The Good, Bad and Strange from UFC 203
The Good, Bad and Strange from UFC 203
There was chaos in the air at UFC 203.The lead up to the event at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland was as spectacular and strange as anything in recent
There was chaos in the air at UFC 203.
The lead up to the event at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland was as spectacular and strange as anything in recent memory. A pair of high-profile heavyweight tilts at the top of the card should have garnered the lion's share of attention, but there was no stopping the promotional juggernaut of CM Punk's UFC debut.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/RothwellFighter/status/7747478..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Not only was it the former WWE star's first showing inside the Octagon, it was Punk's first time stepping into any type of cage. The debate over the former pro wrestler's validity to compete on MMA's biggest stage became a mainstay on social media platforms from the moment he signed with the promotion in December of 2014.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/7747492646..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The nearly two-year build up put the payoff moment, Punk stepping in and throwing hands with Mickey Gall at UFC 203, on every fight fan's calendar. The 37-year-old Chicago native had the spotlight in full, the chance to prove his worth and missed by a mile.
Punk came out looking to bang and was promptly put on his back from the get go. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter was in survival mode as soon as the action hit the canvas as Gall poured on the punishment from top position. Gall worked to set the choke, and put a definitive end to the hype surrounding Punk.
Gall then went on to cut a fantastic promo where he set his sights on Sage Northcutt and capped the biggest night of his young career in spectacular fashion.
Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic poses with a fan prior to the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship parade in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to that bit of sideshow insanity, the UFC heavyweight title was also on the line Saturday night.
The fighting pride of Cleveland, Stipe Miocic, attempted to make the first successful defense of his heavyweight strap against Alistair Overeem. While Miocic had the motivation of a large hometown following on his back, the hard-hitting Dutchman was aiming at becoming the most decorated heavyweight in the history of the sport.
The stakes were high in the main event on Saturday night, and it was the hometown boy who owned the night.
Miocic stood toe-to-toe with the renowned striker and put on a show for the Cleveland crowd. Both men landed huge shots and continued to bring the heat until Miocic scored a takedown late in the opening frame. Once on top, Miocic rained down punishment and clipped Overeem's lights with a series of bombs.
The crowd at Quicken Loans Arena went berserk, and the man who should have been given the spotlight leading up to UFC 203 up and took it.
Let's get down to the good, bad and strange from UFC 203.
Stipe Miocic is a bad man.
The reigning heavyweight champion has been all the rage in MMA since his knockout victory over Fabricio Werdum back at UFC 198. Miocic's win seemed to spark a championship run in his hometown, and he wanted to keep the gold rush alive at UFC 203 on Saturday night.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Stipe Miocic (red gloves) competes against Alistair Overeem (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Croatian-American squared off with Alistair Overeem in the card's main event, and wasted no time throwing hands with the legendary knockout artist. That strategy appeared to be the wrong one when the Dutch powerhouse planted him on the canvas with a crisp shot, then pounced on a guillotine attempt that looked air tight.
Nevertheless, Miocic showed grit by battling out of the submission attempt, and even more so as he pressed forward upon returning to his feet. The bout went back and forth as both men traded shots, but Miocic turned the tide for good by putting Overeem on his back late in the opening round. Miocic hammered the title challenger from top position and left Overeem laying unconscious after a barrage of punches found their mark.
The moment the bout was stopped, the jam-packed arena erupted in celebration for their champion. Miocic jumped on top of the cage and let the greatest moment of his career sink in. Of all the things that have happened in 2016, witnessing Miocic defend his strap in "The Land" is definitely near the top.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Mickey Gall (blue gloves) competes against C.M. Punk (red gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mickey Gall may be young in the MMA game, but the kid is definitely tuned into the weight of opportunity.
The New Jersey native put himself on the map by calling out CM Punk during a fight in which UFC President Dana White was in attendance filming his reality show. Gall spoke up and went after the biggest fish he could catch, and his efforts led to him landing a bout against Mike Jackson to decide who would welcome the former WWE wrestler to the Octagon.
Gall went on to win that fight, and solidify his matchup with Punk at UFC 203. In doing so, Gall put himself right in the midst of one of the heaviest promoted fights of 2016. Strong move for an athlete in a game where foresight and sharp plays mean everything, but in order to fully capitalize, Gall had to win on Saturday night in Cleveland.
