Miocic KOs Overeem to retain UFC heavyweight crown

MANILA, Philippines – Stipe Miocic survived an early knockdown and a deep guillotine choke by knocking out Allistair Overeem in the first round for his first heavyweight title defense at UFC 203 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio Sunday.

A takedown late in the round won Miocic the bout as he landed huge blows after huge blows after gained top position in eventually knocking out Overeem with in the 4.27-minute mark of the round.

The 34-year-old Miocic thus improved to 16-2 (win-loss) and kept the title he won by beating Fabricio Werdum in another first round stoppage in UFC 198 in Curitibam Brazil last May.

The 36-year-old Overeem fell to 41-15 with 1 NC (no contest).

"He's a tough guy, he 's a veteran, he's fought the best in the world," said Miocic, who was born and raised in Ohio by Croatian parents.

“But I told you I’m going to keep this belt for a long time,” he added.

It was an up-and-down affair though.

Overeem went on attack mode early and a quick, crisp left to the jaw sent Miocic down to the canvas,  where the former sunk a guillotine choke that almost got the latter to submit in the first minute.

Miocic then got the upperhand in their heated exchange to get the next couple of minutes before Overeem rediscovered his bearings and somehow rocked the former with a flushing left.

Miocic continued to press the action and got his opportunity by gaining top position that led to Overeem's doom.

Overeem, who won it in the defunct Strikeforce, Dream and K-1 but never in the UFC, later claimed he had Miocic tapping out during the guillotine choke sequence.

“Stipe was the better man today, he’s a great athlete, he’s tough, he always comes to fight," Overeem said in a UFC.com story.

"There’s one thing I can say about the fight; I believe when I punched him and he went down, I followed him, I got him in a guillotine choke and I clearly felt the tap. The ref didn’t see it, he didn’t jump in, so the fight continued. But in my opinion, he tapped, and that’s a bummer,” he added.

Both Miocic and Overeem won $50,000 each as their duel won Fight of the Night.