAEL MCBRIDE
WINNER: NIK LENTZ VIA TKO R2 4:17
WISEMAN PREDICTION: NIK LENTZ VIA SUBMISSION
Wiseman: As expected, Lentz put on a clinic. He was closed the distance and get things to the mat early in the first and second round. He completely dominated McBride, just rag-dolling him. Lentz wore him down until he flattened him out in the second and unleashed a flurry for a stoppage.
BRAD TAVARES VS CAIO MAGALHAES
WINNER: BRAD TAVARES VIA SPLIT-DECISION (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: BRAD TAVARES VIA TKO
Wiseman: It was a really close fight, Magalhaes with throwing bombs with each strike. Tavares was the more technical striker throughout the match. Tavares threw more volume that Magalhaes, so really could have gone either way. I had Tavares with the win because of his steady pace, and luckily, the judges went that way too with a split-decision.
#10) JESSICA EYE VS #11 BETHE CORREIA
WINNER: BETHE CORREIA VIA SPLIT-DECISION (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: BETHE CORREIA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: It was a striking match for the entire 15 minutes, both fighters connected at times, but neither ran away with the win. Bethe was the aggressor which is what gave her the split-decision win.
MAIN CARD
#6 JESSICA ANDRADE VS #7 JOANNE CALDERWOOD
WINNER: JESSICA ANDRADE VIA SUBMISSION R1 4:38
WISEMAN PREDICTION: JOANNE CALDERWOOD VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: Andrade is a beast at this weight class. Calderwood is no easy task for anyone, but Andrade used her power and ground game to get a quick first round submission. To take such a talented fighter and defeat her in such a way, wow!
#2 URIJAH FABER VS #12 JIMMIE RIVERA
WINNER: JIMMIE RIVERA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (30-27, 30-2,7 30-27)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: JIMMIE RIVERA VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION
Wiseman: The timing, the counter-striking, and the leg kicks were really the story to this match. Rivera just put it all together tonight against a very talented fighter, and really shut him down. Faber wasn’t able to do much against the fight style. A huge win for Rivera who is making his way up the rankings.
CM PUNK VS MICKEY GALL
WINNER: MICKEY GALL VIA SUBMISSION R1 2:14
WISEMAN PREDICTION: MICKEY GALL VIA SUBMISSION
Wiseman: Now, who really saw this fight being a fight? Gall is a serious BJJ fighter and has been training MMA for years. Punk, 19 months. Sure, he did everything right, found a fantastic camp, moved, did everything right. However, not everyone has the background of Lesnar nor talented. Punk, we have to admire that he took on this challenge, but still knew it wasn’t going to be a contest at all. Easy submission win by Gall.
#1 FABRICIO WERDUM VS #6 TRAVIS BROWNE
WINNER: FABRICIO WERDUM VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28,29-27,30-27)
WISEMAN PREDICTION: FABRICIO WERDUM VIA SUBMISSION
Wiseman: Well, if you stayed awake during this fight, good on ya. All the hype and talk, a flying kick to the face to start things off, turned out to be a mess. Browne ended up injured and Werdum just never capitalized on it. Instead it turned into a slow dance for 15 minutes. Then, at the end, while waiting for the judges decision, Edmund starts saying things to Werdum. What does he do? Werdum front kicks Edmund. Like, what?! Wild ending to a strange, boring fight.
MAIN EVENT
STIPE MIOCIC VS #3 ALISTAIR OVEREEM
WINNER: STIPE MIOCIC VIA TKO R1 4:27
WISEMAN PREDICTION: ALISTAIR OVERREM VIA TKO
Wiseman: Miocic survived an early knockdown to come back and floor Overeem himself for the ground and pound TKO. Excellent win for Miocic. Poor Overeem. He was so close.
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