Not only did he do so in dominant fashion, but continued his crazy wave of momentum by calling out Sage Northcutt for his next fight. It was a brilliant play from Gall, and further proof how clued in he is to self-promoting. So many fighters fail to make the most of the platform they have post-fight, but Gall isn't on that list.
He's enthusiastic and direct about what he wants, and miles ahead of many of his peers on the UFC roster in that regard.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Urijah Faber (red gloves) competes against Jimmie Rivera (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The bantamweight division has a new force to be reckoned with in Jimmie Rivera.
The scrappy New Jersey product came into his bout against Urijah Faber having won all three of his appearances inside the Octagon, with a chance to elevate his status with a win over an MMA legend. Rivera made the most of the opportunity as he took the clean sweep on the judges' scorecards.
Although the bout wasn't action-packed by any measure, Rivera fought an effective game plan that puzzled the former champion. Every time Faber waded in wildly, Rivera made him pay for it in some form or fashion. The end result was the biggest win of his career, and entry into a new tier of a division that has been rejuvenated with young talent over the past two years.
There are plenty of exciting matchups ahead for Rivera, and his win at UFC 203 will guarantee he draws one of the best fighters in his weight class the next time out.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Andrade (red gloves) competes against Joanne Calderwood (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Making the move to strawweight has proven to be a wise choice for Jessica Andrade.
The 24-year-old Brazilian struggled to find her footing at bantamweight, but has notched two-straight wins at 115 pounds. Andrade's first-round submission win over Joanne Calderwood at UFC 203 may even be her most impressive showing to date.
Andrade wasted zero time getting to work on Saturday night as she backed Calderwood up against the cage with forward pressure. Once there she scooped "JoJo" up and promptly slammed her to the canvas. Andrade would repeat this process several times before settling into her ground and pound. While Calderwood continued to work for some element of control from the bottom, Andrade's game was simply too much.
She locked in a guillotine choke and Calderwood tapped several moments later. With the win, Andrade not only gains momentum, but will put herself into talks for a future title shot.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Eye (red gloves) competes against Bethe Correia (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Few fighters needed a victory at UFC 203 more than Bethe Correia.
The former women's bantamweight title challenger came into her fight with Jessica Eye riding a two-fight skid, and desperately needed to turn things around.
While the bout lacked her signature aggression, Correia pressed the action and landed big shots when it counted. Eye was able to land solid combinations in the early goings, but seemed to abandon a pressure-heavy strategy as the bout went on.
The end result was a split-decision victory for Correia, and a new lease on her time in the elite tier of the women's 135-pound division.
The CM Punk experiment failed and failed badly.
There's probably more to make of it, but things played out exactly how they should have at UFC 203. A man with no MMA experience squared off against a hungry kid with legit chops, got battered and submitted in the first round. The biggest positive out of the promotional sideshow was it helped take a prospect's career to a new level of visibility.
Moving on.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; C.M. Punk (red gloves) after his fight against Mickey Gall (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn't all too long ago Travis Browne was considered the next big thing in the UFC heavyweight division. Those days have officially passed.
The rangy Hawaiian was bested by Fabricio Werdum in the co-main event at UFC 203 and suffered his third setback in his past four outings. And while Browne had a few moments during the fight, it was his overall performance that signals something larger happening with him.
Granted, all three of his recent losses have come against incredibly talented competition, but Browne has struggled to find his footing in any of them.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BrianStann/status/774817362939932672" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Where Browne once looked sharp and aggressive, he now looks hesitant and sluggish. He's changed camps a multitude of times throughout his time in the UFC, and just can't seem to find the right fit. There's no doubting his talent, but the idea of Browne becoming a legitimate title threat no longer exists.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Urijah Faber (red gloves) competes against Jimmie Rivera (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
With the resurgences of Robbie Lawler and Andrei Arlovski over the past few years it's difficult to say anyone's best days are behind them, but Urijah Faber certainly looked the part on Saturday night.
The former WEC champion and multi-time UFC title challenger had a stern challenge facing him at UFC 203 in Jimmie Rivera, and it was a bout he needed to win in order to retain his place in the divisional elite of the bantamweight fold. Unfortunately for Faber, a changing of the guard occurred in Cleveland.
The surging New Jersey native was on point throughout the 15-minute tilt as he forced Faber to miss with nearly everything he threw. On the flip side, Rivera was very accurate. While his output wasn't immense, the shots he picked were wisely chosen.
