UFC 225: What happened when CM Punk returned to the Octagon?
UFC 225 took place on June 9, 2018 and was main evented by a Middleweight bout between reigning champion Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero. It was mean to be a title fight, but Romero continually failed to make weight. Despite that disappointment, the bout still proved worthy of the headline spot.
In an incredibly close fight, Whittaker edged out Romero via a close Split Decision. Romero inflicted incredible damage on the champion in the third and fifth rounds, but Whittaker controlled the fight in the other three, resulting in his win.
What a war this was though. Whittaker broke his hand in the opening round but somehow controlled the fight standing, and was a deserving winner. Just a shame the title wasn't on the line.
The co-headliner saw Colby Covington best Rafael dos Anjos in an Interim Welterweight title fight. In another all out five round war, Covington displayed excellent cardiovascular conditioning by keeping the dangerous dos Anjos on the back foot. His clinch and take-down offence completely nullified anything dos Anjos had to offer. Your winner and Interim Champion, Colby Covington.
At time of writing, that big title fight between Covington and Welterweight Champion, Tyron Woodley is still yet to occur.
Former Bantamweight Champion, Holly Holm bounced back from her loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 219, with a win over Megan Anderson. Anderson was being groomed for a future title shot at Cyborg herself, however what occurred instead was that Holm brutally exposed the weaknesses in Anderson's skill set. Holm won via Decision.
Holm bested Anderson standing, but really dominated the fight on the ground where Anderson had no answer to getting repeatedly smashed in the mount. Holm looked impressive and could well be in line for another title opportunity in the near future. For UFC debutant, Anderson, she has a chance to redeem herself versus former contender, Cat Zingano at UFC 232 on December 29, 2018.
Taking place in his hometown of Chicago, former WWE Champion, CM Punk, had the crowd willing him on in his second professional fight. After his mauling by Mickey Gall at UFC 203, Punk this time was given an opponent that on paper he appeared to have a chance of winning.
Mike Jackson had also been handily defeated by Gall, and was a no-name in the sport. If Punk was ever going to make a career for himself in MMA, then he needed to be beating guys like Jackson.
However, once again Punk proved to be totally outmatched inside the Octagon. He managed a takedown in the first round but showed little striking ability, and was completely gassed by the end of the fight, and due to his inability to defend himself, found himself on the receiving end of showboating by Jackson.
Jackson's behavior was rebuked by UFC President, Dana White, who insisted that Jackson would never fight for the promotion again. Unfortunately after his decisive points loss, neither will Punk.
In the final fight of the main card, former Heavyweight Champion, Andrei Arlovski, lost to Tai Tuivasa via Unanimous Decision as his two-fight win streak was snapped. The unbeaten Aussie looked impressive in his victory, whereas the veteran Arlovski looked way past his prime.
UFC 225 was a show highlighted by a stunning main event, but aside that, it was a card full of one sided encounters. The show pulled 250,000 buys on pay per view.