Miocic defeats Overeem in first round of UFC 203 main event

American fighter Stipe Miocic retained his heavyweight belt against Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 203 on Saturday night.

The passionate Cleveland crowd got behind the 34-year-old hometown fighter, and it took just 4 minutes and 27 seconds for the favorite to claim victory.

However, Dutchman Overeem came out of the blocks early to defy the odds and silence the crowd, knocking his opponent to the mat early with a ferocious left hook.

The underdog attempted to force a submission with a guillotine and later claimed that his opponent had tried to tap out.

Miocic managed to get back to his feet, however, and his superior punching power lead to a ground-and-pound knockout with about 30 seconds remaining in the first round.

The champion’s victory pushes his record to 16-2-0, while Overeem’s defeat ends a run of four consecutive wins.

Elsewhere on the Main Card, Fabricio Werdum defeated Travis Browne by unanimous decision after three explosive five-minute rounds.

Controversy broke out in the Octagon after the clash, as a war of words ended in Werdum kicking his opponent’s coach, Edmond Tarverdyan.

CM Punk’s UFC debut lasted just over two minutes, with Mickey Gall forcing the retired wrestler to tap out in the first round.

READ MORE: CM Punk beaten in UFC debut by Mickey Gall

Jimmie Rivera won the bantamweight bout with Urijah Faber by unanimous decision. All three judges marked the contest 30-27.

Finally, in the women’s straw-weight contest, Jessica Andrade defeated Joanne Calderwood by submission, when the Scottish fighter tapped out after being subjected to a guillotine during the first round.