Rivera chopped away at Faber's lead leg in the opening two rounds and effectively countered every time the Team Alpha Male leader came in wild. Faber remained game from start to finish, but the man who has always found a way to win just couldn't find his mark. And while suffering his third loss in four showings doesn't mean his days of competing inside the Octagon are over, it does show his time in title contention have come to an end.
At 37 years old, and an incredible resume to his credit, there would be nothing wrong with Faber walking away from the game. Nevertheless, that decision is one every competitor comes to on their own, and Faber is the definition of a competitor.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Eye (red gloves) competes against Bethe Correia (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
If her opponent's back was against the wall coming into Saturday night, Jessica Eye was standing on top of that wall.
The Ohio native came into Cleveland having dropped her past three showings inside the Octagon, and a fourth consecutive setback could very well cost Eye her roster spot. Yet, "Believeland" is all about a good comeback story, and the table was certainly set for Eye to bring something special at the Quicken Loans Arena.
And she didn't.
While the split-decision that went to Bethe Correia can certainly be argued either way, the fact remains Eye failed to fight with any type of urgency from the second round on. The Brazilian pressed the action for the final 10 minutes of the tilt, while Eye seemed content to rely on her counter game.
Eye absolutely had her moments in the fight, but a must win situation typically brings out more killer instinct when things go live. Eye was hesitant rather than aggressive, and she could very well be facing unemployment following UFC 203.
It almost feels as if this running series was created with UFC 203 in mind. Like a fevered dream years ago, a vision of what was to unfold in Cleveland would be the blessing in chaos.
Visa issues, illness and shotty elevators threw curveballs in the week leading up to UFC 203. Several fighters were forced to withdraw from scheduled bouts, and while last minute changes are commonplace in MMA, having a fight scratched because one half of the tilt was involved in an elevator accident is new ground in this crazy sport.
And while #ElevatorGate appeared to be an isolated incident, the effects of the happening rippled throughout Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/UrijahFaber/status/77445439020..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The Ultimate Fighter alum C.B. Dollaway suffered a back injury when he and several other fighters and coaches suffered the misfortune of having the elevator car they were in fall three floors to the basement. Dollaway's back continued to get worse throughout the evening and he would be forced to pull out of his fight on Saturday morning.
The incident was a definite sign Lord Chaos had arrived in Cleveland.
While the Power MMA fighter met misfortune, things went quite differently for fellow elevator rider Yancy Medeiros. The Hawaiian scrapper made his welterweight debut against Sean Spencer to kick things off at UFC 203, and what a debut it was.
Both Spencer and Medeiros came out guns blazing from the opening bell and proceeded to engage in a back-and-forth firefight in the opening round. Although Spencer seemed to be taking control at the end of the opening frame, it was Medeiros who tilted the momentum with a big kick early in the second round.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/ufc/status/774756384319483904" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Once Spencer was hurt the Skrap Pack member pounced and locked on a fight-ending rear-naked choke to put the stamp on an impressive debut at 170-pounds.
Keeping the good luck going on the elevator survivor side was fellow Hawaiian Brad Tavares. The Xtreme Couture product came into his bout with Caio Magalhaes facing a must-win situation, and he barely pulled it off on Saturday night.
Tavares edged out the Brazilian grappler in a closely contested affair to pick up his first win since January of 2015 and the elevator's second victory of the night.
After Urijah Faber was defeated, the elevator incident hung in the balance when Fabricio Werdum entered the Octagon.
The former heavyweight champion came into his second bout against Travis Browne determined earn a title shot, and the flying sidekick he landed from the onset showed he came to Cleveland to make a statement. Yet, as the bout unfolded into a strange mixture of exhaustion and failed spinning kicks, Werdum's urgency appeared to subside.
The Brazilian grappling phenom was able to drop Browne with a straight shot, but the action took a sharp downturn in the final eight minutes of the bout. And while he took the unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards, Werdum's performance on Saturday night wasn't the type of showing that would lock down a title shot by any means.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fabricio Werdum (red gloves) is separated from Travis Browne (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
He also won't score any points with UFC brass for nearly inciting a post-fight brawl with Browne's camp.
In what turned into the most exciting exchange of the co-main event, Werdum threw a push kick at Edmund Tarvaryan and mayhem ensued. Lord of Chaos revealed himself once more and put the elevator survivors up 3-1 on the night.
Until next time Cleveland. Until next time.
