UFC 203 preview: Expect fireworks as Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem prepare to collide in Ohio showdown

UFC welterweight and commentator Dan Hardy looks ahead to this weekend's heavyweight title contest between Stipe Miocic and Alistair Overeem, as UFC heads to Ohio for the first time

If Miocic can stay away from the early dangers of the Dutch wrecking machine, he has a great chance of being the first heavyweight in a long time to defend the belt (Getty)

At UFC 203 this weekend, Cleveland, Ohio, will not only see the Octagon for the first time, but they will also see their first world champion attempt to defend his title.

Stipe Miocic flew out to Brazil back in May, to take on Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198, who was defending his belt for the first time, in front of a huge crowd of passionate fans. Just over half way into the opening round, Werdum, feeling the pressure of the situation, sprinted forward to engage Miocic, and ran onto a short but powerful right hand.

The Brazilian favourite fell to the floor in an unconscious state, and Stipe immediately ran to his corner team, shouting, “I’m the world champion!”.

Returning to Cleveland with the UFC gold, Miocic was welcomed by a crowd of excited and grateful fans. They had been waiting for a world championship to be brought back to the city for some time, and Stipe was the first to deliver. What followed must have been a whirlwind of celebration. Not only to acknowledge the successful title fight, but also the new champion's marriage to his long-time fiancé.

The weeks after saw him paraded around town, as well as visits to several of the local teams, to inspire their own world championship aspirations. Always humble, Miocic enjoyed the accolades related to his victory, but returned to work almost immediately, as a firefighter and paramedic.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the next contender was making a very strong case for his shot at the belt. Alistair Overeem has been on the combat sports circuit for many years. He has over 70 recorded bouts across MMA and kickboxing, as well as wins over six former UFC champions. He came into the UFC riding an impressive win streak, and demolished WWE star Brock Lesnar in his debut for the organisation at UFC 141 in 2011. In that fight he needed less than half a round to finish the wrestling behemoth up against the fence with mean body kicks and knees. People thought that he would roll his way through the division, all the way to the world title, but after that first victory he hit a rough patch and lost three of his next four bouts.


 Alistair Overeem 
 (Getty)

This made him reassess his preparations and decide to relocate his camp to the famed Jackson Wink team in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to train alongside other top fighters like Jon Jones, Holly Holm and Donald Cerrone. What followed was a three fight win streak that put him and stablemate, Andrei Alrlovski, on a collision course, to decide the next contender for the title, in Rotterdam three months ago. A week before Miocic claimed the title, Overeem kicked Alrovski in the face and followed up with a powerful left hook, to place him in line for the new champion, and a shot at the UFC gold. As soon as Alistair saw Werdum crash to the floor, and the elated Miocic have the belt put around his waist, he began his preparations to take it away.

Both fighters are virtually identical in height, weight and reach, but Overeem’s experience sets him apart. He has 18 wins by knockout and 19 by submission. Compare that to 17 fights in total for Miocic, Alistair will have plenty of knowledge to draw on and will be confident knowing that he has such a wealth of experience compared to the world champion. I doubt that this will phase Miocic though and if I were his coaches I would be focused on bolstering his psychological strength by reminding him that he doesn’t have as many miles on the clock as the challenger. He also has the credentials of a Golden Gloves boxing champion, and NCAA Division 1 wrestling experience at Cleveland State University.

This experience will be very valuable, if he is able to put it to good use in the fight. Overeem’s skills are varied and devastating. He can hit you with long range kicks and punches, can propel himself across the Octagon with flying attacks and, once in a clinch, he can put any man to sleep with a well-placed knee. He is also highly intelligent in all ranges of combat, and is excellent at laying traps for his opponent and reading their ‘tells’ to find a way through their guard to knock them out cold. The power he possesses is also something everyone standing across from him should be aware of, but this can also be his downfall, as it's so hard to maintain a consistent output over a long period.


 Stipe Miocic in action against Junior dos Santos 
 (Getty)

I believe that is where Miocic has the advantage. He is a well-conditioned heavyweight that can keep a high-paced attack on his foe and doesn’t ever seem to slow down. Also the double threat of boxing and wrestling can often make fighters hesitant as he pushes forward, knowing that in a second he can level change and snatch their lead leg away, placing them on the canvas with a 250lb wrestler on top of them. Here he will continue to work, bombarding them with short but powerful punches and knees, wearing them down and breaking their will. If he can stay away from the early dangers of the Dutch wrecking machine, he has a great chance of being the first heavyweight in a long time to defend the belt.

That is a big ‘if’ though, and the volatile heavyweight picture has seen the championship strap passed from one fighter to another, with nobody establishing a lengthy reign since Cain Velasquez defended it twice in 2013, against Antonia Silva and Junior Dos Santos. Miocic has his mindset of holding it for a long time, but will have to put his best foot forward if he is to keep ‘The Reem’ from taking it back to Europe.

The co-main is also a pivotal fight in the heavyweight division, as Fabricio Werdum attempts to defeat Travis Browne and get a chance to regain his title, from whoever is holding it after the weekend. Browne has been close a couple of times, but a win over Werdum would be a huge statement, and give his own campaign fuel in the run up to a title shot.

There are plenty of other great bouts on the card, including the MMA debut of WWE superstar CM Punk. He will face Mickey Gall, who only has two fights on his record, both of which he finished in the first round by rear naked choke. Also, Scottish Thai Boxing sweetheart Joanne Calderwood steps back into the strawweight division to face the aggressive dynamo that is Jessica Andrade. Much to look forward to in this heavyweight-centric event, that will surely be fireworks from start to finish.

Watch UFC 203: Miocic vs. Overeem live on BT Sport from 1am BST early on the morning of Sunday 11thSeptember, or catch the Early Prelims on UFC Fight Pass from 11:30pm on Saturday