UFC 203 saw CM Punk beaten on his debut - here's five talking points
Monday 12 September 2016 06:53, UK
CM Punk was handed a swift defeat in first fight since swapping WWE for UFC, while Stipe Miocic defended his heavyweight title against Alistair Overeem. Here's what we learned...
Science experiment not yet over
The intrigue that surrounded CM Punk's UFC debut owed to the reality that he was severely underqualified for his new job. He possessed the toughness of a WWE veteran, but in terms of skills, his first UFC fight was akin to you or I stepping into the cage.
He had trained full-time at Roufusport, a major MMA gym, for two years but had required two surgeries to repair a creaking body during that spell. That left him as only slightly removed from his beginner's class, to fighting in the most prestigious arena in the sport.
Mickey Gall, his conqueror, had only fought twice and won both outings at regional-level competitions. He was also a novice, brought in solely to match the inexperience of Punk, yet he delivered a victory as comprehensive as possible.
Punk, aka Phil Brooks, was limited to precisely zero offence - he swung an amateurish punch that saw him taken to the ground easily, although he does deserve credit for escaping one submission attempt before his demise. He'll be back, he has claimed, but will anyone expect a different result?
Exhibition fights still have their place
The sight of 300lbs sumo wrestlers inside the UFC Octagon may be confined to the crazier early days of the early-90s, but Punk's debut proved that the organisation still have a wild imagination.
Their willingness to give Punk a random opportunity was a rare move by today's standards but provided a throwback to previous eras when similarly inexperienced competitors stepped into the cage.
The late Kimbo Slice, one of YouTube's earliest self-made celebrities, became a cult hero for his short run with the UFC, despite showing the glaring flaws that you might expect from a novice to a new sport. Three-weight world boxing champion James Toney was welcomed with open arms when he decreed that his sport could trump the UFC's finest in their own environment. Toney's debut looked remarkably similar to Punk's - he lasted three minutes before submitting on the ground to then-champion Randy Couture. Punk, whether he returns or not, will occupy a similarly strange place in history.
Hide that chin!
When Stipe Miocic captured the heavyweight title from a clumsy Fabricio Werdum in May, Sky Sports wrote that the belt would continue swapping hands unless someone found a method to protect their chin. Finally the merry-go-round ended with a successful title defence but the message to future contenders remains the same.
Miocic is far less damaged than Alistair Overeem, on account of a much shorter and less arduous career. That paid dividends in their one-round shoot-out when he was able to swiftly recover from an early knockdown then take advantage of Overeem's inability to do the same. In the tumultuous world of UFC heavyweights where nothing quite makes sense, a sturdy chin still seems to be the most effective weapon that anyone can possess.
Overeem's presence as the No 1 contender owed to a new style that hid his fragility to punches, and he fought Miocic knowing that he couldn't afford to trade shots. Opting to literally run away to conflict more than once, Overeem's approach almost paid off when he dropped Miocic with his own punch. Far less years of accumulated damage allowed Miocic to absorb it, and rally back.
Miocic has already suffered one knockout loss in 18 bouts so would be wise to heed lessons from Overeem's record, which worryingly includes 11 stoppage defeats due to strikes. Everybody at heavyweight has powerful fists so hiding the chin remains the best way to remain as champion.
When do you quit?
Another unique aspect of the bizarre heavyweight divisions seems to be the ability to reinvent a declining career, with spectacular results. Overeem, despite falling short in his first UFC title shot, seemed like a fighter destined for the retirement home a year-and-a-half ago after three knockout losses. Yet he strung together an unexpected run of form to earn a crack at Miocic, so maybe he could do it again?
If he needs inspiration to continue, he need look no further than a fellow veteran who has exchanged wins and losses against: Fabricio Werdum. The Brazilian, in the co main-event at UFC 203, was dominant against Travis Browne and remains a top contender to the belt that he lost earlier this year.
Werdum is 39-years-old and his advancing years are a reminder to Overeem, three years his junior, that the journey need not be over. The division is littered with ageing athletes who have enjoyed resurgences, however brief, after bleak defeats - not least Junior Dos Santos, Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski.
There is nobody in the top 10 of the heavyweight rankings younger than 30 so Overeem could still find himself at the top of the pecking order if he has the mettle to fight on.
Calderwood rollercoaster continues
Scottish women's straw-weight Joanne Calderwood has endured a topsy-turvy stint in the UFC and her record in the big leagues slipped to 3-2 after a swift defeat to Jessica Andrade.
Calderwood has bravely taken her training to the harsh climates of Montreal's Tristar gym, a sanctuary for top-level competitors, and was seemingly reaping the rewards after a career-best showing against world title challenger Valerie Letourneau in June. A submission loss to Andrade was a reminder that Calderwood still has vulnerabilities to address before a world title shot can be mooted.