The lead up to the event at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland was as spectacular and strange as anything in recent memory. A pair of high-profile heavyweight tilts at the top of the card should have garnered the lion's share of attention, but there was no stopping the promotional juggernaut of CM Punk's UFC debut.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/RothwellFighter/status/7747478..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Not only was it the former WWE star's first showing inside the Octagon, it was Punk's first time stepping into any type of cage. The debate over the former pro wrestler's validity to compete on MMA's biggest stage became a mainstay on social media platforms from the moment he signed with the promotion in December of 2014.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/jeremybotter/status/7747492646..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The nearly two-year build up put the payoff moment, Punk stepping in and throwing hands with Mickey Gall at UFC 203, on every fight fan's calendar. The 37-year-old Chicago native had the spotlight in full, the chance to prove his worth and missed by a mile.
Punk came out looking to bang and was promptly put on his back from the get go. The Duke Roufus-trained fighter was in survival mode as soon as the action hit the canvas as Gall poured on the punishment from top position. Gall worked to set the choke, and put a definitive end to the hype surrounding Punk.
Gall then went on to cut a fantastic promo where he set his sights on Sage Northcutt and capped the biggest night of his young career in spectacular fashion.
Jun 22, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic poses with a fan prior to the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship parade in downtown Cleveland. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to that bit of sideshow insanity, the UFC heavyweight title was also on the line Saturday night.
The fighting pride of Cleveland, Stipe Miocic, attempted to make the first successful defense of his heavyweight strap against Alistair Overeem. While Miocic had the motivation of a large hometown following on his back, the hard-hitting Dutchman was aiming at becoming the most decorated heavyweight in the history of the sport.
The stakes were high in the main event on Saturday night, and it was the hometown boy who owned the night.
Miocic stood toe-to-toe with the renowned striker and put on a show for the Cleveland crowd. Both men landed huge shots and continued to bring the heat until Miocic scored a takedown late in the opening frame. Once on top, Miocic rained down punishment and clipped Overeem's lights with a series of bombs.
The crowd at Quicken Loans Arena went berserk, and the man who should have been given the spotlight leading up to UFC 203 up and took it.
Let's get down to the good, bad and strange from UFC 203.
The Good
Stipe Miocic is a bad man.
The reigning heavyweight champion has been all the rage in MMA since his knockout victory over Fabricio Werdum back at UFC 198. Miocic's win seemed to spark a championship run in his hometown, and he wanted to keep the gold rush alive at UFC 203 on Saturday night.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Stipe Miocic (red gloves) competes against Alistair Overeem (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The Croatian-American squared off with Alistair Overeem in the card's main event, and wasted no time throwing hands with the legendary knockout artist. That strategy appeared to be the wrong one when the Dutch powerhouse planted him on the canvas with a crisp shot, then pounced on a guillotine attempt that looked air tight.
Nevertheless, Miocic showed grit by battling out of the submission attempt, and even more so as he pressed forward upon returning to his feet. The bout went back and forth as both men traded shots, but Miocic turned the tide for good by putting Overeem on his back late in the opening round. Miocic hammered the title challenger from top position and left Overeem laying unconscious after a barrage of punches found their mark.
The moment the bout was stopped, the jam-packed arena erupted in celebration for their champion. Miocic jumped on top of the cage and let the greatest moment of his career sink in. Of all the things that have happened in 2016, witnessing Miocic defend his strap in "The Land" is definitely near the top.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Mickey Gall (blue gloves) competes against C.M. Punk (red gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Mickey Gall may be young in the MMA game, but the kid is definitely tuned into the weight of opportunity.
The New Jersey native put himself on the map by calling out CM Punk during a fight in which UFC President Dana White was in attendance filming his reality show. Gall spoke up and went after the biggest fish he could catch, and his efforts led to him landing a bout against Mike Jackson to decide who would welcome the former WWE wrestler to the Octagon.
Gall went on to win that fight, and solidify his matchup with Punk at UFC 203. In doing so, Gall put himself right in the midst of one of the heaviest promoted fights of 2016. Strong move for an athlete in a game where foresight and sharp plays mean everything, but in order to fully capitalize, Gall had to win on Saturday night in Cleveland.
Not only did he do so in dominant fashion, but continued his crazy wave of momentum by calling out Sage Northcutt for his next fight. It was a brilliant play from Gall, and further proof how clued in he is to self-promoting. So many fighters fail to make the most of the platform they have post-fight, but Gall isn't on that list.
