Reasons to watch UFC 203 this Saturday

S. Miocic (left) and A. Overeem (right) take part in the main fight of UFC 203. (Photo: UFC / Disclosure)

Ultimate arrives in Cleveland, United States for UFC 203, an event that takes place this Saturday (10). In the main attraction of the show, Stipe Miocic e alistair overeem compete for the UFC heavyweight belt, while the Brazilian Fabricio Werdum makes a decisive duel against Travis Browne for a chance to fight again for the category title.

To get you in the mood for UFC 203, the SUPER FIGHTS prepared five reasons for you to attend the event.

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REAL TIME: SUPER FIGHTS broadcasts UFC 203 LIVE

1 – Duel of giants for the heavyweight belt

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Big dog fight! This is how the duel between the champion can be defined Stipe Miocic and the challenger alistair overeem. After surprising and knocking down Fabricio Werdum, winning the title of the heaviest division in the world, Miocic will put his belt on the line for the first time against the driven Dutchman.

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Miocic can be considered an icon of this new generation of fighters who have been making history in the sport under the status of “underdog”. With nine wins and two losses in the UFC, the American of Croatian descent is a natural knockout artist – he has already knocked out 10 opponents in his career – and should focus on boxing to try to prevent the title from changing hands again. An additional incentive for Stipe is that he will play “at home” and will have all the fans behind him next Saturday (10).

Overeem, in turn, underwent a real transformation in his career. After arriving in the UFC with titles from organizations such as Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 World GP, a famous kickboxing tournament, he alternated ups and downs and had three defeats in five fights. However, the Dutchman turned things around and scored four victories in a row, three of which were by knockout, including one over the Brazilian Junior Gypsy, which gave him the opportunity to challenge the current champion.

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2 – The return of Fabrício Werdum

F. Werdum (photo) returns to the octagon after losing the belt. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

After being knocked out by Stipe Miocic at UFC 198, held in Curitiba, in May, and losing the heavyweight belt, Fabricio Werdum resumes his career this Saturday (10) with one goal, according to the fighter himself: to regain the title of best in the world in his category. To turn things around, the first obstacle is an old acquaintance: Travis Browne, whom he already defeated on points in April 2014.

Werdum had six consecutive victories and 100% success rate in his second stint in UFC, including the knockout over Mark Hunt and the finish above Cain Velazquez, which earned him the interim and linear belts, respectively.

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Like the Brazilian, Browne also comes from a negative result, he was knocked out by Velasquez at the historic UFC 200, last July. However, the boyfriend phase of Ronda Rousey It's not the best. In the last six appearances, there are three triumphs and three negative results, a fact that culminated in his aura of being feared among the heavyweights weakening.

Will Fabrício, just as he did two years ago, control the actions of the fight or will the North American giant surprise the gaucho in the rematch? We will only have the answers inside the Octagon.

3 – The debut of star CM Punk

Punk will make his MMA debut at 37 years old. (Photo: Disclosure)

Two years after signing with the UFC, former pro-wrestling star CM Punk will step into the Octagon for the first time. CM Punk prepared for his debut at Duke Roufus' gym, where he trained alongside the likes of Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch and Ben Askren, in other words, he is well trained, but what will it be like when it comes to “let’s see”?

Your opponent is the newbie Mickey gall, 24 years old and with just two professional MMA fights – one in the UFC – and handpicked to welcome the WWE veteran. Punk's hiring, at first, was the organization's hope of reproducing Brock Lesnar, who followed a similar path to that of the weekend's debutant.

Well, if a plan will be drawn up we will know as soon as the octagon doors are locked, however, we have two certainties. The first is that regardless of the North American's qualities (or lack thereof), the curiosity to see his performance is undeniable, which will certainly bring even more money into President Dana White's pocket. Secondly, you have to respect CM Punk, as not just anyone has the courage to take risks in a sport as aggressive as MMA at 37 years old.

4- Brazilians in action

J. Andrade, B. Correia, C. Monstro and F. Bodão are, alongside Werdum, the Brazilian representatives on the card. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS Production (Disclosure/UFC)

In addition to Werdum, four more Brazilians will be in action at UFC 203: Jessica Andrade, Bethe Correia, Gaius Monster and Francimar Bodão. Among them all, we can say that Andrade's fight, which faces Joanne calderwood, is the most relevant.

After dropping to strawweight, running over the former title challenger Jessica penne, the Brazilian could receive a chance to fight for the belt in the event of another resounding victory. However, she won't have an easy life, given that Calderwood also likes striking and is coming off a devastating victory over Valerie Letourneau. The fight opens the attractions of the main card.

Bethe Correia, in turn, seeks to return to the path of victories after two setbacks against Ronda Rousey e Rachel Pennington. She faces the North American Jessica Eye, who won just one of the six fights he had in Ultimate. Both come under pressure, as defeat could cost one of them their job.

The other two brasucas of the night also came from negative results. Without fighting for 14 months, Caio Monstra tries to recover against the Hawaiian Brad Tavares, while Francimar Bodão, finished by Nikita Krylov last May, he needs a victory over the thick-skinned CB Dollaway to avoid the risk of dismissal. The two duels, as well as Correia x Eye, are part of the preliminary portion of the show.

5 – Experience x Youth

Faber (right) and Rivera (left) have a duel of generations. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS Production (Disclosure/UFC)

One of the biggest names in the history of MMA's lightest categories, Urijah faber returns to the Octagon after being outperformed by his rival on points Dominick Cruz at UFC 199, in June, in a duel valid for the bantamweight belt. With 25 fights in Ultimate (including the extinct WEC, an organization acquired by the UFC), Faber wants to show that despite his age, 37 years old, he still has firewood to burn. Of the nine defeats in his career, only one was not in a title fight, against Frankie Edgar, in May 2015.

However, if he wants to maintain this taboo, the “California Kid”, as he is known, will need to go through the quarry called Jimmie rivera, 10 years younger and undefeated in the UFC. For 18 fights without knowing what it's like to lose, Rivera debuted in Dana White's company in July last year, and the victories over Marcus Brimage and the Brazilians Peter Munhoz e Iuri Marajó They showed that North Americans didn't come here to joke.

Promise of a busy fight in the classic confrontation between experience and youth.