He's enthusiastic and direct about what he wants, and miles ahead of many of his peers on the UFC roster in that regard.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Urijah Faber (red gloves) competes against Jimmie Rivera (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The bantamweight division has a new force to be reckoned with in Jimmie Rivera.
The scrappy New Jersey product came into his bout against Urijah Faber having won all three of his appearances inside the Octagon, with a chance to elevate his status with a win over an MMA legend. Rivera made the most of the opportunity as he took the clean sweep on the judges' scorecards.
Although the bout wasn't action-packed by any measure, Rivera fought an effective game plan that puzzled the former champion. Every time Faber waded in wildly, Rivera made him pay for it in some form or fashion. The end result was the biggest win of his career, and entry into a new tier of a division that has been rejuvenated with young talent over the past two years.
There are plenty of exciting matchups ahead for Rivera, and his win at UFC 203 will guarantee he draws one of the best fighters in his weight class the next time out.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Andrade (red gloves) competes against Joanne Calderwood (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Making the move to strawweight has proven to be a wise choice for Jessica Andrade.
The 24-year-old Brazilian struggled to find her footing at bantamweight, but has notched two-straight wins at 115 pounds. Andrade's first-round submission win over Joanne Calderwood at UFC 203 may even be her most impressive showing to date.
Andrade wasted zero time getting to work on Saturday night as she backed Calderwood up against the cage with forward pressure. Once there she scooped "JoJo" up and promptly slammed her to the canvas. Andrade would repeat this process several times before settling into her ground and pound. While Calderwood continued to work for some element of control from the bottom, Andrade's game was simply too much.
She locked in a guillotine choke and Calderwood tapped several moments later. With the win, Andrade not only gains momentum, but will put herself into talks for a future title shot.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Eye (red gloves) competes against Bethe Correia (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Few fighters needed a victory at UFC 203 more than Bethe Correia.
The former women's bantamweight title challenger came into her fight with Jessica Eye riding a two-fight skid, and desperately needed to turn things around.
While the bout lacked her signature aggression, Correia pressed the action and landed big shots when it counted. Eye was able to land solid combinations in the early goings, but seemed to abandon a pressure-heavy strategy as the bout went on.
The end result was a split-decision victory for Correia, and a new lease on her time in the elite tier of the women's 135-pound division.
The Bad
The CM Punk experiment failed and failed badly.
There's probably more to make of it, but things played out exactly how they should have at UFC 203. A man with no MMA experience squared off against a hungry kid with legit chops, got battered and submitted in the first round. The biggest positive out of the promotional sideshow was it helped take a prospect's career to a new level of visibility.
Moving on.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; C.M. Punk (red gloves) after his fight against Mickey Gall (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
It wasn't all too long ago Travis Browne was considered the next big thing in the UFC heavyweight division. Those days have officially passed.
The rangy Hawaiian was bested by Fabricio Werdum in the co-main event at UFC 203 and suffered his third setback in his past four outings. And while Browne had a few moments during the fight, it was his overall performance that signals something larger happening with him.
Granted, all three of his recent losses have come against incredibly talented competition, but Browne has struggled to find his footing in any of them.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BrianStann/status/774817362939932672" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Where Browne once looked sharp and aggressive, he now looks hesitant and sluggish. He's changed camps a multitude of times throughout his time in the UFC, and just can't seem to find the right fit. There's no doubting his talent, but the idea of Browne becoming a legitimate title threat no longer exists.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Urijah Faber (red gloves) competes against Jimmie Rivera (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
With the resurgences of Robbie Lawler and Andrei Arlovski over the past few years it's difficult to say anyone's best days are behind them, but Urijah Faber certainly looked the part on Saturday night.
The former WEC champion and multi-time UFC title challenger had a stern challenge facing him at UFC 203 in Jimmie Rivera, and it was a bout he needed to win in order to retain his place in the divisional elite of the bantamweight fold. Unfortunately for Faber, a changing of the guard occurred in Cleveland.
The surging New Jersey native was on point throughout the 15-minute tilt as he forced Faber to miss with nearly everything he threw. On the flip side, Rivera was very accurate. While his output wasn't immense, the shots he picked were wisely chosen.
Rivera chopped away at Faber's lead leg in the opening two rounds and effectively countered every time the Team Alpha Male leader came in wild. Faber remained game from start to finish, but the man who has always found a way to win just couldn't find his mark. And while suffering his third loss in four showings doesn't mean his days of competing inside the Octagon are over, it does show his time in title contention have come to an end.
At 37 years old, and an incredible resume to his credit, there would be nothing wrong with Faber walking away from the game. Nevertheless, that decision is one every competitor comes to on their own, and Faber is the definition of a competitor.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Jessica Eye (red gloves) competes against Bethe Correia (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
If her opponent's back was against the wall coming into Saturday night, Jessica Eye was standing on top of that wall.
The Ohio native came into Cleveland having dropped her past three showings inside the Octagon, and a fourth consecutive setback could very well cost Eye her roster spot. Yet, "Believeland" is all about a good comeback story, and the table was certainly set for Eye to bring something special at the Quicken Loans Arena.
And she didn't.
While the split-decision that went to Bethe Correia can certainly be argued either way, the fact remains Eye failed to fight with any type of urgency from the second round on. The Brazilian pressed the action for the final 10 minutes of the tilt, while Eye seemed content to rely on her counter game.
Eye absolutely had her moments in the fight, but a must win situation typically brings out more killer instinct when things go live. Eye was hesitant rather than aggressive, and she could very well be facing unemployment following UFC 203.
The Strange
It almost feels as if this running series was created with UFC 203 in mind. Like a fevered dream years ago, a vision of what was to unfold in Cleveland would be the blessing in chaos.
Visa issues, illness and shotty elevators threw curveballs in the week leading up to UFC 203. Several fighters were forced to withdraw from scheduled bouts, and while last minute changes are commonplace in MMA, having a fight scratched because one half of the tilt was involved in an elevator accident is new ground in this crazy sport.
And while #ElevatorGate appeared to be an isolated incident, the effects of the happening rippled throughout Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/UrijahFaber/status/77445439020..." hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The Ultimate Fighter alum C.B. Dollaway suffered a back injury when he and several other fighters and coaches suffered the misfortune of having the elevator car they were in fall three floors to the basement. Dollaway's back continued to get worse throughout the evening and he would be forced to pull out of his fight on Saturday morning.
The incident was a definite sign Lord Chaos had arrived in Cleveland.
While the Power MMA fighter met misfortune, things went quite differently for fellow elevator rider Yancy Medeiros. The Hawaiian scrapper made his welterweight debut against Sean Spencer to kick things off at UFC 203, and what a debut it was.
Both Spencer and Medeiros came out guns blazing from the opening bell and proceeded to engage in a back-and-forth firefight in the opening round. Although Spencer seemed to be taking control at the end of the opening frame, it was Medeiros who tilted the momentum with a big kick early in the second round.
[tweet url=" https://twitter.com/ufc/status/774756384319483904" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Once Spencer was hurt the Skrap Pack member pounced and locked on a fight-ending rear-naked choke to put the stamp on an impressive debut at 170-pounds.
Keeping the good luck going on the elevator survivor side was fellow Hawaiian Brad Tavares. The Xtreme Couture product came into his bout with Caio Magalhaes facing a must-win situation, and he barely pulled it off on Saturday night.
Tavares edged out the Brazilian grappler in a closely contested affair to pick up his first win since January of 2015 and the elevator's second victory of the night.
After Urijah Faber was defeated, the elevator incident hung in the balance when Fabricio Werdum entered the Octagon.
The former heavyweight champion came into his second bout against Travis Browne determined earn a title shot, and the flying sidekick he landed from the onset showed he came to Cleveland to make a statement. Yet, as the bout unfolded into a strange mixture of exhaustion and failed spinning kicks, Werdum's urgency appeared to subside.
The Brazilian grappling phenom was able to drop Browne with a straight shot, but the action took a sharp downturn in the final eight minutes of the bout. And while he took the unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards, Werdum's performance on Saturday night wasn't the type of showing that would lock down a title shot by any means.
Sep 10, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Fabricio Werdum (red gloves) is separated from Travis Browne (blue gloves) during UFC 203 at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
He also won't score any points with UFC brass for nearly inciting a post-fight brawl with Browne's camp.
In what turned into the most exciting exchange of the co-main event, Werdum threw a push kick at Edmund Tarvaryan and mayhem ensued. Lord of Chaos revealed himself once more and put the elevator survivors up 3-1 on the night.
Until next time Cleveland. Until next time.